Sensory paths are one of the elements of Montessori school which has been extremely popular recently. It is based on stimulating sensory experiences which have an extremely positive influence on the development of children and guarantee great fun for adults. That is why, more and more often it can be found in public spaces. Making it in your own garden is not a complicated task
To understand how a sensory path works and how popular it has become in recent years, it is important to know what a sensory path is. A sensory path is a specially created obstacle course that stimulates the tactile receptors in the feet or hands of those who use it. It uses a variety of materials and elements with different shapes and textures
There aremany advantages to using a sensory pathway, some of which include
In order to experience all the advantages of the sensory pathway, it is necessary to use it barefoot so that you can feel with your feet all the elements from which it is made. Daily use of the sensory path is also recommended for the rehabilitation of children with motor disabilities or various degrees of autism
Creating a sensory path in your garden is not a difficult task; all you need is a bit of will, time, and appropriate materials
The first step is to find the right place on the property. It is best if it is located out of the way so that the path is comfortable and does not disturb other household members while they are in the garden. It is best to use any kind of area around the fence or the part of the garden located behind the house
The next stage is to determine the length and route of the path. In this case, the only limit is your imagination and the amount of land available. The sensory path can take different shapes
Once the location and the route of the sensory path have been determined, it is time to compile the necessary elements for its realization. It is worth to remember that the sensory path relies on various textures and shapes . Therefore, you can use to create it such materials as
Having collected all the necessary elements, it is time to proceed to the actual work. First of all, the path should be carefully protected with a special gardening fabric, so that no weeds can grow between the placed elements
Then secure the edges of the path by digging fences into them or placing large stones, which at the same time mark out the entire route
Having the exact route of the sensory path marked out, it is time to fill it with the collected elements. However, make sure to have as many different textures as possible in succession. For example, if one cell of the path is fine sand, let the next cell be rough cones, and so on alternately
A sensory path prepared in this way is ready to use and you can reap the benefits of using it for children at play, as well as adults for relaxation and to improve blood circulation to the base of the foot
Depending on the elements used, the path may require some work after the winter season, such as replacing cones or bark with new ones, or sifting sand, but after these steps it will be ready for use again.
