Sensory Play
Sensory Play...So Easy And So Important
Your toddler and preschool age child is constantly learning new things and exploring the world. They learn by touching, feeling and interacting with their environment. They learn about textures, taste, smell and natural consequences. Every experience is new to them. Keeping them safe during these exploratory times is also very important. As much as I wanted my child to explore their world I also did not want them to injure themselves. I started thinking about my training as a Montessori teacher and began looking around my kitchen. I came up with some creative ways to allow for this exploration while keeping them safe and close by. I have listed a few activities below to get your started. Remember, use your imagination. Try the activities out yourself. Feel it, smell it etc. so you will know what your child will be experiencing as well.
*Fill a dish basin with oatmeal. Give your child cups and spoons to use.
(this is a great activity to do outside with younger children or children who like to "eat" sand)
*Fill a bowl with different shaped dry pasta. Add a cupcake pan and show your child how to transfer a handful of pasta to one of the cupcake tins. They may just "play" with the pasta, but the different textures of it will be satisfying to them either way.
*Sit your child at a table and give them some shaving cream to explore with. As they get older practice writing shapes or letters on the table. This can also be done with flour or cornmeal on a cookie sheet but make sure you have a drop cloth underneath them for spills.
*When your child is old enough to play in the bathtub, fill it with turkey basters, spoons, cups etc. and allow them to "play" and explore.
These are just a handful of examples. All of the materials can be found around your house and can give your child the opportunity to explore their environment in a safe and supervised way.
Your toddler and preschool age child is constantly learning new things and exploring the world. They learn by touching, feeling and interacting with their environment. They learn about textures, taste, smell and natural consequences. Every experience is new to them. Keeping them safe during these exploratory times is also very important. As much as I wanted my child to explore their world I also did not want them to injure themselves. I started thinking about my training as a Montessori teacher and began looking around my kitchen. I came up with some creative ways to allow for this exploration while keeping them safe and close by. I have listed a few activities below to get your started. Remember, use your imagination. Try the activities out yourself. Feel it, smell it etc. so you will know what your child will be experiencing as well.
*Fill a dish basin with oatmeal. Give your child cups and spoons to use.
(this is a great activity to do outside with younger children or children who like to "eat" sand)
*Fill a bowl with different shaped dry pasta. Add a cupcake pan and show your child how to transfer a handful of pasta to one of the cupcake tins. They may just "play" with the pasta, but the different textures of it will be satisfying to them either way.
*Sit your child at a table and give them some shaving cream to explore with. As they get older practice writing shapes or letters on the table. This can also be done with flour or cornmeal on a cookie sheet but make sure you have a drop cloth underneath them for spills.
*When your child is old enough to play in the bathtub, fill it with turkey basters, spoons, cups etc. and allow them to "play" and explore.
These are just a handful of examples. All of the materials can be found around your house and can give your child the opportunity to explore their environment in a safe and supervised way.
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