Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates any of your child’s five senses: touch, smell, taste, sound or sight. Sensory play is only limited by your own or your child’s imagination. Sensory play is an important part of development and learning.
Sensory activities are offered or are set up as an invitation to encourage children to use their senses while they play, create, investigate and explore.
When we talk about the senses sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste it opens up the learning world. Any or all of these can be incorporated into play to create a sensory play activity/invitation.
You do not need any special equipment to create your own Sensory play activity at home. Most activities involve a large plastic tub that the children can dive their hands in to feel and explore. You could use a cardboard box or just the ground if that is all you have available. Make use of the free items around you before heading out to spend money.
This sensory tutorial shows you how to color dried pasta, rice and oatmeal to create safe sensory play. The oatmeal can be used as a base in lots of different homemade sensory play bins and activity ideas.
Supplies:
1 cup of uncooked old fashioned oatmeal, pasta, or rice
2 tablespoons of hand sanitizer
Paper Towels
Zipper Seal Bag
Instructions:
Place 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal, pasta or rice into a zipper seal bag.
Add 2 tablespoons of hand sanitizer and 10-15 drops of food coloring.
Seal the bag, carefully letting the air out by squeezing the bag as you seal it.
Shake the oatmeal, pasta or rice, sanitizer and food coloring well until all of the dry food is coated with a vibrant color.
Dump and spread the oatmeal on several paper towels and allow them to dry for 2 to 4 hours.
After the oatmeal pasta or rice has dried it is ready to use for supervised sensory play.
If you are looking for more Sensory ideas, check out our DIY Sensory Aid Board on Pinterest Or check out our handpicked sensory toy gift list on Amazon.
Rainbow Sensory Activity bin –
A rainbow sensory activity bin is a vibrant and engaging play space that is filled with a variety of materials in different colors of the rainbow. Children can explore the materials using their senses, including sight, touch, and sound, and can use their imaginations to create their own play scenarios.
Creating a rainbow sensory activity bin is easy and affordable, and can be customized to suit your child’s interests and developmental needs. You can include a variety of materials such as rice, pasta, pom-poms, feathers, and more, all in different colors of the rainbow. Children can use tools such as scoops, spoons, and funnels to manipulate the materials and create their own sensory experiences.
Halloween Sensory Jars Get ready to spookify your sensory play with these Halloween sensory jars! These DIY jars are perfect for kids who love all things creepy and crawly. Not only are they a fun way to engage in sensory play, but they also make great decorations for your Halloween festivities. Using simple materials like mason jars, food coloring, and creepy-crawly toys, you can create a whole collection of sensory jars for your kids to explore. These Halloween sensory jars are a great way to get into the Halloween spirit while also providing your little ones with a fun and educational activity.
How to make Textured Sand for Sensory Play
With just a few simple ingredients like sand, cornstarch, and food coloring, you can create a range of textures and colors for your kids to play with. Not only is this activity fun, but it also provides valuable opportunities for learning and development. Sensory play helps children develop important cognitive and social skills, as well as promotes creativity and imagination. So, if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity for your kids, give textured sand a try!
How to make Scented Playdough.
Playdough is a classic sensory activity that kids love. But have you ever tried making scented playdough? Adding scents like lavender, peppermint, or lemon can add a whole new level of sensory exploration to this beloved activity. Scented playdough not only engages kids’ sense of touch, but also their sense of smell. It’s a great way to provide kids with a multi-sensory experience while also promoting relaxation and stress relief. Plus, making scented playdough is easy and fun! With a few simple ingredients and essential oils, you can create a whole range of scented playdough for your kids to enjoy.