{"id":174000000621,"date":"2019-10-23T13:49:17","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T17:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/avalon-park\/?p=174000000621"},"modified":"2019-10-24T13:56:21","modified_gmt":"2019-10-24T17:56:21","slug":"sensory-activities-for-kids-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/avalon-park\/2019\/10\/23\/sensory-activities-for-kids-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Sensory Activities for Kids at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered why babies want to put everything into their mouths and toddlers seem to get into everything? It\u2019s because these sensory experiences\u2014of tasting and touching\u2014help them understand the world around them. Sensory experiences play a big role in children’s development from infancy throughout their childhood.<\/p>\n

What is sensory play?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sensory play or sensory activities are games or activities that are centered around at least one of the seven senses: taste, smell, sight, touch, hearing, balance or body awareness.<\/p>\n

\"Sensory<\/figure>

Incorporating fun sensory activities into playtime with your children is an important tool to improve their learning and attention. The benefits of sensory activities don\u2019t end there! Engaging children\u2019s senses improves their language skills, enhances their memory, and helps their brains make new nerve connections. Sensory activities also allow children to learn what smells, sounds and textures make them feel calm. You can even use sensory activities to help your toddler or preschooler overcome a sensory sensitivity. For example, an aversion to certain food textures or loud sounds. Leading your child in an enjoyable activity, in a safe space, that allows them to engage with textures or sounds they don\u2019t like can help them build up a tolerance. There are many fun and educational activities that you can do at home to engage your toddler or preschooler\u2019s senses. You can start with any of these 8 ideas!<\/p>\n

Sensory Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Balance Act<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Materials: painters\u2019 tape or sidewalk chalk<\/p>\n

    The balancing act is a great sensory activity for children that will help them with balance and body awareness. Create a line on the floor with painters\u2019 tape or, if you\u2019re outside, sidewalk chalk. After you\u2019ve finished, instruct your child to stand on one foot. Then switch to the other. Next, have them try to walk on the line like it\u2019s a balance beam. If they\u2019ve mastered it and want to try something harder, instruct them to try it backward.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The Spotlight Game<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Materials: flashlight<\/p>\n

      The spotlight game is a sensory activity for toddlers<\/a> that\u2019s perfect for bedtime. While you\u2019re sitting in bed together, when the light is off, use a flashlight to point at different objects in the room. You can shine the light on books, pictures, toys, etc. Each time you shine it on an object ask your child, \u201cWhat is the spotlight on?\u201d You can also ask other questions about the objects like \u201cWhat color does it look like with the spotlight? And what color does it look like when I move the spotlight?\u201d<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Playing with Spaghetti<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Materials: spaghetti, food coloring, bowls or Ziplock bags<\/p>\n

        \"Kids<\/figure>

        This activity with colorful slimy spaghetti is a sensory activity that toddlers and preschoolers love! First, cook a package of spaghetti noodles. Then drain out the water and rinse them under cool water. Once they\u2019ve cooled down, separate them into two to four bowls or Ziplock bags. Add food coloring to each one and mix it in until the spaghetti absorbs the color. Then add a little bit of vegetable oil so that the noodles don\u2019t stick together. Once they\u2019re dyed, let your child stick their hands in the bags. Ask them questions about how it feels. Let them pick up handfuls and play with it or fill a new bag with their choice of colored spaghetti.<\/p>\n

        Homemade Maracas\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Materials: empty clear plastic or glass bottles, marbles, small stones, rice, dry beans, masking tape<\/p>\n

        Making homemade maracas is a fun sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers<\/a> that allows them to be creative and play with sounds. Fill clear plastic or glass bottles with different small objects like marbles, stones, dry beans, and rice. Screw the caps on. Then tap around the lid so that it stays on. Let your child shake the maracas. Ask them questions about how they sound. “Which one is louder? Which one is quieter? What objects in the bottle are the noisiest?<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Exploding Color Experiment\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Materials: pie pan, milk, food coloring, Q-tips, dish soap<\/p>\n

        The exploding color experiment is a cool science and sensory activity. Pour milk into a pie plate until it\u2019s about an inch deep. Let your child squeeze drops of different colored food coloring into the milk. After they\u2019ve finished, dip a Q-tip in dish soap. Then touch the surface of the milk with the Q-tip and watch as the color explodes. (Check out a video of what it looks like here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rqQSlEViNpk<\/a>). Ask your child questions about what it looks like. “What colors are there? How have the colors changed?” Let them move the Q-tip around in the milk and watch how the colors change.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Sensory Treasure Trove<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Materials: basket or box, scraps of fabric<\/p>\n

          The sensory treasure trove is a soothing sensory activity for children. Fill a basket or box with scraps of fabric. Choose scraps that are different colors and textures (like velvet, faux fur, silk, burlap, etc.). Then let your child explore their new treasure trove. Ask them questions about what textures they like and don\u2019t like. Talk about the sizes and colors of the fabric in their tactile treasure chest.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Tambourine Band<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Materials: paper plates, stapler, small objects (pebbles, dry beans, rice, etc.)<\/p>\n

            Start a tambourine band by making homemade tambourines! This sensory activity incorporates touch, sound and body awareness. Let your child paint or draw on the back of two paper plates. Once they\u2019ve finished their design, fill one of the plates with small objects and place the other plate on top (with the bottom facing out). Staple the two plates together to make a tambourine. Make one for yourself and other members of your family too. Teach your child how to use the tambourine to make sounds with their hands and hips. Practice different beats and rhythms. March around making music.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Guess What\u2019s in the Bag<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Materials: tote bag or old purse, old wallet, keys, small toys, lipstick, etc.<\/p>\n

              Guess what\u2019s in the bag is a sensory game that lets children focus on their sense of touch. Toss an assortment of different sized and shaped objects into a tote bag or old purse. Have your child stick their hand in the bag and describe the first item they feel without looking in the bag. Ask them to guess what it is. After they guess, have them pull it out. Repeat this until the bag is empty.<\/p>\n

              We hope that you enjoy using these 8 sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers at home! We use activities like these at Kids r Kids Avalon Park. Leading children through activities that engage their senses is part of our whole-child approach to daycare and preschool. If you want to learn more about Kids r Kids Learning Academy, contact us to set up an appointment!<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Have you ever wondered why babies want to put everything into their mouths and toddlers seem to get into everything? It\u2019s because these sensory experiences\u2014of tasting and touching\u2014help them understand the world around them. Sensory experiences play a big role in children’s development from infancy throughout their childhood. What is sensory play? Sensory play or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":289,"featured_media":174000000623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[174000000020,174000000011],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174000000621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sensory-activities","category-tips-for-parents"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Is It Important To Include Sensory Activities In My Childs Playtime?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Including sensory activities into your child\u2019s playtime, they will rapidly improve their learning and thier attention span as well.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/avalon-park\/2019\/10\/23\/sensory-activities-for-kids-at-home\/\" \/>\n<meta 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