Feelings in a preschooler: how emotions develop

Sensory development is the maturation and coordinated functioning of the systems through which a child receives information about the world and their body. During preschool age, the brain is particularly plastic, and daily "passing balls" with adults through play and communication strengthen neural connections and lay the foundation for speech, self-regulation, and learning. These reciprocal interactions are described as "serve and return" and are considered a fundamental mechanism of development. [1]

Sensory input is crucial for developing attention, memory, action planning, and social skills. Play supports the development of executive functions, reduces stress, and helps children develop self-regulation. Pediatric guidelines emphasize that "play is not a luxury, but a necessity" for healthy development. [2]

Preschoolers develop unevenly: some catch up with visual, auditory, and motor cues earlier than others. Therefore, flexible age-specific guidelines are important, rather than rigid "norms." National developmental milestone tracking programs offer clear checklists for ages 3, 4, and 5, as well as ideas for daily activities for home use. [3]

Sensory experiences should be varied and multi-channel: sight, hearing, touch, movement, balance, body position, taste, and smell. The richer the experience and the more adult involvement, the more firmly the brain networks develop, especially during the highly sensitive preschool years. [4]

Finally, at this age, environmental factors—sleep, movement, noise, light, and screens—begin to significantly influence the maturity of cognitive processes and behavior. International recommendations for children under 5 years of age link quality sleep, adequate physical activity, and limiting sedentary time with better cognitive and behavioral outcomes. [5]

Table 1. Key principles of sensory development in preschool age

Principle	What does this give to the child?	How to support at home
Responsive interactions with an adult	Strengthening neural networks, speech, and self-regulation	Dialogue games, alternating child-adult initiatives
Daily game	Development of attention, emotions, planning	Free and cooperative play for at least 60 minutes a day
Multichannel	Richness of sensory connections	Combine sight, hearing, movement, and touch
Daily routine	Stability and predictability of behavior	Regular sleep, walks, rituals
Safe environment	Preventing overload and injury	Control of noise, light, content, toys

Seven sensory systems: from the "five senses" to body movement and position

Vision enables the perception of shapes, colors, contrast, and movement, as well as visual-motor coordination. For preschoolers, critical conditions include natural daylight, time outdoors, and regular vision screenings, as early detection of vision problems helps prevent amblyopia. [6]

Hearing is the foundation for speech development, phonemic awareness, and attention. Excessive volume and duration of sound increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, so it is important to limit listening volume and time and use hearing protection in loud environments. [7]

Touch, or somatosensory perception, provides information about texture, temperature, and pressure, helping to develop bodily boundaries and fine motor skills. The somatosensory system develops through practice: sculpting, pouring, and playing with water and sand safely expand the "sensory menu." [8]

The vestibular system is responsible for balance and coordination of eye and head movements; impairments lead to dizziness, clumsiness, and difficulty in activities. Supporting vestibular function in everyday life involves regular movement: running, climbing, swinging, and balance beams, all while taking safety into account. [9]

Proprioception is the sense of position and movement of body parts, derived from muscles and joints. It is critical for body awareness, grip strength, and precision. "Heavy work" for muscles and joints, carrying objects, and pushing help develop proprioceptive feedback in measured doses. [10]

Table 2. Sensory systems and everyday examples of stimulation

System	What trains	Home examples
Vision	Tracking, hand-eye coordination	Puzzles, color sorting, target throwing
Hearing	Sound discrimination, rhythm, speech	Guess the Sound, clapping to the rhythm, poetry
Touch	Tactile discrimination	Cereals, dough, kinetic sand
Vestibular	Balance and coordination	Swing, balance beam, freeze game
Proprioception	Strength, body scheme	Book carry, wheelbarrow, pull-ups
Taste and smell	Food diversity	Tastings of healthy foods with descriptions of taste and aroma

Age Guidelines 3-6 Years: What to Watch Without Going Overboard

By age 3, most children improve their coordination, listen better to instructions, distinguish sounds, and begin to confidently play games with rules. Joint "listen and do" activities and daily reading with questions about meaning are helpful. [11]

At 4 years old, visual-motor skills progress: building more complex towers, shading, copying simple shapes, and catching a ball. Joint active games and conversations in complete sentences strengthen language and sensory development. [12]

By age 5, children have better body control, can stand steadily on one leg, become more sensitive to noise and bright light, and can more accurately distinguish smells and tastes in food. At this age, it is recommended to have their vision checked at least once to rule out amblyopia and its risk factors. [13]

Speech and hearing are closely linked: decreased hearing impairs phonemic discrimination and group behavior. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to frequent requests to "repeat," increased television volume, and fatigue in noisy environments. [14]

Finally, some children exhibit individual sensory modality characteristics—a "love of strong sensations" or, conversely, an avoidance of certain textures and sounds. This should be assessed through its impact on everyday life, rather than through isolated incidents. [15]

Table 3. Sensory cues and attention signals in children aged 3–6 years

Age	Typically observed	It's worth discussing with a specialist if...
3 years	Listens to short instructions, distinguishes everyday sounds	Doesn't respond to name, often "doesn't hear" the call
4 years	Copies the circle, catches the ball, plays by the rules	Frequently squints, brings objects very close to the eyes
5 years	Stands on one leg, tolerates noise better	Avoids games with movement, quickly loses balance
3-6 years	Trying new textures and flavors	Strongly avoids textures and smells, which interferes with feeding and play

Home Games for Sense Development: Simple, Safe, Every Day

The best "sensory training" tools are free and collaborative play. Pediatric reports emphasize that play strengthens adult-child bonds, reduces stress, and develops speech, attention, and self-control. Simple role-playing, construction, music, and dance work better than any "developmental gadgets." [16]

For visual development, "eye tracking" activities are ideal: spotting differences, tracking soap bubbles, and throwing soft balls at large targets. For auditory development, activities include "guess the sound," rhythmic clapping, and reading aloud with discussion of illustrations and semantic details. [17]

Sensory bins safely expand the child's sense of touch: grains, beans, dough, pine cones, and smooth pebbles. The key is to avoid age-appropriate small parts that pose a risk of ingestion, and to ensure clear rules: "Only on the mat, clean up together." [18]

The vestibular system is supported by movement and balance: walking on a "balance beam" on the floor, "freezing" to music, jumping over lines. Proprioception is supported by "heavy work": carrying books, construction sets, making "snowballs" out of soft pillows, and team "carrying relay races." [19]

Taste and smell are developed through "tastings": pieces of fruit and vegetables, sniffing herbs and spices, and verbal descriptions of "sweet-sour-bitter-salty-umami." This reduces food selectivity and creates a positive experience with food. [20]

Table 4. Examples of games for each system

System	Game idea for 10-15 minutes	Safety rule
Vision	Find the 5 Differences, Catch the Bubble	Sufficient light, no sharp objects
Hearing	"Guess the sound" claps according to the pattern	Moderate volume, pauses for rest
Touch	Sensory Bin	No small parts for inhalation or ingestion
Vestibular	"Freeze," "log"	Free space, non-slip surface
Proprioception	"Carriers", "wheelbarrow"	Load according to strength, adult supervision
Taste and smell	Tasting the Flowers of the Plate	New products in small portions

Environment and lifestyle: light, street, noise, screens, sleep and movement

Time spent outdoors with natural light is associated with a reduced risk of myopia in children. Reviews and consensus documents indicate that increasing "outdoor minutes" helps delay the onset of myopia, although the impact on myopia progression once it has begun is limited. [21]

Noise and prolonged listening at high volumes increase the risk of hearing damage. It is recommended to reduce the volume, take quiet breaks, and use earplugs under supervision, not for infants. For preschoolers, protective headband-type earplugs are safer. [22]

A screen environment requires rules. For preschoolers, it's wise to limit total screen time and prioritize shared viewing, quality content, and consistent screen-free rituals before bed and at the table. The "family media plan" tool helps reinforce rules for the whole family. [23]

Sleep and movement are the "fuel" of sensory regulation. International recommendations emphasize sufficient physical activity during the day, limiting sedentary time, and regular sleep as prerequisites for better behavior, attention, and mood in children under 5 years of age. [24]

Finally, air, light, and order in the room reduce sensory overload. Natural light during the day, dimmed light in the evening, the absence of unnecessary sounds and visual "noise," safe materials, and simple toy storage reduce the likelihood of sensory fatigue. [25]

Table 5. Practical guidelines for the home

Factor	What to do daily	Why is this necessary?
Street and light	60-120 minutes of active walking	Supports vision, movement, and mood
Noise	Reduce volume, pause, and protect yourself in loud places	Prevention of hearing loss
Screens	Co-browsing, clear "screen-free zones"	Less stress, better sleep
Dream	Regular rituals, a dark and quiet bedroom	Stability of behavior and attention
Order	Minimize visual clutter	Fewer distracting stimuli

Red flags and when to call

Vision: strabismus, constant squinting, holding objects close to the eyes, complaints of "blurred vision." At least one vision screening examination at ages 3-5 is recommended to detect amblyopia and risk factors. [26]

Hearing: Does not respond to name, frequently asks to repeat, increases volume, and becomes tired in noisy environments. Early identification and prompt intervention are important for all children, as delayed intervention impairs language and learning. [27]

Vestibular function: frequent falls, marked clumsiness, motion sickness even with slight movements, refusal of swings and slides, fear of movement. In such cases, it is worth discussing an evaluation with a pediatrician and, if necessary, with an ENT specialist and balance specialists. [28]

Behavioral difficulties clearly associated with sensory overload are assessed through their impact on daily life and learning. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that sensory interventions may be part of a comprehensive plan for some conditions, but the evidence base is limited, and an individualized approach is essential. [29]

If you have any concerns about development, use official checklists and discuss them with your pediatrician if necessary. The "Learn to Recognize the Signs. Act Early" tools provide clear steps for parents and caregivers. [30]

Table 6. Who to contact and what to ask for

Symptom	Who to go to?	Purpose of the appeal
Squinting, strabismus, vision complaints	Pediatric ophthalmologist	Rule out amblyopia and refractive errors
No response, loud sound, fatigue in noise	Pediatrician, audiologist	Hearing threshold assessment, recommendations
Frequent falls, avoidance of movement	Pediatrician, ENT, vestibular center	Diagnosis of the causes of balance disorders
Difficulty with daily activities due to sensory issues	Pediatrician, specialized specialists	Individual assistance plan

A weekly plan for "sensory week" for a preschooler

The program is based on short 10-15 minute sessions several times a day, alternating between activity and rest. The plan is flexible and can be adjusted depending on the weather and the child's mood. [31]

Monday: Vision and fine motor skills – large-format puzzles, color sorting, throwing soft balls into a basket. Evening – family reading with discussion of the pictures and story. [32]

Tuesday: Hearing and Rhythm - clapping patterns, “repeat the rhythm,” guessing everyday sounds, singing short songs. [33]

Wednesday: Touch - sensory bin with safe materials, water and mold play. Safety checks and cleanup are part of the lesson. [34]

Thursday: vestibular and proprioception - obstacle course made of pillows, walking on a "log", the game "freeze", "carriers" of books from room to room. [35]

Friday-Sunday: Outdoor activities and family playtime – walks, running, swings, tag, hide-and-seek. In the evening – quiet, screen-free rituals before bed. [36]

Table 7. Example of a weekly plan

Day	Morning	Day	Evening
Mon	Puzzles, sorting	Throwing at a large target	Reading and discussion
Tue	Rhythm-clapping	Guess the sound	A song to repeat
Wed	Sensory bin	Water games	A calm role-playing game
Thu	Obstacle course	"Freeze," "log"	Carriers
Fri	Active walk	Swings, tag	Family board game
Sat	Searching for natural "treasures"	Cone throwing tag	Reading
Sun	A balance bike or a scooter	Hide and Seek	Joint drawing

A quick checklist for parents and caregivers

Every day: going outside, playing together, reading, quiet breaks, and bedtime rituals. These simple habits simultaneously "nourish" all sensory systems and reduce the likelihood of overload. [37]

Every week: observe what comes easy and what causes difficulties, mark successful games and "transfer" them to other days. If you have concerns about vision or hearing, don't wait for it to "go away on its own," but discuss it with your pediatrician and undergo screening. [38]

Media rules: co-viewing, "screenless windows" during the day and evening, content quality, and predictability. It's best to put the plan in writing and post it in a prominent place. [39]

Hearing safety: moderate volume at home, pauses when listening with headphones for older children, protection in loud places for everyone. [40]

Vision and light: More time outdoors in daylight during the week is beneficial not only for physical activity, but also for the prevention of early myopia. [41]

Table 8. Mini-observation plan for 2 weeks

Day	What did the child like?	What was difficult	What to change in the environment
1-7	…	…	…
8-14	…	…	…