Play to Progress

A game-changing book on child development - and the importance of physical play - for this digital and screen age.

For children to develop to their fullest potential, their sensory system - which, in addition to the big five of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, includes movement and balance (vestibular), body awareness (proprioception), and internal perception (interoception) - needs to be stimulated from the time they are born. Their senses flourish when they explore their environment by touching new textures, including their food, running, jumping, climbing, and splashing outside - never through screens.

As an occupational therapist with a specialty in sensory integration and early childhood development, Allie Ticktin has seen an alarming increase in cases of children who can't sit in circle time or at their desk upright and who are delayed in learning to walk, talk, or socialise, many of whom have been diagnosed with ADHD or sensory processing disorders, in part because these critical systems have been neglected. In the recent past, the sensory system and many developmental skills evolved naturally outside in the garden or on the playground. But with increasing time pressures for both kids and parents, as well as safety concerns, children are often sat in front of screens, without sufficient opportunity to explore and interact with their environment.

The good news is that boosting your child's sensory development doesn't take enormous amounts of time or supplies, or any special skills. In Play to Progress, Ticktin discusses the eight sensory systems and how a child uses them, and offers easy, fun activities that will encourage their development so that your little one will be better able to respond to their emotions, build friendships, communicate their needs, and thrive in school. That's the power of sensory play.

About the Author

Dr Allie Ticktin's mission is to empower children and their families through sensory play so that they can thrive through childhood and beyond. Allie uses the science of child development and the joy of play to boost children's confidence and enhance development within all areas of their life, from social and emotional to physical and academic. She believes that the best way to support children is by arming their parents, from inception, with the knowledge and skills necessary to encourage their child's development for success through childhood and beyond.

Allie began her work in paediatric development at the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor's degree in movement science, and continued her studies at University of Southern California, where she received her master's and clinical doctorate in occupational therapy. Allie is certified in sensory integration and hopes that one day quality, open-ended play will be considered as important as learning the ABCs.