Sensory Experiences for Young Children

In the lives of infants and toddlers almost every experience is a new one. How do they learn everything they need to know about their environment? In short,  they use ALL five of their senses. This is, in part, why they put everything in their mouths! So what can you do to build on your child's natural need for sensory experiences?

Easy Set-ups

• Use small tubs or tote containers (lidded ones work well for storing and reusing) 
• When using water as the sensory base the sink or tub works great 
• For messier items put an old tablecloth, blanket, sheet or large towel down
• BE CREATIVE - Find ways to use all the senses. For example try adding scents like vanilla extract. 

Easy Sensory "Fillers"

• Flour 
• Cornmeal 
• Sand 
• Mash Potato Flakes 
• Beans 
• Rice 
• Pasta Noodles
• Corn Packing Peanuts (add a small amount of water for a little science experiment) 
• Confetti 
• Birdseed 
• Cotton Balls 
• Coffee (whole or ground) 
• Shredded Paper 
• Tissue Paper (again try adding water) 
• Pudding 
• Jello
• Bubble Wrap 
• Cool Whip 
• Shaving Cream 
• Ribbons 
• Bows 
• Scarves 
• Carpet Samples
• Tile Samples 
• Pumpkins or Squash (let them explore the insides and outsides)
• Grass Seed 
• Dirt 
• Mud 
• Easter Grass 
• Felt Pieces 
• Fabric Pieces 
• Feathers 
• Aquarium Rocks 
• WATER - THIS IS EASY TO ADD TO - TRY:
• Cotton Balls 
• Easter Grass 
• Feathers 
• Tissue Paper 
• Corn Starch 
• Floating Toys 
• Hard Baby Dolls 
• Cars 
• Dishes 
• Soap 
• Paper 
• Ice Cubes 
• Watercolor or Food Color 
• Rocks 
• Shells 
• Large Marbles 
• Corks 
• Funnels 
• Pipes (PVC for plumbing works well)
• Sponges
• Washcloths
• Syringes 
• Pump bottles (i.e. old soap dispensers)
• Squeeze Bottles (i.e. honey bottles)
• Cups of Various Size 
• Strainers 

Simple Sensory Tools (items to enhance their play with the sensory filler)

• Buckets 
• Bowls 
• Containers 
• Tongs
• Spoons 
• Scoops 
• Cups 
• Measuring Cups 
• Ice Cube Trays 
• Film Canisters 
• Strainers
• Colanders 
• Cookie Cutters 
• Sifting Toys 
• Whisks 
• Turkey Basters 
• Egg Cartons 
• Toilet Paper Tubes 
• Muffin Tins 
• Ladles 
• Pump Bottles 

Simple Sensory Recipes

• CLEAN MUD
• GRAT 3 BARS OF IVORY SOAP. INA BOWL MIX GRATED SOAP, 1 ROLL OF TOILET PAPER (TORN INTO PIECES) AND SOME WARM WATER. KEEP WIXING UNTIL IT FORMS THE CONSISTENCY OF MASHED POTATOES. STORE IN AN AIR TIGHT CONTATINER. ADD A LITTLE MORE WATER WHEN IT DRIES OUT. DISPOSE IN THE TRASH AND NOT DOWN THE DRAIN
• MOON SAND 1: 
• 10 LBS,  1 Bottle Baby  Oil 
• Mix Ingredients to make moldable sand
• GOOP:
• 2 C WARM WATER, 3 C CORNSTARCH PUT INGREDIENTS INM A BOWL AND MIX. THIS IS SOLID WHEN LEFT ALONE, BUT TURNS TO A LIQUID WITH THE HEAT OF LITTLE HANDS! 
• SILLY PUTTY:
• MIX TWO PARTS ELMER’S GLUE TO ONE PART LIQUID STARCH. POUR STARCH INTO GLUE A LITTLE AT A TIME AND MIX. IF THE MIXTURE IS TOO STICKY ADD MORE STARCH. COVER AND REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT. 
• EASY PLAYDOUGH:
• 1 C COLD WATER, 1 C SALT, 2 tsp VEGETABLE OIL, 3 C FLOUR, 2 TBS CORNSTARCH, TEMPRA PAINT OR FOOD COLOR
• MIX THE WATER, SALT, OIL AND PAINT TOGETHER. GRADUALLY WORK IN THE FLOUR AND CORNSTARCH UNTIL YOU GET THE CONSISTENCY OF BREAD DOUGH.
• OATMEAL PLAY DOUGH: 
• 1 PART FLOUR, 1 PART WATER, 2 PART OATMEAL 
• MIX ALL INGREDIENTS WELL UNTIL SMOOTH. KNEAD AND PLAY.

What do Young Children Gain from Sensory Experiences? 

• Cognitive Development
• Pre-math skills filling, dumping, estimating, figuring out more and less, etc. 
• Pre-science skills through exploring matter, weight, volume, etc. 
• Ability to focus on a task 
• Problem solving skills 
• Language Development 
• As you build on their play with conversations 
• New vocabulary 
• Physical development 
• Fine Motor is needed for later writing (think fingers)
• Playdough or clay 
• Pinching, grasping or picking up items with thumb and index fingers 
• Using Tongs
• Gross Motor is also known as large motor (think whole hand or arm)
• Pouring items 
• Holding cups or other large items 
• Hand-Eye Coordination 
• Emotional development 
• Sense of accomplishment 
• Independence 
• Building self-regualtion 
• Social Development 
• This is dependent on whether or not your child is working alone 
• If you work with them you can work together to fill and dump material, take turns with items, etc. 
• FOLLOW YOUR CHILD'S LEAD WHEN YOU PLAY WITH THEM!