Have you ever wondered how to turn any book into a multisensory experience?

Why would you?

Here's the thing: when multiple senses are engaged simultaneously, stronger connections are made in the brain. The result? Deeper learning with higher retention and greater understanding for application.

When it comes to both school and Scripture, this is exactly what we want!

Unfortunately, many people miss the benefits because they mistakenly believe:

1. It's only for people with learning differences or special needs
2. It requires a TON of fidgets, manipulatives or other equipment, which means...
3. It's expensive
4. It's messy

Multisensory learning does benefit people of all learning styles, but it doesn't have to require an infinite supply of expensive or cumbersome materials (or make a mess!)

Our favorite way to get started with multisensory learning is through storytelling.

Wait what? Yup! The simple act of telling stories. Here's how you can get started creating multisensory learning experiences for fun and for FREE!

Give the sense.

In Nehemiah 8, the wall of Jerusalem has been rebuilt and now Ezra the scribe is reading the Book of the Law to God's people who have returned. No doubt, some are hearing it for the very first time. As Ezra reads the law, there are teachers (Levites) positioned throughout the crowd that has gathered to hear the reading. Their job? "They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading (Nehemiah 8:8 ESV).

Giving the sense means so much more than using words to explain. When we engage multiple senses at once, our brains forge strong connections with what we're learning from an array of angles. This results in deeper understanding, improved retention, and more effective application.

Any well-written story has a way of appealing to multiple senses. Living books are labeled as such because of the way they immerse the reader into the topic, drawing them in and engaging them as if they were a part of the story. The Bible, the ultimate living book, does this beautifully. As you read any text, here are 4 things to look for in order to make it multisensory:

1. Visual cues

Think about the setting and the perspective of the characters in the story. What could they see? Try to create visual representations of key elements as you read. 

• When possible, choose a picture book with rich illustrations. Begin with a picture preview to give little ones a chance to study the illustrations and predict what might happen.
• Play with light and shadows
• Use colorful fabrics to represent objects in the story
• Pull up pictures, maps or use wall art to set the stage

2. Auditory cues

What sounds might've been heard in the story's setting? Were there crashing waves? A rainstorm? Animal sounds? Marketplace chatter? Search YouTube or your favorite music streaming platform for nature sounds that match your story's setting.

3. Tactile cues

Anything that has a distinct texture or invites hands-on engagement is excellent for tactile engagement. 

• Are their animals in your story? Consider what their skin felt like. Household objects like a shaggy rug, cotton balls, leather, etc. are great to use.
• Can anything in the story be built? Invite your child to use modeling clay or blocks to construct an element of the story while listening quietly.

4. Kinesthetic cues

This one often gets confused with tactile cues, but the main difference is that kinesthetic learning involves whole body movement. Some ways to do this include:

• Acting out parts of the story
• Playing a game related to a main point that involves movement

Now that you've learned the basics of sensory storytelling, you're ready to turn any book into a multisensory learning experience. As a result, your little learner will connect with the story on a deeper level and be better equipped to retain the principles they glean from it for real-life application.