[The sensory-integrative process and its influence on child development (author's transl)].

A child develops and learns skills by interacting with his environment. Play provides him with the sensory stimulation his brain needs in order to be able to allow him to respond in a meaningful way to these stimuli. Until the age of seven the brain is thus prepared for the challenges of the classroom. The neurologic problem in the child with a sensory integrative dysfunction prevents him from processing the sensations of his own play, so he cannot develop the adaptive responses that organize the brain and his actions. This child needs a specially designed environment in order to experience joy and satisfaction during his play, that allow him to learn higher skills and organize the brain functions. The purpose of this article is to clarify what sensory integration is and how it influences the child's development.