Easter Sensory Box

A sensory box is an activity where  the children are given materials and tools in a table or container with no instruction on what to do with them.  The children are given a chance to explore whats in front of them and decide what to do with it themselves. This self directed play allows children to be creative and gives them confidence and a feeling of self achievement. 

Today we set up a Easter themed sensory box using porridge oats, crunched up Shredded Wheat, fluffy chicks, plastic eggs, and feathers.

The plastic eggs I used split in half. The children used these as scoops and also mix and matched them together. They  used the eggs with holes in as sieves. 

Sensory activities  build on cognitive development. This is a mental process that includes memory, making decisions, problem solving and understanding language. It is the part of our brain that helps us process information and apply knowledge.

Maths can be applied to count, size, match and sort items into groups. They can grasp a better understanding of full and empty, more or less, and whether things float or sink.

Science concepts are used when predicting outcomes and experimenting with materials such as cause and effect. Children have the opportunity to explore and build a better understanding of gravity and speed.

English and language can also be improved. Children build their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills which are used for holding a pencil to learn how to write when pouring stirring, whisking and manipulating the materials. The activity gives a child a sense of self awe which they want to share. It gives them something interesting to talk to others about because each child will use the materials differently. It builds on their vocabulary as they try to express and share their ideas.

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Bakery Bath Time

 We set up a bakery themed sensory bath. My little girl was delighted. She had so much fun.
While I was running the bath I added a bath bomb which made the bath water turn pink and bubbly.

I cut up carrier bags to make confetti to use as sprinkles. (I used the holey lid that goes on top of  the children's bucket and spade set  to catch these in when I emptied the bath)

I used a empty ice cream tub and filled it with Baking soda mixed with a dot of food colour and a little splash of water to use as icecream or cake mixture. It dissolves as you add more water so it does not clog up the drains) 

I threw in a few bowls and plastic cooking utensils and silicone cake cases.

I mixed shaving foam with a dot of food colour to use as ice cream or cake mixture

I also filled a hand wash bottle with a mixture of water and bubble bath to use as a topping.

I made some ice cream bath stickers out of sheets of foam and stuck them on the side of the bath.

She spent the next hour making cakes and ice creams in her little bakery :)

Sensory activities  build on cognitive development. This is a mental process that includes memory, making decisions, problem solving and understanding language. It is the part of our brain that helps us process information and apply knowledge.

Maths can be applied to count, size, match and sort items into groups. They can grasp a better understanding of full and empty, more or less, and whether things float or sink.

Science concepts are used when predicting outcomes and experimenting with materials such as cause and effect. Children have the opportunity to explore and build a better understanding of gravity and speed.

English and language can also be improved. Children build their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills which are used for holding a pencil to learn how to write when pouring stirring, whisking and manipulating the materials. The activity gives a child a sense of self awe which they want to share. It gives them something interesting to talk to others about because each child will use the materials differently. It builds on their vocabulary as they try to express and share their ideas.

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Construction site bath play

The bath is a perfect place to set up messy sensory play activities. Today we had a construction themed bath. I ran a bath and added a little yellow food dye to the water to make the water look like a murky construction site colour.  I threw in some bricks and plastic tools and some toy trucks for little man to play with. 

Foam sticks to the bath and tiles when wet so I used sheets of foam to make some brick bath stickers.  

We used a stool as a play table and squirted the top with shaving foam for him to play in.

Sensory activities  build on cognitive development. This is a mental process that includes memory, making decisions, problem solving and understanding language. It is the part of our brain that helps us process information and apply knowledge.

Maths can be applied to count, size, match and sort items into groups. They can grasp a better understanding of full and empty, more or less, and whether things float or sink.

Science concepts are used when predicting outcomes and experimenting with materials such as cause and effect. Children have the opportunity to explore and build a better understanding of gravity and speed.

English and language can also be improved. Children build their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills which are used for holding a pencil to learn how to write when pouring stirring, whisking and manipulating the materials. The activity gives a child a sense of self awe which they want to share. It gives them something interesting to talk to others about because each child will use the materials differently. It builds on their vocabulary as they try to express and share their ideas.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmazingLittleMinds

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/littlemisskirst/