Crafts and Activities

Sprinkles Sensory Bag

I find that it’s often the easiest activity ideas that are the best. This fits that criteria. By making a Sprinkles Sensory Bag for your child or student, you can create an easy fine motor and sensory activity that also serves as a boredom buster.

Sprinkles Sensory Bag:

Supplies needed:

resealable plastic bag (sandwich or medium size*)
cake sprinkles
colourful duct tape
optional: paper

*While you can use a sandwich bag, I find that the freezer bags in size medium are thicker and less likely to tear so that’s what I always use for our sensory bags.

Directions:

Reinforce the sides and bottom of a zipper seal bag by folding duct tape over them.
Pour in some sprinkles.
Remove the excess air and seal the bag.
Fold another strip of the duct tape over the top.
Give the bag to your child.

Your child can trace letters, numbers, or shapes in the sprinkles with their finger. This will help reinforce learning and also give them fine motor practise.

If you want, you can write a letter, number, or shape on a piece of paper and lay the bag on top of the paper so that they can use that as their guide.

As far as sensory benefits go, this activity provides tactile, visual, and proprioceptive sensory feedback. If kids shake the bag, there is also a small amount of auditory sensory input as well. One of the things that’s nice about this is that it is safe for preschoolers and even toddlers because even if they are able to get the bag open, the sprinkles are edible. Of course, adult supervision should be used with all kids’ activities.

You may also be interested in these preschool fine motor activities:

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Transportation Alphabet Playdough Mats

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity

By Sharla Kostelyk

Helping your child with their fine motor development doesn’t require fancy activities or expensive equipment. There are many things you can easily do at home to work on this skill with them. This ball and bands activity is such a simple fine motor challenge that kids can do with items you already have at home.

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity:

Supplies needed:

small elastic bands (like the Rainbow Loom kind you may have laying around!)
ball with textured knobs

Directions:

Stretch the bands to fit over the knobs of the textured ball. Add as many as you want to, but this activity is challenging for small hands, so be sure to consider the ability of the child. It’s best not to put too many bands on the ball which could cause frustration.
Encourage your child to carefully remove the bands from the ball. This will work on their fine motor skills, pincer grasp, and concentration.
Once your child has mastered this skill, you can have them try to place the elastic bands on the knobby ball themselves.

In addition to working on pincer grasp, fine motor, and concentration, kids will also be receiving that all important sensory input. So this seemingly simple activity packs big value.

It is quick to set up and inexpensive. This is perfect for preschoolers and with help, even some toddlers can attempt this.

To expand this activity:

For older kids or those with more advanced fine motor skills, you can have them try to create shapes using the loom bands on the spikes on the ball. Let them get creative!

Please note that the rubber bands are small and therefore, adult supervision should be used with this (or any of our other) activities.

You may also be interested in these fine motor activities for kids:

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Seashell Fossils in Playdough

Simple Scooping Busy Bag

Easy Outdoor Sensory Activities at Home

By Sharla Kostelyk

We’ve been stuck inside only able to do indoor sensory activities but now it’s finally warmed up enough to spend some time outside. That means we can finally add these easy outdoor sensory activities to our days. We are so looking forward to getting some fresh air.The kids have already begun exploring in the trees and enjoying the sunshine. It has done wonders for their mood now that they aren’t as cooped up anymore.

Easy Outdoor Sensory Activities at Home

Outdoor Sensory Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Frozen Treasure Find

This is one of my favourite activities as it keeps the kids busy for hours.

Scented Bubbles: Calming Lavender Bubble Recipe

There are so many fun ways to play with bubbles and this is a great homemade recipe to use.

5 Trampoline Games

Playing on a trampoline is good for kids' moods and health. These trampoline games are great fun.

Bug Action Cards for Kids

These bug action cards give kids ideas for practising their gross motor skills while getting fresh air.

Nature Sensory Bottle

As kids explore outside, they can collect items to create their own unique sensory bottle.

Nature Inspired Spring Sensory Soup

Pour, dump, scoop, and stir with this sensory soup.

Nature Weaving

Nature meets art in this sensory rich weaving project.

Ghost Hands Campfire Fun

Ewwww! This is so sticky and messy, but kids completely love it!

Edible Freezie Painting

Even toddlers can participate in creating art with this taste-safe "paint".

Cotton Ball Painting

Big movements and lots of interaction is required for this cool art activity.

Calming Lavender Sensory Bin

There are only a few simple supplies needed to make this calming sensory bin for kids.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Older kids will enjoy exploring outdoors in a photo scavenger hunt.

Bubble Wrap Body Slam Painting

Bubble wrap body slam painting is as hilarious to watch as it is to do. Great proprioceptive sensory input too!

Shaving Cream Polka-Dot Sidewalk Painting

Shaving cream painting is a neat alternative to sidewalk chalk.

Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder

Use your empty toilet paper rolls to create a bird feeder. Then watch as the birds come to eat.

Simple Summer Sensory Activity

This is so easy to set up, but the best ideas usually are. My kids always love this game.

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Flower Oobleck

Summer, sensory, and science combine for this ooey-gooey gorgeous flower oobleck.

Photo Credit: happilyevermom.com

Nature Soup

A mess free nature sensory bin for toddlers and siblings to do together. Gather materials outside, freeze them, and make a nature soup that will help kids cool down on a hot day as they mix their nature soup together!

Photo Credit: teachingmama.org

Sensory Walk

Exploring the sense of touch with the toes in a sensory walk!

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Nature Sensory Bin Outdoor Explore and Discover

Create a real nature theme sensory bin to explore the senses! Go on a nature hunt and collect materials to build an outdoor sensory bin. Make sure to talk with your kiddo about all the smells, textures, and items found in nature.

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

How to Make a PVC Pipe Sand and Water Table

Make your own sand or water table using PVC pipes. There are so many play opportunities with this.

Photo Credit: handsonaswegrow.com

DIY Mud Kitchen in One Weekend

Make your own outdoor mud kitchen for messy exploration.

Photo Credit: happyhooligans.ca

Outdoor Sensory Play - exploring herbs

Make some "homemade" sensory soup using weeds or herbs from the garden.

Photo Credit: www.notimeforflashcards.com

Mud Soup

Pretend play doesn't have to be complicated. How about some good old fashioned mud soup?

Not all activities have to be planned out. There are other things that can be done more spontaneously in the yard.

Other easy ideas for outdoor sensory activities you can do at home:

make mud pies
water balloons or an old fashioned water fight
obstacle course – Use anything you have on hand such as hula hoops, slides, wood, pallets, tunnels, pool noodles, chairs, and tires.
jump rope
relay races
sprinkler, kiddie pool, or Slip ‘n’ Slide
tag
yard work – Great for proprioception and for teaching good work ethic! Think raking, mowing (for kids who are old enough), picking rocks, and carrying firewood or bricks.
dig in the sandbox
gardening – digging, planting, pulling weeds, and picking are all great tactile sensory input.
bike rides
hikes or nature walks
family campfire
tree climbing
interval circuit – set up exercise stations in the yard with signs like “10 Jumping Jacks”, “1 Run Around the Yard”, “10 Supermans” (my kids loved this activity!)

Of course as with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used.

In case the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can find a great list of indoor sensory activities for home here.

Easter Fluffy Slime

By Sharla Kostelyk

Bring on Spring with this feathery Easter fluffy slime. Its texture is so soft, making it perfect for celebrating this Spring holiday. I am wanting anything that makes that feel closer. Full disclosure: I’m dreaming of Spring right now because where I live, it is still below freezing and snow blankets the ground a week into April. So I am all about thinking about baby chicks, green grass, and colourful flowers right now! And of course Easter.

This Easter fluffy slime is soft and downy-like in its texture which reminds me of those Spring things. Watch the video below to see just how easy it is to make your own Easter fluffy slime.

Easter Fluffy Slime:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup of Elmer’s white School Glue
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup water
2 1/2 cups shaving cream
1 1/2 Tbsp. contact lens solution
blue or purple glitter
mini glitter foam eggs (I found mine at the Dollar Store)

Directions:

1. Add glue to a bowl.
2. Mix in water and baking soda.
3. Add shaving cream and mix.
4. Stir in food colour.
5. Slowly add contact solution. Mix.
6. Add the glitter.
7. Knead.
8. If it’s still too sticky, add a drop more of contact solution and knead some more.
9. Fold in the mini glitter foam eggs. Continue to knead.
10. Store in an airtight glass or plastic container.

Fluffy Slime Troubleshooting Tips:

You need an activator in order to create the slime’s texture. In this recipe, we used contact solution as the activator. Without that, the glue and shaving cream would just be a bowl of gunk.

Fold in extra shaving cream if you want your slime to be fluffier.

If the slime isn’t stretchy after days of play, try to add a bit of hot tap water or a small amount of lotion.

If you find that the slime is too sticky, add a drop or two more of the contact solution or a small amount of baby oil and knead. The real key here is the kneading.

These tips will help you to get the right consistency with your slime.

Looking for more easy sensory play recipes to inspire creativity year-round? Join me for a free five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a complimentary sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out some of our other Easter sensory activities:

Easter Egg and Bunny Sensory Bin

Bubble Wrap Easter Egg Painting

Christ Centered Easter Sensory Bin

Bug Action Cards for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

Help kids get their wiggles out using these bug action cards with prompts for fun gross motor play. Kids can use these inside or outside. This is such an easy activity for parents to set up. You can easily add some exercise into your child’s day in a fun way.

With prompts for climbing, marching, hopping, and more, kids can get some all important sensory input. These actions engage the visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive sensory systems.

Bug Action Cards:

Supplies needed:

printer
paper
Bug Action Cards (you can download those here)
scissors

Directions:

Download the action cards.
Print them.
Cut them apart.
Create a small stack with them. Each child can pull one from the pile and act out the instructions on the card.

These action cards make a fantastic brain break. You can use them right in the middle of schoolwork to have a five minute break before they get back to their task. This will help them refocus and have better concentration.

Get the whole body moving in a fun way. Help kids burn off some of that extra energy they have from being stuck inside or from sitting for too long. These action cards are also a cute activity to add in to a unit on insects. Kids can take the learning a step further by reading up on each of the bugs on the cards.

Another great way to expand on this activity is to have kids create their own cards with ideas they come up with. You can have them stick with the bug theme or choose something else.

Type your email in the box below to get your bug action cards so that the learning and fun can begin!

Check out these other gross motor activities for kids:

Dinosaur Action Cube

5 Trampoline Games

Outdoor Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Easy Indoor Sensory Activities at Home

By Sharla Kostelyk

Sensory play is so important. It helps not only with fine and gross motor development, language and communication, and boredom, but it also improves mood and lowers anxiety. And I would say that right now, those things are very needed. I wanted to provide you with a list of easy sensory activities at home that you can do starting today.

No matter how old your kids are from toddlers up to teens, sensory play can make a big difference in how your days go. If you incorporate sensory play opportunities at regular intervals throughout your day, you’ll be surprised at how much calmer the house will be. I encourage you to participate in some of the play yourself as it will also help lower your anxiety.

These sensory activities don’t need to be complicated. A lot of the supplies you need are probably already in your home.