Brushes and colours are frequently what come to mind when we think of art. However, art is more than just visuals it can also be felt, heard, smelled, and even tasted. Using art to stimulate all five senses in young children is not only enjoyable but also crucial for their development.

Let's examine how a child's artistic development is influenced by each of the six senses. Six, indeed. We hardly ever discuss intuition, the silent inner compass that young children have such a strong connection to.

Let’s walk through these senses the way a child might

Often, sight is the first step. The red-to-yellow swirl. The blending and bleeding of colours. Even though a child may not correctly identify the colour, they are still observing, taking in, and comparing. Their eyes are learning to track movement, follow patterns, and make sense of space. A simple activity like painting with just three colours can lead to endless discoveries

Then there is touch, which is about trust and goes beyond simple feeling. The texture of a leaf, the dry scratch of a crayon, and the cold squish of paint. Information is found in texture. Children are developing a sensory vocabulary as they interact with various materials.

Smell evokes feelings and memories. A child's memories are anchored by the smell of an eraser, the scent of green apple in a glue, or even the subtle scent of beeswax in crayons. Smell is closely linked to the brain’s limbic system, which handles emotion and memory.

Sound brings rhythm into creativity. Playing a calm playlist in the background, a nursery rhyme on repeat or humming as the child draws sets and emotional tone not only do they follow the rhythm, but it also enhances their auditory processing.

For toddlers in particular, taste is a part of exploration. At this age, children naturally explore the world with their mouths it’s how they learn. That’s why it’s essential to use non-toxic, taste-safe art materials. Art can simultaneously be safe, palatable, and sensory. Different tastes (sweet, salty, sour) build connections between flavour and sensation, encouraging curiosity and decision-making.

Perhaps intuition goes by the name of the sixth sense but seems to be the most important. Children don't second-guess themselves, they don't stop to think: "What should I draw?" They just go ahead. Be it a choice around a certain colour or sticking a torn piece of paper in the exact right place, children draw from a deep inner knowing. Intuitive thinking activates the right hemisphere of the brain, which is linked to creativity, emotional insight, and holistic processing.

Art in early childhood isn’t just about the final picture it’s about the full sensory experience. When children see, touch, sing, sniff, taste, and feel their way through art, they’re not just being creative they’re building strong, flexible brains. That’s where the real magic begins.