The best activities are often ones that can be created with what we already have! My favorite sensory activities use everyday objects from my kitchen, and they are hands down the favorite activities of the young children that I work with. (They do not even realize it works on sensory exploration, bi-lateral coordination, and manipulative prehension, they just have fun!)
You Need:
· Two food storage containers or some sort of canister
· A measuring cup and measuring spoons (various sizes are best!)
· A "sensory" element: my favorite are uncooked pasta noodles (bowtie or macaroni work well), but you can also use lentils, beans or rice (get ready for a mess!)
How To:
· Put your pasta (or chosen ingredient) into one of the containers, and show your child how to scoop and pour into the other container using the measuring tools provided.
· Engage your child in touching the sensory element with his or her hands (if willing!) to engage the tactile system of the body.
· Feel free to add objects to the pasta, such as pom pom's, toy animals, or buttons for your child to search for and find- this advances the activity and allows for more fine motor grasp development, in addition to engaging the child's visual motor skills.
*Choking hazard! Make sure supervision is close by, especially when first introducing the activity to make sure it is not eaten- it is tempting for some children, especially those who are "oral seekers" and want to explore everything with their mouths.
Enjoy playing!!
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