SENSORY ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME
WINDOW PAINTING WITH SHAVING CREAM
Grab a can of shaving cream and head outside (inside also works if you do not mind the cleanup). To start, plop a good amount of shaving cream onto the window. If age-appropriate, you let your child take a turn at spraying it too. Together, practice writing letters, drawing pictures or just swirl your fingers around. Place some in their hands and have them press it to the window to experience different feelings. If inside, the sunlight shining through can create a different tactile experience. Bonus: you now have your very own window-washer! Have a towel ready and the cleanup for this one will be quick.
Skills and benefits: Working on the tactile senses, this activity also builds fine motor skills like hand-writing. If you allow your child to spray the can, you also have the opportunity to work on taking turns.
POURING STATION
Here’s a fun, free activity that can entertain for a while. If you have one, lay a shallow plastic bin on the floor, otherwise you may want to move this activity outdoors. Search your cabinets for a bunch of containers in varying sizes and shapes you can place inside: measuring cups, plastic drinking cups, pitchers, bowls, funnels, ice cube trays, etc. An eye-dropper is a fun addition if you have it. Pour water into some of them, along with a bit of food coloring in a few, and let the fun begin. Encourage your child to pour from one into another, mixing and diluting colors. This works well on a patio or in an empty bath tub, but also indoors – on top of several towels! – if you’re brave. Talk about the colors changing and capacity of the containers when (not if!) there is overflow or spillage.
Skills and benefits: A pouring station is great for increasing attention span and concentration. It helps with fine motor skills through hand-eye coordination and balance, plus gives them the chance to build a real life skill of pouring.
SENSORY WALK
You will need a few shallow plastic tubs, best placed outside on a patio or open sidewalk. Fill each one with items of different, yet comfortable textures your child may like to experience. Ideas include pom poms, cotton balls, sand, shaving cream, water beads, dry lentils, feathers, dry leaves and water. Use however many you like, but consider starting small if your child is leery about certain textures. You may want more than one bin of water – in various temperatures and colors – to place in between the “sticky” materials like shaving cream or sand, and you can place a towel down as one of the “steps” too. Encourage your child to step from bin to bin, exploring what is in each. Take a turn yourself and talk about what it feels like. If verbal, encourage them to do the same.
Skills and benefits: A twist on the typical sensory bin, this one is all about the senses! It can also aid in coordination and balance when stepping between each.
EDIBLE SENSORY BIN
This one can be messy, so be prepared with a tablecloth and dress your child in an old t-shirt or smock. Pick one or two fun foods for your child to play with and put them in plastic bowls or a roasting dish to create a more controlled environment. Some of our favorite foods to experiment with (across a range of “messiness”) are canned cranberry sauce, mashed avocado, cooked rice, corn flakes and shredded coconut. Let your child smear the foods around in the dishes like finger paint.
Skills and benefits: This is a safe activity for children who want to put everything in their mouths. It can also be beneficial for children who are limited in their tastes because it can help loosen the fear around food and introduce them to new textures.