Sensory play is the buzzword for children of this millenium, I don't remember growing up with this term much less knowing what sensory play is about. For sure, it would have been a similar concept. I love how there are SO many like minded moms around and the internet is a haven for all these recipes, I've tried as much as possible to use baby friendly ingredients.
Sensory bins
I tried to find a theme with the bins I put together but...they always end up being a mix of things I find around the house.
My first seaside bin with a bunch of plastic sandplay tools and colourful blocks.
Then it became anything that I think he'd like. Turns out I was half right about his preferences, the things that he was denied previously (the torch light, pink crepe paper that he was shredding to bits...and a button).
All you need is a random metal tin and fur balls! I was definitely more excited about it than him.
Aluminum foil too, was oddly not such a great toy as I'd expected.
Homemade play dough
3-4 cups flour
1/2 cup warm water
1-2 drops food colouring
After pinching and throwing, I was left with a mess to clean up. Looks like he is not too ready for playdough just yet! My cutters can wait!
Homemade playdough version 2
The second try was definitely a better success than the first, I kept them in the fridge and played with it again a good month later and it was still soft and pliable!
We had a total of two separate sessions with this, the first time round was less interactive because I let him explore the textures and I fragranced it with pandan.
The second was a blast! It became a family activity where we sat a total of 90 mins (gasp) reliving our childhood and introducing it into C's childhood. Voted best family time activity by the family.
Homemade rainbow rice
1 cup rice
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Food colouring
Great for that fine pincer grip!
It all started out very tame and things got messy (as expected) and when rice throwing started, I knew it signaled the end of our sensory play session.
Jello and agar agar were both fun affairs! A pity my Jell-O was too runny, it ended up a watery mess but he had fun scooping and creating a mess (as always).
The BEST sensory play ever, waterbeads! I got mine from Daiso!
I had a good 30 minutes of silence and it did not seem to bore him watching the beads bounce off. But I would caution about paying 200% attention to your toddler to ensure none of it gets consumed.
Edible Waterbeads
Big sago pearls are the answer to these and I coloured them twice! The first time ended up too starchy. How awesome is this lasting throughout the whole day and after two plays, we binned it.
Definitely a lot more child friendly than the waterbeads, the only grouse is the colouring does stick so one ends up with coloured fingers (but nothing that a sprinkle of baking soda cannot fix!)
I'm in love with those colours!!!!
My waterbaby probably ranks this tops. He ended up so drenched but his wide smiles are more than worth it.
Painting with....Popsicles!
His hand muscles probably will not be developed for a while and I do not have thick grip brushes at home so I thought of using our existing ice popsicles as colouring tools.
The hot weather was just too much for us and the popsicles too. They melted so fast and was a great painting tool!
Doodling in progress.
My little Picasso in the making eh? Best part of it? Tear and throw!
These are so easy to clean up, I'm definitely repeating this.
Ice Chalk Play!
Corn Flour
Colouring
Water
I LOVE THIS. Personally.
It's painting and anti gravitational. The paint is melty and solid at once, does not create such a mess as expected and....the colours! My range of food colouring goes pastel...major love!
I had so much fun, I repeated it for a less impressed bub.
Coloured Pasta
Less messy than rice and it was easier to teach colours.
1 cup pasta
1 tsp of vinegar
Food Colouring
Corn kernels and beans
I even replaced the pasta with googly eyes and buttons for variety.
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I had testing and trying the recipes available. Those minutes of peace I get are so precious, I wish he'd be so enthralled with these homemade play fun activities for long.
Sensory bins
I tried to find a theme with the bins I put together but...they always end up being a mix of things I find around the house.
My first seaside bin with a bunch of plastic sandplay tools and colourful blocks.
Then it became anything that I think he'd like. Turns out I was half right about his preferences, the things that he was denied previously (the torch light, pink crepe paper that he was shredding to bits...and a button).
All you need is a random metal tin and fur balls! I was definitely more excited about it than him.
Aluminum foil too, was oddly not such a great toy as I'd expected.
Homemade play dough
3-4 cups flour
1/2 cup warm water
1-2 drops food colouring
After pinching and throwing, I was left with a mess to clean up. Looks like he is not too ready for playdough just yet! My cutters can wait!
Homemade playdough version 2
The second try was definitely a better success than the first, I kept them in the fridge and played with it again a good month later and it was still soft and pliable!
We had a total of two separate sessions with this, the first time round was less interactive because I let him explore the textures and I fragranced it with pandan.
The second was a blast! It became a family activity where we sat a total of 90 mins (gasp) reliving our childhood and introducing it into C's childhood. Voted best family time activity by the family.
Homemade rainbow rice
1 cup rice
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Food colouring
Great for that fine pincer grip!
It all started out very tame and things got messy (as expected) and when rice throwing started, I knew it signaled the end of our sensory play session.
Jello and agar agar were both fun affairs! A pity my Jell-O was too runny, it ended up a watery mess but he had fun scooping and creating a mess (as always).
The BEST sensory play ever, waterbeads! I got mine from Daiso!
I had a good 30 minutes of silence and it did not seem to bore him watching the beads bounce off. But I would caution about paying 200% attention to your toddler to ensure none of it gets consumed.
Edible Waterbeads
Big sago pearls are the answer to these and I coloured them twice! The first time ended up too starchy. How awesome is this lasting throughout the whole day and after two plays, we binned it.
Definitely a lot more child friendly than the waterbeads, the only grouse is the colouring does stick so one ends up with coloured fingers (but nothing that a sprinkle of baking soda cannot fix!)
I'm in love with those colours!!!!
My waterbaby probably ranks this tops. He ended up so drenched but his wide smiles are more than worth it.
Painting with....Popsicles!
His hand muscles probably will not be developed for a while and I do not have thick grip brushes at home so I thought of using our existing ice popsicles as colouring tools.
The hot weather was just too much for us and the popsicles too. They melted so fast and was a great painting tool!
Doodling in progress.
My little Picasso in the making eh? Best part of it? Tear and throw!
These are so easy to clean up, I'm definitely repeating this.
Ice Chalk Play!
Corn Flour
Colouring
Water
I LOVE THIS. Personally.
It's painting and anti gravitational. The paint is melty and solid at once, does not create such a mess as expected and....the colours! My range of food colouring goes pastel...major love!
I had so much fun, I repeated it for a less impressed bub.
Coloured Pasta
Less messy than rice and it was easier to teach colours.
1 cup pasta
1 tsp of vinegar
Food Colouring
Corn kernels and beans
I even replaced the pasta with googly eyes and buttons for variety.
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I had testing and trying the recipes available. Those minutes of peace I get are so precious, I wish he'd be so enthralled with these homemade play fun activities for long.
