S E N S AT I O N A L F U N !
everyday
sensory play
MR. CLEAN
Lava Lamp Sensory Bags
Materials
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Large freezer zip lock bags
Baby oil
Clear packing tape
Fluorescent paint
Fill each bag 1/4 - 1/3 full with baby oil then add 1 to 4
tablespoons of fluorescent paint. Seal bag and squish
together to mix. Seal the bag using packing tape.
Adhere to the window or to the tray of the highchair and
allow child to explore the moving bubbles.
Body Painting
Materials
• A variety of different sized and textured paintbrushes
Pretend to paint different body parts of the children and have them pretend to paint themselves.
I Spy Sensory Bags
Materials
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Ziplock bags
Wet mediums: hair gel, body wash, oil, water, dish soap, etc.
OR dry mediums: rice, lentils, sand, etc.
Small themed items (could match a book, the week’s theme, a letter or the season)
Duct tape
Fill a ziplock sandwich sized bag approximately 1/3 full.
Add items. Remove as much air as possible.
Duct tape around all edges. This is a nice low pressure,
low contact way to introduce new textures to tactile
defensive children.
M I L D LY M E S S Y
Superhero Rescue
Materials
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Action figures or small objects frozen in a bowl
of water
Salt (in a shaker)
Warm water
Spray bottle
Squirt bottle
Turkey baster
A variety of kitchen tools
Freeze the action figures the night before and then
pop out and provide one to each child. Place the warm
water in squirt bottles and spray bottles. Using the
salt, water, and kitchen tools each child will try to free
their superhero.
Rainbow Rice
Materials
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Rice (approx. 1 cup/colour)
White vinegar
Food colouring
Ziplock bags
Place 1 cup of dry white rice, 4 drops of food colouring
and 1/2 tsp of vinegar in a large ziplock bag. Seal and
shake. Repeat for each colour. Pour out flat onto a
cookie tray to let colour set over night. Once set, mix
together in a large sensory bin and hide small toys for
your child to explore and discover.
Indoor Construction Site
Fill a large shallow container about 1/4 full with lentils
or beans. Add shovels, small toy trucks, and small
cups. Explore!
Moon Dough
Sweet Potatoes Play Dough
• Baby oil
• Flour
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Materials
Add 1/2 cup of baby oil to 4 cups of all-purpose flour. Mix well. Place in a large shallow bin on the floor along
with some sand toys and explore!
CLEANUP CREW
Edible Finger Paints
Materials
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Large paper
Masking tape
Yogurt (plain)
Kool-Aid
Secure paper to the table top or floor (dependent upon
where you would like to paint). Use Kool-Aid to colour
the yogurt. Pour a small amount of each colour onto the
paper and let them explore!
Materials
Sweet potatoes
Marshmallow fluff
Cinnamon (optional)
Food colouring (optional)
Mash all ingredients together and explore like playdough. This is fun for any age, however the fact that it
is edible makes it great for little ones. This is also fun
for food exploration for picky eaters.
Eye-Spy Slime
Materials
• Clear glue
• Warm water
• Borax
Mix two cups of clear school glue with 2 cups of very
warm water, stir well and add letters (or any small
items). In a separate container mix 1 tsp borax with 1
and 1/3 cups very warm water until dissolved. Combine
bowls together and mix with hands.
Digging for Worms
Kool-Aid Play Dough
• One package of spaghetti noodles
• Liquid food colouring
• Vegetable or olive oil
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Materials:
Cook pasta and then divide into bowls one per colour. Mix a few drops of food colouring into each bowl until
the desired colour intensity is reached. Add a small
amount of cooking oil (to keep it slimy). Mix all pasta
together in a large sensory bin and add items of
interest. At Halloween a fun addition is spiders
or eyeballs!
Materials
1/4 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 packet Kool-Aid
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2/3 cup boiling water
Mix dry ingredients. Add oil. Add water and knead.
This play dough is colourful and has a wonderfully
fragrant smell. Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
Moon Sand
Materials
• 4 cups of coloured play sand
• 2 cups of corn starch
• 1-3 cups of water
In large bin combine all dry ingredients. Add water
until desired consistency is reached. Sand should be
stored in an open container. It will dry out, however just
add more water to return to desired state. Excavation
Spaghetti Paint Brushes
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Materials
Knox gelatin
Small dinosaurs, bugs or treasures
Cake pan, jelly mold, or large muffin tin (cake pan or mold for co-operative small group activity. Muffin tin or mini loaf pan for individual sizes)
A variety of excavation tools (may include: spoons, chopsticks, toothbrush, paintbrush, etc.)
Arrange items within the container. Prepare gelatin
according to package directions and pour over
treasures. Refrigerate overnight. Release from
containers once set by soaking container in hot water
for 15 seconds and then flipping onto a plate or tray. Provide children with a variety of “excavation tools” and
have them find the hidden treasures.
Materials
Spaghetti
Yarn
Cooking oil
Paint
Paper plates
Paper
Create small bundles (about the size of a quarter)
of raw spaghetti and secure with yarn or string
approximately 1/4 of the way from the end. Cook
the bundles and drain. Coat the “brushes” in a small
amount of oil then lay flat to cool and dry. Provide each
child with one “brush” and a paper plate with 2 colours
of paint. Have them use the spaghetti as a paint brush.
Snow Slime
Materials
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White glue
Warm water
Iridescent glitter
Borax
In a medium sized bowl mix together 2 cups of white
glue, 1.5 cups of very warm water and glitter. In a
separate bowl mix together 3/4 tsp borax and 1 &
1/3 cups very warm water. Combine bowls and mix
ingredients with hands. This recipe can be refrigerated
to give same cold feel as snow. A fun activity is to use
snowflake cookie cutters to make melting snowflakes.
TUB TIME
Glow Tub
Dim or turn out the main light in your washroom.
Add light sticks and lots of bubbles.
Paint Palette
Using a muffin tin, fill each cup with shaving foam (not
gel). Stir in a few drops of food colouring into each one. Give your child a paint brush and let them create!
Coloured Ice Cubes
Add a few drops of food colouring to your ice cube tray
and let your children explore the science of turning
water to ice.
Colour of the Week
Add a few drops of food colouring to the bath water
while it is running. Choose colour themed tub toys for
that day to compliment. You can also add 2 drops of an
essential oil to make it a multi-sensory experience.
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