Before summer fades away…..

Make messes together with your child, and enjoy these fun sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers!

In an over stimulated world, one of the most important sensory activities is learning how to slow down, be still, and enjoy of the moment. And, yes… get messy and have fun together too!

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Summer Sensory Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

1. Explore a Watermelon

Watermelon isn’t just for eating!  Spit seeds. Slurp pulp. Carve rind.

Suck on frozen watermelon cubes or put them into a blender (then strain), for a delicious Watermelon Aqua Fresca drink!

Need a science project for your toddler?  Check out Learn~Play~Imagine’s recipes for Watermelon Foam Dough, Watermelon Slime and Erupting Watermelons!

2. Make Mud Pies

Find a puddle, and jump in! Does the mud feel slick, smooth, bumpy? How does it smell?

Need some inspiration? Read Marjorie Winslow’s imaginative classic, Mud Pies and Other Recipes, complete with muddy appetizers, main courses, hor d’oeuvres, and even desserts.

The book is a lively inspiration for mud cookery including how to properly collect, prepare, and serve delightfully dirty pretend cuisine….from Daisy Dip to Muddle Puddle Soup!

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 3. Feel Some Flax Seed

Dig for buried treasure. Create a futuristic playground for your plastic animals.

Sensory tables — filled with rice, corn, or just plain sand or water — are tactile playgrounds ready to spur not only the senses, but also imaginations.

According to Teacher Tom, “Flax seed is the king of sensory materials.”, and we agree!  Flax seed provides both a silky texture, and a not-too-big, not-too-small tactile sensation (also perfect for easier clean-up….in comparison to sand!)

 4. Make Ice Cream Play Dough

Open your own pretend ice cream stand with super-soft, and delightfully deceptive, homemade play dough ice cream.  This isn’t your typical playdough!

Check out Still Playing School’s play dough tips for creating these visually yummy Neapolitan colors.

5. Sit in the Sand

The beach is an all-in-one sensory experience. Dig a hole. Smell the ocean breeze. Collect and sort some shells.

Baby zazen?  Teach your child to appreciate the moment, with the sand beneath their feet (and um, bottom!).

If you’re not near the coast, create an edible sandbox filled with white cornmeal sand.  Sprinkle in a few sea shells, and add a shovel and pail! Check out this adorable Beach Sensory Box from Fun at Home with Kids.

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6. Garden for Lavender Fairy Wands

Take a deep breath and smell the garden. Practice fine-motor skills by cutting plants and sorting bundles.

Lavender is a wonderful sensory material for making lavender play dough, or try sprinkling lavender in the bath tub to soothe and calm before bedtime.

7. Do Absolutely Nothing

Learning how to relax is also a sensory activity.  Listen to the crickets. Find shapes in the clouds. Smell the grass. Just hang out.

The most important sensory activities are the little hugs, smells of home, and ability to sit still, and find contentment with the ones we love.

Happy Summer!
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