The Chaos and the Clutter

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

Science Sensory Bins for Hands-on Learning

By Sharla Kostelyk

Science sensory bins for hands-on learning allow kids to explore through their senses and interact with what they are studying. They are a great way to increase interest and engagement.

Hands-on learning is also a great way to increase retention of concepts. Sensory bin are easy to set up but offer a big payoff in terms of interest and interaction.

Science Sensory Bins for Hands-on Learning

Human Body Sensory Bin

Admittedly, this one is a bit gross, but kids love getting their hands in there and exploring the organs and body parts!

Dig for Fossils Sensory Bin

Learn about dinosaurs and fossil excavation with this hands-on activity.

Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Water beads are the filler for this simple yet effective way to help kids learn the bee life cycle.

Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin

This sensory play idea includes suggestions for expanding the learning as well as free printables for a farm or chicken unit study.

Magnets, Magnets, and More Magnets

Invite your child to discover the world of magnets in this interactive science experience.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Sea turtles are fascinating. Give your child the opportunity to explore in this simple to make sensory tub.

Praying Mantis Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Bring this sensory play station to your home or classroom as kids learn about these interesting insects.

Solar System Sensory Bin

Photo Credit: team-cartwright.com

How To Make a Tasty Dino Dig for Toddlers and Preschoolers (STEM Fun!)

Create your own archeological dinosaur dig with this fun sensory treat! Dig like a real scientist through the jello Earth layers to dig up your dinos.

Photo Credit: activelittles.com

Hand Washing Experiment for Kids

Proper hand washing experiment for kids using a sensorial water bin.

Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthememories.com

Whale Investigation Station for Preschoolers

Learn about whales with this Whale Investigation Station for little kids!

Photo Credit: faithandgoodworks.com

Swamp Sensory Bin

Bring the swamp indoors.

Photo Credit: www.adabofgluewilldo.com

Ocean Sensory Bin Sorting Activity

Practise matching and sorting with this ocean themed sensory activity.

Photo Credit: preschooltoolkit.com

Marble Roll STEAM Activity in the Sensory Bin

Combine sensory and science to explore how a marble rolls through different sensory bin fillers.

Photo Credit: teachingmama.org

Arctic Animals Sensory Bin

Photo Credit: www.funlittles.com

Create a pond sensory bin

Explore the possibilities in this pond wildlife habitat small world play activity.

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Icy Ocean Sensory Bin And Ice Melt

An icy ocean science activity transforms into a fantastic ocean water sensory bin! Explore the ocean with an under the sea science and sensory play activity!

Using these ideas for science sensory bins, you can expand on a unit study or introduce a new concept to your child or students.

You may also be interested in reading:

Layers of the Earth Science Project

Easy Earthquake Experiment

Easy Outdoor Sensory Activities

May Emotions Printables for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

It is not uncommon for students to have mixed feelings about summer break coming up, but this year, that is particularly true. These free printable May emotions worksheets can help them to sort through those feelings. They can also help them to realize that it’s okay to feel all of them.

Most children this year didn’t get the closure of their school year ending the regular way. They may feel disappointed about things such as vacations or summer camps being cancelled. They may worry that summer won’t feel much like summer since they’ve already been home for weeks or months.

I know that some of my kids are struggling with big emotions about not being able to go on our usual summer family camping trip and uncertainty about the upcoming school year.

Simple activities that focus on emotions help kids to learn the vocabulary as well as to get used to talking about their own emotions.

The printable emotions copywork pages help kids practise their printing while at the same time, associating the emotion word with the appropriate facial expression.

The My Feelings Log for this month helps kids put a name to the feelings they are experiencing. This is the first step in learning to manage those feelings. It is so important.

May Emotions Printables for Kids:

May Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

May Emotions Printable pages (download them here)
pen or pencil OR
plastic sleeve AND dry erase marker

If you want the sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or slip them in a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

Read the sentence.
Fill in the outline.
Trace the dotted words.
Write the sentence on the lines provided.
Discuss the various emotions.

These worksheets can be a jumping off point for a discussion about various emotions. You can further expand this activity by having your child describe a time when they have felt that emotion. They can also come up with a story describing why the bee might be experiencing that particular feeling.

May My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

printed Feelings Log (download those here)
scissors
glue stick
markers, pencil crayons (coloured pencils), or crayons
pen or pencil

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

Choose one icon each day to colour, cut, and paste to your log.
At the end of the month, you can look back and see the various emotions you felt.
Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

The bee emotion visuals help kids better identify and work through their own feelings in a way that feels less vulnerable because it’s a cute bee face. Once you know HOW they are feeling that day, you can help them dig into the WHY behind those feelings.

After identifying the feeling, you can work together on strategies for better managing that emotion.

Simply enter your email in the box below to download the May Emotions Printable Worksheets. Print them off to use them with your child at home or with your students.

You may also be interested in reading:

Spider Emotions Matching Game

Outdoor Sensory Activities at Home

Where to Find Free Homeschool Printables

Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle

By Sharla Kostelyk

My girls sometime wish they were mermaids. They all love the water. They even have those full sized mermaid tails that really work! So it’s really no surprise that they love this Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle.The glitter falls slowly through the glue and water mixture, creating a calm down effect. This sensory bottle also provides tactile, proprioceptive, and visual sensory feedback for kids.

Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

empty plastic water bottle (I prefer to use the sensory bottles from craft stores or the Voss brand)
Elmer’s Clear School Glue
warm water
teal and purple glitter
mermaid tail toys
small coloured gems
optional: Superglue or hot glue to seal

Directions:

Pour clear glue to about the halfway point in the empty water bottle.
Fill with warm water almost to the top, replace the lid, and shake well to combine.
Add glitter, a few gems, and the mermaid tail toys into the glue mixture.
Seal the jar and shake well. If the glitter or confetti does not move easily, add more warm water. If the glitter or confetti moves too quickly, add additional glue.
Replace the lid. If you are going to be using with young children, Superglue or use hot glue to secure the lid which will avoid spills and keep this play activity safer.

As with all our sensory activities, adult supervision should always be used. Even if you have glued the lid in place, kids can sometimes get it off and the contents have small parts that could potentially be a choking hazard.

Are you looking for more easy sensory play ideas? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out these other easy to make sensory bottles:

Pretty Princess Sensory Bottle

Sky Sensory Bottle

Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle

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.

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.