Exploring Sensory Play
Sensory play is a wonderful way for kids looking to explore their senses and engage in their creativity. This particular type of play creates mental connections and pathways, and children can learn about new textures and stimuli that are not part of their daily routine. This fosters learning and understanding of the world around them.
There are many fantastic ideas for easy ways to create your own sensory activity with items found in most households, but Sensory Bins or Baskets are a great place to start. The materials are offered to children without an “assignment”, allowing children to use their imaginations and creativity to explore the materials in their own ways.
- Themed: Come up with various themes for each bin (e.g., beaches, holidays, sports, seasons). Use rice or beans as the base, and add fun textured objects you can find around the house that fit the theme.
- Nature Collage: Take a nature walk and collect leaves, flowers, and anything that might catch your eye. You can build a pretend garden or use birdseed as “sand” to have the kiddos search for the objects that are hidden within. You can then talk about the colors and items found in nature during the activity and how they function within our environment.
- Edible Bin: Edible sand can be made with graham crackers, oatmeal, or cookie crumbs. Add in other foods, such as marshmallows or fruit to add to the fun.
Some helpful tools needed may include:
- Non-sharp tweezers for sorting
- A shovel
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Ice trays for sorting
- Cookie cutters
Sensory play offers children a unique activity to expand their creative imagination. They can engage all of their senses while learning. Let us know your favorite sensory bins!
Sources:
https://www.spiritedandthensome.com/sensory-play-ideas-for-preschoolers/
https://www.sensorydirect.com/blog/outdoor-sensory-play-ideas/
https://littlelearningclub.com/sensory-activities-6-12-months/