Touching the sand, feeling the water, listening to the sea: summer as a multisensory stimulus for development

During the summer, the marine environment offers a context rich in multisensory stimuli, capable of significantly contributing to neuropsychological development, particularly in the early years of life. The experience of being close to the sea can be seen as a natural laboratory, where individuals encounter varied and complex sensory inputs.

Contemporary neuroscience literature highlights the importance of multisensory integration in the development of the central nervous system, indicating how environments rich in tactile, auditory, and proprioceptive stimuli foster neuroplasticity and enhance cognitive, motor, and emotional skills (Kaplan, 1995).

Sand as a tactile and motor stimulus

Direct contact with sand stimulates cutaneous mechanoreceptors (Merkel discs, Meissner’s corpuscles, Pacinian and Ruffini endings), promoting the development of both fine and gross sensory abilities. In childhood, playing in the sand supports tactile discrimination, hand–eye coordination, and body awareness.

Studies in occupational therapy have shown that rich, unstructured tactile experiences, such as sand manipulation, contribute to the maturation of sensory integration and regulation of the limbic system. These processes improve stress management and behavioral responses (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000).

Water and movement: stimuli for motor maturation

Interaction with water also provides significant benefits. The movement of water around the infant’s or child’s body acts as a dynamic sensory stimulus, enhancing body and kinesthetic awareness. Such stimuli encourage spontaneous postural behaviors and activate cerebellar and cortico-spinal circuits involved in motor control, supporting the maturation of the motor system.

The sound of the sea: a natural white noise

For newborns, listening to the rhythmic sound of ocean waves can have particularly beneficial neurophysiological effects. The sound of the sea, characterized by low frequencies and constant repetition, belongs to the category of so-called white noises, known for their ability to soothe and promote relaxation. This type of auditory stimulation functions as a hypnotic input capable of synchronizing the newborn’s biological rhythms, improving sleep quality, and contributing to the regulation of the autonomic nervous system, which is still maturing in the first months of life (Loewy et al., 2013).

The marine environment as a therapeutic and educational space

The sensory experience of summer can be interpreted as a spontaneous therapeutic act, capable of enhancing not only neuropsychological development but also mental well-being. Conscious use of the marine environment as an educational and therapeutic space opens promising perspectives for:

• Outdoor education
• Sensory rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy

Targeted interventions in natural settings have proven effective in treating sensory integration disorders, promoting childhood mindfulness, and supporting the socio-emotional skills of children and adolescents (White-Traut, 2002).