‘It just makes sensory’: Colourful cognitive play for children

13 Apr 2023

Early childhood teacher, Jamie Gill, is creating colourful, personalised sensory boards for young children. Not only does she include a wide array of fine motor activities, she also uses bright, vivid Resene paint colours that make them even more fascinating and inviting to young children.

Jamie’s parents made her son, Tobias, a sensory board during the pandemic. With a shortage of resources and supplies, they made do with what they had and could find at the time, but this got Jamie thinking about other children needing cognitive stimulation and learning resources. As with most ECE teachers, she is always thinking about growing and expanding young minds.

This sensory board is a blast! A rocket shape with loads of fun, painted in Resene Poppy and Resene Half Concrete.

“I have a passion to grow and nurture little minds, challenge their thoughts and theories and help them to discover how the world works,” Jamie says. “Sensory boards are a tool to help strengthen and develop so many aspects of their learning journey.

“It’s a time I like to think where parents and children can be completely technology free and be with each other discovering the delights of their senses.”

Gorgeous playful colours, this piece is painted in Resene Bright Spark, Resene Dizzy Lizzy and Resene Half Concrete.

Specialising in handmade, cut and uniquely designed sensory boards for children, Jamie also wanted to make these affordable and available for all children to use in their own home. With a love for bold colours and everything ‘eye-catching’, Jamie gets creative with each piece she makes. 

Jamie uses a range of materials from 12mm plywood, Resene paints, tools, paintbrushes, rollers, pencils, locks, bolts, mirrors, chain, taps, ribbon, puzzles, laces and so much more. If she doesn’t have it, she gets creative and tries to make it.

Colourful with all the bells and whistles, this board is painted in Resene Funtasia metallic paint, Resene Half Concrete, Resene Napa, Resene Rose Gold metallic paint and Resene Hullabaloo.

“I measure and cut the wood, sand it down making sure it has a nice finish before applying a base of Resene Half Concrete,” Jamie says. “I then apply the colour palette my customer has chosen and start to arrange the items accordingly to theme. 

“I have a nice wee stash of Resene testpots on my shelf, I recommend them to everyone.”

Jamie loves choosing from the gorgeous range of colours from Resene – finding it particularly helpful that Resene has options of quarter, half and double.

Personalised for Harry, this sensory board is painted in Resene Dizzy Lizzy, Resene Half Resolution Blue, Resene Half Concrete and Resene Hullabaloo.

“My colour palette comes from liking bright and bold colours. Sometimes Tobias sneaks in a colour that I didn’t know I needed and it’s a case of ‘I see it, I like it, I have to have it’, because you just never know when you will need it.

It is tricky choosing a favourite from Resene, I love them all. But right now I am loving Resene Napa and Resene Hullabaloo - totally contrasting colours but I reckon they would look fab together.”

Patterns and play, this sensory board is painted in Resene Lucifer metallic paint and Resene Half Concrete.

Jamie gets her inspiration from her son Tobias, her mum, and through reflecting on teaching environments she has worked in. From her experience as a teacher, she can think about what her son and other children would like, and what learning resources are important for their age. 

“I have always had a passion for arts, crafts and provocations,” Jamie says. “I love to draw, which helps and doing this there are no limits, and I can let the creative juices flow.

“I am a mum first and a creative second, and this is something I do to keep my mind fresh, and because I really love it.” 

Check out Jamie’s Instagram: @it_just_makes_sensory 

Jamie with her son Tobias, playing with his fun sensory rocket board painted in Resene Dizzy Lizzy, Resene Bright Spark and Resene Half Concrete.

Published: 13 Apr 2023