5 Engaging and Entertaining DIY Sensory Activities
School holidays are a wonderful time to create fun family memories, but can also evoke the old 'I'm bored' tune on repeat!! Enter: sensory activities! Engaging in sensory activities not only keeps littles entertained but also helps in the development of motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interaction. Below are five at-home sensory activities that will keep your children captivated and learning through play.
1. Homemade Playdough Creations
Materials:
Flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, oil, food coloring, essential oils (optional).
Instructions:
- Mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar in a pot.
- Add 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of oil, and food coloring of your choice.
- Stir continuously over medium heat until the mixture forms a ball.
- Once cool, knead the dough until smooth. Add a few drops of essential oil for a delightful scent.
Sensory Benefits:
This activity engages touch and sight as children manipulate the dough and see the colors blend. The addition of essential oils can stimulate the sense of smell. It also promotes creativity and fine motor skills as kids mold and shape the playdough into various forms.
2. Sensory Bin Adventure
Materials:
A large bin, rice, sand or dried beans, small toys, scoops, and containers.
Instructions:
- Fill a large bin with rice, sand or dried beans.
- Hide small toys or objects within the rice/beans.
- Provide scoops, spoons, and containers for the children to explore.
Sensory Benefits:
This tactile activity allows children to feel the different textures and use their sight to find hidden objects. It enhances fine motor skills as they scoop and pour, and encourages imaginative play as they create scenarios with the discovered items.
3. Nature Walk and Sensory Collage
Materials:
A bag or basket, glue, large paper or cardboard, and collected natural items (leaves, flowers, twigs, etc.).
Instructions:
- Take a nature walk with your children and collect various natural items.
- Once home, arrange and glue these items onto a large piece of paper or cardboard to create a sensory collage.
Sensory Benefits:
This activity engages the senses of touch, sight, and smell. Children can feel the different textures of leaves and twigs, see the vibrant colors of flowers, and smell the scents of nature. It also encourages observation skills and creativity as they assemble their collage.
4. DIY Sensory Bottles
Materials: Clear plastic bottles, water, glitter, beads, food coloring, small toys, oil.
Instructions:
- Fill a plastic bottle halfway with water.
- Add glitter, beads, food coloring, and small toys.
- Fill the rest of the bottle with oil (baby oil or vegetable oil works well).
- Seal the bottle tightly.
Sensory Benefits:
These bottles are visually stimulating as children watch the glitter and beads swirl around. The calming effect of watching the slow-moving items can be soothing. This activity also provides a safe and mess-free way to explore liquids and their movements.
5. Homemade Scented Paints
Materials:
Cornstarch, water, food coloring, flavored extracts (vanilla, mint, lemon, etc.).
Instructions:
- Mix 1 cup of cornstarch with 1 cup of water to create a smooth mixture.
- Divide the mixture into small containers and add different food colorings to each.
- Add a few drops of flavored extracts to each container for unique scents.
- Use brushes or fingers to paint on paper.
Sensory Benefits:
This activity stimulates the senses of sight, touch, and smell. The bright colors attract visual interest, the textures engage the sense of touch, and the different scents provide olfactory stimulation. It also encourages creative expression and fine motor skill development as children paint.
Engaging children in sensory activities during the holidays can be a delightful way to bond and promote their development. Each of these activities—homemade playdough, sensory bins, nature collages, sensory bottles, and scented paints—provides a unique way to stimulate your child's senses and foster creativity, fine motor skills, and cognitive growth. Plus, they are easy to set up and can be done with materials readily available at home. So, gather your supplies and dive into these fun-filled sensory adventures with your children!