{"id":23156,"date":"2025-06-24T13:04:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/news-approfondimenti\/toccare-la-sabbia-sentire-lacqua-ascoltare-il-mare-lestate-come-stimolo-multisensoriale-per-lo-sviluppo\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T09:50:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T08:50:43","slug":"touching-the-sand-feeling-the-water-listening-to-the-sea-summer-as-a-multisensory-stimulus-for-development","status":"publish","type":"news-approfondimenti","link":"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/touching-the-sand-feeling-the-water-listening-to-the-sea-summer-as-a-multisensory-stimulus-for-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Touching the sand, feeling the water, listening to the sea: summer as a multisensory stimulus for development"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the summer, the marine environment<\/strong> offers a context rich in multisensory stimuli<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>, where individuals encounter varied and complex sensory inputs.<\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/strong>\"\"<\/p>\n

Sand as a tactile and motor stimulus<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Direct contact with sand<\/strong> stimulates cutaneous mechanoreceptors (Merkel discs, Meissner\u2019s 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\u2013eye coordination, and body awareness.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>. These processes improve stress management and behavioral responses (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000).<\/p>\n

Water and movement: stimuli for motor maturation<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Interaction with water also provides significant benefits. The movement<\/strong> of water around the infant\u2019s or child\u2019s body acts as a dynamic sensory stimulus, enhancing body and kinesthetic awareness<\/strong>. Such stimuli encourage spontaneous postural behaviors and activate cerebellar and cortico-spinal circuits involved in motor control, supporting the maturation of the motor system.<\/p>\n

The sound of the sea: a natural white noise<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

For newborns, listening to the rhythmic sound of ocean waves<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.\u00a0This type of auditory stimulation functions as a hypnotic input capable of synchronizing the newborn\u2019s biological rhythms, improving sleep quality, and contributing to the regulation of the autonomic nervous system<\/strong>, which is still maturing in the first months of life (Loewy et al., 2013).<\/p>\n

\n

According to the Theory of Natural Neuroaesthetics<\/strong> (Kaplan & Berman, 2010), the natural environment stimulates brain networks responsible for involuntary attention and cognitive restoration. The seascape, with its harmonious elements\u2014sunlight, soft colors, organic sounds\u2014favors the defocusing of voluntary attention and the recovery of executive functions<\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Even simple actions such as touching sand with the feet or feeling water move along the body activate complex brain circuits, supporting motor maturation and body awareness.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The marine environment as a therapeutic and educational space<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

The sensory experience of summer can be interpreted as a spontaneous therapeutic act<\/strong>, 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:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Outdoor education<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Sensory rehabilitation<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Occupational therapy<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Targeted interventions in natural settings have proven effective in treating sensory integration disorders, promoting childhood mindfulness<\/strong>, and supporting the socio-emotional skills of children and adolescents<\/strong> (White-Traut, 2002).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1447,"featured_media":23157,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"focus-approfondimento":[874],"focus-appartenenza":[891],"coauthors":[794],"class_list":["post-23156","news-approfondimenti","type-news-approfondimenti","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","focus-approfondimento-well-being-in-summer","focus-appartenenza-lo-sviluppo-armonico-del-bambino-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTouching the sand, feeling the water, listening to the sea: summer as a multisensory stimulus for development - Baby Wellness Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/babywellnessfoundation.org\/en\/news-approfondimenti\/touching-the-sand-feeling-the-water-listening-to-the-sea-summer-as-a-multisensory-stimulus-for-development\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Touching the sand, feeling the water, listening to the sea: summer as a multisensory stimulus for development - Baby Wellness Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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. 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