The Chaos and the Clutter

sensory play

Bug Slime without Borax

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This bug slime without borax would go well with an insect theme unit. It also is a nice one for Spring or Summer. It’s a way for kids to play with bugs without them being real bugs! Bug Slime #sensoryplay #slimerecipes #slime #insectsMy kids love slime that is super stretchy. That is one of the things we really like about this particular recipe. It has a good amount of stretch to it.

Incorporating the insects into the slime allows for this to be used in your school or homeschool in a science unit. The clear slime allows kids to examine each of the insects and make observations about their characteristics.

Bug Slime without Borax Recipe:

  • 5 oz. Elmers clear school glue
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp. contact solution (be sure to use contact solution that includes both boric acid and sodium borate in the ingredient list or it won’t work)
  • a variety of plastic bugs

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, pour 5 oz clear glue.
  2. Add 1/2 cup water.  Mix until the glue has broken up and is incorporated into the water.
  3. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda in.  Baking soda will help determine your slime thickness.
  4. Add 1 Tbsp. of contact solution. Mix immediately. The slime will be ready to knead when it begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. 
  5. Knead the slime. It will be sticky at first, but keep kneading it. This should make it less sticky. If you find that it is still too sticky, you can add a little bit more contact solution, a little at a time.
  6. Once your slime has formed, you can add your bugs and knead them inside.  
  7. Store in an airtight container.

Slime makes an excellent sensory play material. It incorporates the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems. Kids can pull, knead, stretch, and squish the slime.

Check out some of our other slime recipes:

Mardi Gras Slime Peppermint Scented Slime Stretchy Bug Slime

Lemonade Oobleck Summer Sensory Play for Kids

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Oobleck is a great sensory play opportunity for kids. This lemonade oobleck brings the feel of summer into play even if it’s the middle of winter. It combines sensory and science to create a very cool sensory play material. I was inspired by our lemonade sensory soup.

A young child's hands are visible. With one hand, he is touching a light yellow slimey substance that is on a table and with the other hand, he is holding the yellow substance in the palm of his open hand. The words "Lemonade Oobleck Sensory Play" appear on white in the middle of the image and at the bottom, the light yellow substance is spread on a table and there are two lemon slices on top of it.This scented sensory play recipe is so simple. Only 3 ingredients are needed. Kids can easily make this oobleck slime themselves. Younger ones that need mom or dad’s help can help to measure and pour by stirring.

Lemonade Oobleck Recipe:

Materials needed:

  • 1 cup of cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 2 Tbsp. of powdered lemonade mix
  • bowl
  • craft/popsicle stick

Directions:

  1. Pour the water into the bowl.
  2. Add the powdered lemonade mix and stir with the popsicle stick until well mixed.
  3. Add the cornstarch and mix.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

Math – Kids can measure the ingredients. Doubling the recipe or halving the recipe provides a more advanced math learning opportunity.

Science – This hands-on science project is a great example of suspension, as the grains of cornstarch are suspended in the water, but over time will settle to the bottom if allowed to rest for an extended amount of time.

Is it a liquid? Is it a solid? That depends on how you touch it. When pressure is applied, the cornstarch bonds together to form a solid. Yet, when a soft touch is applied, it remains in its liquid state.

To expand on the science lesson, research non-Newtonian fluids and why oobleck can be both a liquid and a solid. Read more about the science behind this substance. Sensory – Lemonade oobleck provides visual, tactile, proprioception, and olfactory sensory input. Children can see (visual) the colour and explore shape as it changes from liquid to solid. They can touch (tactile) and feel the texture of the state of matter change.

Their proprioception will be engaged while they apply pressure to the oobleck to form it into a solid. And they will smell (olfactory) the scent of lemon.

Vocabulary and communication – Kids can communicate their observations of this sensory science activity. They can ask questions and expand their vocabulary as they learn.

Looking for more great sensory play recipes? Join thousands of others who are loving the five day email series, Sensory Activities and Solutions and you’ll get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out some of our other scented sensory play recipes:

Calming Lavender Scented Bubbles

Peppermint Scented Slime

Lavender Scented Playdough

Playdough Made with Hair Gel

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Homemade playdough is always so much better than store bought. Over the years, we have come up with some go-to playdough recipes that are sure to work. While there is nothing wrong with a guaranteed recipe, I wanted to try something different. This playdough made with hair gel certainly fits that description!Playdough made with hair gel #playdough #sensoryplay #kidsactivities
One of the nicest things about this recipe is that it doesn’t need cream of tartar. I don’t always have cream of tartar in the house, so it’s nice to be able to make playdough without it.

Playdough Made with Hair Gel:

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup of clear hair gel*
  • 1/4 cup of water
  • neon food colouring
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups of flour
*Note: This doesn’t need to be good quality hair gel. The containers from the Dollar Store work just as well as the expensive kind.
Directions:
  1. Place 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of the clear hair gel in a medium sized bowl.
  2. Add 5 drops of neon food colouring to the liquid mixture.
  3. Stir until this is well combined.
  4. Add 1 cup of flour to the liquid.
  5. Begin stirring until the contents begin to clump.
  6. At this point, you can decide if you need to add additional flour. If the mixture feels sticky, add an additional 1/4 cup of flour, and continue to stir.
  7. When the flour has been incorporated, test it for stickiness.
  8. Add additional flour if needed.
  9. When the playdough is no longer sticky, it is ready to play with!
  10. Store in an airtight container when not in use. 

Sensory play ideas with playdough:

  • Shape it onto a playdough mat.
  • Play Stuck in the Mud with toy cars.
  • Roll it, squish it, press it, shape it.
  • Use stamps or cookie cutters with the playdough.
  • Put out a variety of small objects like beads, sequins, and buttons for kids to press into the play dough. This is a great way to work on fine motor skills.
  • Another good fine motor activity is to cut rolls of playdough with scissors.
  • Make pretend food.

Some of our other homemade playdough recipes:

Calming Lavender Scented Playdough Peppermint Essential Oil Playdough 

Glittery Snow Playdough Snow Playdough and invitation to play

 

Bright Butterfly Sensory Bin

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The inspiration behind this butterfly sensory bin was actually a package of pasta! I was at the store and spotted brightly coloured bow tie pasta. As soon as I saw it, I thought “those look like butterflies”. So of course I bought it so that I could make a butterfly sensory bin.

Brightly coloured bow tie shaped dry pasta is in a blue plastic bin. Resting on the pasta are blue and green plastic butterflies, a large yellow butterfly shaped foam piece, a pink butterfly wand, and a purple butterfly shaped cookie cutter. The words "Butterfly Sensory Bin" are on the bottom of the image.The pasta looks so much like little butterflies that the other butterflies in this sensory bin blend in with it. The kids enjoyed exploring with this activity.

Butterfly Sensory Bin:

Materials needed:

  • brightly coloured bow tie pasta in a variety of colours*
  • clear silicone butterfly stamps
  • butterfly shaped cookie cutter
  • butterfly shaped foam piece
  • small magnifying glass
  • plastic butterflies from the butterfly Toob
  • glow in the dark butterfly wand (I find a 3 pack of these at the dollar store)

*If you can’t find bow tie pasta that’s already coloured, you can buy regular bow tie pasta and colour it yourself. You can find a tutorial on dying pasta for sensory play here.

Directions:

  1. Pour the dry pasta into a plastic bin.
  2. Add the other items.
  3. You can also add small cups or bowls as scoops.
  4. Invite your child to play!

This sensory bin provides visual, auditory, and tactile sensory input.

I always find it interesting the way that each of my kids approaches a sensory bin differently. This one was no different. One of our sons just scooped around in the bin, hiding butterflies and finding them and even mindlessly running his fingers through it to hear the sound of the dry pasta moving. One of our daughters took her time examining the butterflies with the magnifying glass while commenting on their features. She also enjoyed squishing the silicone stamps and foam piece.

Another of our daughters went about her play very differently. She carefully picked out individual pasta shapes and methodically built a large butterfly on the counter. She planned out the colours and had everything just so. Later, she brushed the pasta into her hands and put the pieces back in the bin.

Ways to expand this and make this sensory bin part of a unit on butterflies:

I bought the shaped foam piece that went in the sensory bin in a large pack. If you do this, you can use the remaining foam to have kids decorate their own. They can use glitter pens, markers, sequins and glue, or stickers.

Use pasta, beans, leaves, a twig, and paper plate to create a butterfly life cycle visual.

Raise your own butterflies. We did this one summer and the kids were absolutely fascinated. You can purchase butterfly raising kits that walk you through how to do this. My kids were in awe when the butterflies emerged from their cocoons.

Insect Lore Butterfly Growing Kit - With Voucher to Redeem Caterpillars LaterInsect Lore Butterfly Growing Kit – With Voucher to Redeem Caterpillars LaterInsect Lore Butterfly Growing Kit - With Voucher to Redeem Caterpillars Later

Set out books about butterflies:

Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of ColorsButterfly Butterfly: A Book of ColorsButterfly Butterfly: A Book of ColorsHandbooks: Butterflies & Moths: The Clearest Recognition Guide AvailableHandbooks: Butterflies & Moths: The Clearest Recognition Guide AvailableHandbooks: Butterflies & Moths: The Clearest Recognition Guide AvailableButterfly Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8Butterfly Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8Butterfly Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8My, Oh My--A Butterfly!: All About ButterfliesMy, Oh My–A Butterfly!: All About ButterfliesMy, Oh My--A Butterfly!: All About ButterfliesButterflies For Kids: A Children's Picture Book About ButterfliesButterflies For Kids: A Children’s Picture Book About ButterfliesButterflies For Kids: A Children's Picture Book About ButterfliesFrom Caterpillar to ButterflyFrom Caterpillar to ButterflyFrom Caterpillar to ButterflyThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Very Hungry Caterpillar

Butterfly Sensory Bag

Mermaid Stress Balls

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Homemade stress balls are so easy to make. They are so much less expensive than the store bought ones and I actually like the feel of them better as well. We have been making DIY stress balls for years, but this time, I wanted to try something a little bit different, so we made mermaid stress balls.An opaque ball contains green, blue, and clear balls and sits on a white background with confetti sprinkled on it. The words "DIY Mermaid Stress Ball" are in the middle. Below, there is a balloon attached to a small purple funnel and the filled balloon next to a small bag of white faux pearls.
I really love the way they turned out. They look super fun, but they also offer a very different tactile experience because of the textures in them. Children will enjoy exploring through their sense of touch.


Stress balls are sometimes called squeeze balls or sensory balls. Kids can get visual and tactile sensory input from these. Homemade stress balls are also a great calming tool for kids (and adults). They are perfect for including in your child’s calm down kit.
These are also small enough to be kept in a backpack, desk or a child’s room. This enables kids to have a calm down tool with them wherever they go. They also make a great fidget and are quiet to play with, so most teachers don’t mind students using them in the classroom.

Squeezing stress balls can ease tension and when combined with calm down breathing techniques, are an effective method of reducing overall stress or calming down in the moment.

*Please note that there are small parts in these stress balls and the small parts and the balloon are choking hazards so as with all sensory play activities, adult supervision should be used at all times.

How to make mermaid stress balls:

Materials needed:

  • blue, green, and clear water beads
  • faux pearls
  • holographic white glitter
  • clear balloons
  • small funnel or an empty water bottle

Water BeadsWater BeadsWater BeadsFaux PearlsFaux PearlsFaux PearlsHolographic GlitterHolographic GlitterHolographic GlitterClear BalloonsClear BalloonsClear Balloons

Directions:

  1. Soak the water beads according to the directions on the package so that they are full sized.
  2. Stretch the end of the balloon over the end of a small funnel or the tip of an empty water bottle.
  3. Add the glitter, faux pearls and water beads to the balloon. You want to fill it until it is the size you want.
  4. Tie off the end of the balloon. Cut the excess away.
  5. Your mermaid stress ball is now ready to squeeze, squish or hold.

Get 175 sensory activity ideas in convenient printable lists which are ideal for using in the home, classroom or in a therapeutic setting.

You may also want to read:

What to Include in a Calm Down Kit

Mermaid Sensory Bag

Homemade Stress Balls

Create Your Own Sensory Balls (for pennies each)

Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle

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There are lots of ways to make a glow in the dark sensory bottle, but you know me; I like to keep things simple. Instead of making this glow through a complicated scientific process, this involves using glow in the dark items so that the hard part is done for you. bottle filled with multicoloured beads and stars and liquid on a blue and green background

I don’t know about your kids, but mine have always loved anything glow in the dark. They like to take it into the one bathroom we have that doesn’t have a window and turn the lights off so that it’s as dark as possible. 

Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle:

Supplies to make the sensory bottle:

*I like to look of Voss water bottles, but sometimes Michael’s carries empty bottles that look similar but are just slightly smaller. The Michael’s ones are a bit easier for little hands to grip. The problem is that they are not always easy to find. 

VOSS Plastic Water BottlesVOSS Plastic Water BottlesVOSS Plastic Water BottlesGlow in the Dark Pony BeadsGlow in the Dark Pony BeadsGlow in the Dark Pony BeadsGlow in the Dark StarsGlow in the Dark StarsGlow in the Dark Stars

Instructions:

  1. Pour dish soap into the empty bottle until it is 2/3 of the way full.
  2. Add glow beads, glitter, sequins, and stars.
  3. Fill the remaining space in the bottle with water. Super glue the lid in place, especially if young children will be using the bottle.
  4. When your child is not playing with this sensory bottle, keep it in the light so that the “glow” items can recharge.

Parental supervision should be used for this or any other sensory play activity. Even if the lid is secure with glue, it is possible that your child could get it open and there are small objects inside that could be choking hazards.

Learning and Sensory Benefits:

This activity provides children the chance to improve their communication and vocabulary as they describe what they observe.

Kids can experience the change when taking the sensory bottle from the light into the dark. Older kids may want to research what it is that causes the glow in the dark items to glow and why they need to recharge. This sensory play activity offers visual sensory input as well as a bit of tactile (holding the bottle) and proprioceptive (carrying and flipping over the bottle) input.

You can also incorporate math concepts by having your child count the number of stars they see or the number of a certain colour of bead.

Join the thousands of others who have enjoyed the free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities (just pop your email into the box below) and get a printable list of 175 Great Sensory Ideas.

You might also enjoy these sensory bottles:

Spring Sensory Bottle 

Ocean Sensory Bottle (one of our all-time favourites!) Space Sensory Bottle This Space sensory bottle is naturally weighted. Kids can also use it as an I-Spy activity.