The Chaos and the Clutter

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Sensory Bottle

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In case, my matching Minnie purse and wallet weren’t evidence enough, I’m a big Disney fan. I’m especially partial to Mr. and Mrs. Mouse! That is the inspiration behind this Mickey and Minnie Sensory Bottle.

clear bottle filled with liquid, gold glitter, white beads, and Disney figures on red background with text reading "Mickey and Minnie Sensory Bottle"If you’re also a Disney fan, you’re going to love this adorable sensory tool. It’s easy to make yourself. In the same spirit as our Minnie Mouse Slime, you can bring a bit of that Disney magic right into your own home.

If you’re hosting a Mickey Mouse themed birthday party, these would make adorable party favours for your guests to make and then take home.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Pour clear dish soap into the container until it’s 2/3 full.
  2. Add the glitter, beads, mini elastics, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse buttons.
  3. Fill the remaining space with water.
  4. Replace the lid. If you’re going to be using this jar with younger kids, then I highly recommend that you Superglue the lid in place and allow the glue to dry before giving it to your child to play with. You can instead secure it with hot glue.

As with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used at all times. Even if you have glued the lid in place, it can come undone and the small parts inside are potential choking hazards.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

While the main sensory system targeted with sensory bottles is the Visual system, children also engage their tactile and proprioceptive sensory systems when interacting with this activity.

This activity presents many math opportunities. Kids can compare if there are more Mickeys than Minnies or vice versa or if there are an equal amount. They can count the number of characters inside or the number of one specific character. They can also guess how many white beads there are by counting them in one section and then multiplying that by the number of same size sections there are.

Thanks to the slow falling movement, this can also serve as a calm down jar, helping kids regulate their breathing and behaviour.

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 some of other sensory bottles:

Insect Sensory Bottle

Lego Sensory Bottle

Nature Sensory Bottles

The Best Board Games for Large Groups

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Our family is a board game family. Let me tell you, we know a thing or two about board games for large groups because with 7 kids and two adults, we can’t just pick the regular 4-6 players games! We also love to have friends and family over to play games. Sometimes, there are more than 50 of us!stack of games in boxes and text that reads "The best board games for large groups"

Family game nights are a great way to form connection, build memories, strengthen relationships, reinforce learning concepts in a fun way, and spend screen free time.

We’ve tried a lot of games over the years. I’ve compiled a list of some of our favourites for large groups (more than 10) and another list for games we like for between 4 and 10 players.

The Best Board Games for Large Groups:

Taboo – I have been playing this game since I was a teenager. We especially like to play a guys vs. girls version of this. So much fun!  The object of the game is to have your team guess the word you’re describing except that there are certain buzz words you’re not allowed to say. It’s done in speed rounds which only adds to the fun.

What’s Yours Like?  – We’ve had a lot of laughs with this game. When you play with adults only, the answers can quickly take on double meanings which gets pretty funny. You can also play it with kids or groups of kids and adults though. You just need to keep your answers PG for that!

Mafia – While not exactly a board game, I’m saying it still counts because it involves a deck of cards. This game is a favourite of ours for playing out by the campfire. We’ve played with as many as 45 people before. It’s fun for all!

Heads-Up – While there is a board game version of this popular game, I suggest that you get the mobile app version. If one person in your group downloads it to their phone, you can all use that phone for hours of fun. This is another one that we’ve played in our living room with a large gathering. We usually play boys against the girls.

Charades – This is the ultimate game for a large group when you don’t have any board games handy. Just use a pen and slips of paper to create your own version. Have everyone write down ideas to make it extra fun.

Pictionary (or the new high tech Pictionary Air) – The nice thing about this classic is that the worse your art skills, the funnier it is! Fun for all ages.

What Do You Meme – This game brings the relatively new popularity of memes into the board game world and can be played with up to 20 people.

Blurt – Funny game that can be played with up to 12 players.

Taboo Board GameTaboo Board GameTaboo Board GameWhat's Yours Like? Party EditionWhat’s Yours Like? Party EditionWhat's Yours Like? Party EditionMafia CardsMafia CardsMafia CardsHeads Up Party GameHeads Up Party GameHeads Up Party GameSpeed CharadesSpeed CharadesSpeed CharadesPictionaryPictionaryPictionaryPictionary AirPictionary AirPictionary AirWHAT DO YOU MEME?WHAT DO YOU MEME?WHAT DO YOU MEME?

The Best Board Games for 4-10 players:

Pit – 3-8 players – This game is an awesome ice breaker! One thing it isn’t though is quiet as people shout out their bids. It’s kind of a commodities trading market gone wild.

Codenames – 2-8+ players – I find that this is a great ice breaker. If you’ve got people who are just getting to know each other, this is the one to start with. You’ll all be comfortable with each other in no time.

The Resistance – 5-10 players – This can be a team game so it’s quite interactive which we like.

Sequence – 2-12 players – One of our sons gave us this for Christmas one year and it soon became a family favourite. It’s easy to learn and appeals to a wide audience from kids to grandparents.

Five Crowns – 2-7 players – I chose this game at the store because of its small size as I wanted to pack it along on a camping trip. It turned out to be a great purchase and has been played often since. This award winner is a rummy style card game with a twist.

Apples to Apples – 4-10 players – There are many variations of this popular word game. It’s a nice one for playing with multiple ages.

Wizard – 3-6 players

Pit GamePit GamePit GameCzech Games CodenamesCzech Games CodenamesCzech Games CodenamesThe ResistanceThe ResistanceThe ResistanceSequenceSequenceSequenceFive Crowns Card GameFive Crowns Card GameFive Crowns Card GameApples to Apples Party in a BoxApples to Apples Party in a BoxApples to Apples Party in a BoxWizard Card GameWizard Card GameWizard Card Game

If you’re looking for large group games that are more interactive, then check out some of our Minute to Win It challenges:

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night

Dollar Store Minute to Win ItDollar Store Minute to Win It party

Thanksgiving Minute to Win It Games

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Minute to Win It Games for Camping

Peter Rabbit Playdough Invitation to Play

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With the new Peter Rabbit movie coming out soon, we thought it would be cute to set out a Peter Rabbit Playdough invitation to play for the kids. This playdough tray evokes imagination. Your child can explore and create scenes and stories.

blue tray with rocks, twigs, wood slices, green playdough. Text reads "Peter Rabbit Playdough Tray"This sensory play activity is engaging and a wonderful learning opportunity. If your child has seen the movies or read the books, they can recreate scenes or they can just use their imaginations to build their own Peter Rabbit world. They can then act out scenarios with the characters.

Using the playdough, they can create a garden or a field and have the characters interact with each other. This activity is cute for any time, but it would be especially appropriate for Spring or Easter time.

Peter Rabbit Playdough Recipe:

Supplies:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar
  • 1 Tbsp. oil
  • green food gel
  • 1 cup water (boiling if making with KitchenAid)
  • optional: a few drops of peppermint essential oil*

*a note about choosing a playdough scent: Some scents are calming while others are alerting. Peppermint is an alerting scent. This is great if you are wanting kids to stay focused. If you want this activity to be a calming one, be sure to choose a more calming scent.

KitchenAid Directions:

  1. Put the dry ingredients into your KitchenAid mixer.
  2. Add the oil and colour and begin mixing on low with the flat beater.
  3. As it is mixing on the lowest setting, pour in the boiling water.
  4. If you want to scent the playdough, add a few drops of essential oil in peppermint or the scent of your choice. Mix until it is the texture you want.
  5. Store in an airtight container or resealable bag when not being played with.

Stovetop Directions:

  1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a pot and stir in the oil, water and the food colouring.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring, being sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the pot.
  3. Cook until the dough forms a ball. Remove from heat.
  4. Place dough on a piece of wax paper. Knead. If you want, add a few drops of essential oils for scent.
  5. Allow to cool. Store the playdough in an airtight container or resealable bag.

Peter Rabbit Playdough Sensory Station:

Supplies:

Peter Rabbit Poseable FiguresPeter Rabbit Poseable FiguresPeter Rabbit Poseable FiguresFruits & Vegetables ToobFruits & Vegetables ToobFruits & Vegetables ToobPlay-doh-resealable GreenPlay-doh-resealable GreenPlay-doh-resealable Green

Directions:

  1. Set the green playdough in the middle compartment in the tray.
  2. Place all the other items in the compartments around it.
  3. Invite your child to explore, play, and create.

This activity is so sensory rich. Kids engage their visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems when they are squishing, moulding, sculpting, shaping, rolling, and pressing the dough and the other items in the invitation to play. If scented playdough is used, then they are also engaging their olfactory sensory system.

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

Check out some of our other playdough invitation to play activities:

White Snow PlaydoughSnow Playdough and invitation to play

Nativity Playdough Invitation to Play

Valentine’s Playdough Center

Dinosaur Fossils in Playdough

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Playdough offers so many opportunities for great sensory play. Create dinosaur fossils in playdough to accompany a dinosaur unit study or just for fun.

orange playdough with little hands pressing a dinosaur skull into it with text that reads "Dinosaur Fossil Playdough Activity"This simple activity which also gives fine motor skill practise is great for preschools or home. For older kids, it can be a good way to involve sensory into a unit study.

Dinosaur Fossil Playdough Activity:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Invite your child to roll out the playdough.
  2. Set out the dinosaur fossils.
  3. Encourage your child to press the Dino skulls into the playdough and carefully remove them. This will create a fossil impression.
  4. Another way to use this activity is to have the kids create the impressions and then match the dinosaur skulls up like a puzzle.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

Kids get proprioceptive feedback by pressing into the dough and from rolling it out. They also get input from the visual and tactile systems with this activity. If using scented playdough, the olfactory system will also be engaged.

If you are doing a unit study on fossils or dinosaurs, this is an easy and relevant hands-on activity to accompany that.

Are you looking for other easy to create 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.

Other great hands-on activities for a dinosaur unit study:

Dino Slime

Dinosaur Fossil Sensory Bin

Gross Motor Action Cube (dinosaur theme)

Dinosaur Sensory Bottle

St. Patrick’s Day Fluffy Slime

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Fluffy slime has such a great texture and stretch. Bring sensory play to your home or classroom in March with this green St. Patrick’s Day fluffy slime.

child's hands stretching green goo. Text reads "St. Patrick's Day Fluffy Slime"You can set out a Shamrock cookie cutter and some extra Shamrock play coins to expand the opportunities for kids to explore through play. Check out the video below to see the fluffy slime play in action.

St. Patrick’s Day Fluffy Slime Recipe:

Ingredients:

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. Drop in a few shamrock play coins and fold them in.

Fluffy Slime Troubleshooting Tips:

You’ll need to use contact solution as the activator to create the right texture for your slime. Otherwise, the glue and shaving cream will just be a big blob of goo.

If your slime isn’t fluffy enough, try to fold in some extra shaving cream.

If the slime isn’t stretchy after a few days of playing with it, you can add a bit of hot tap water or a small amount of lotion to it.

Or if the slime is too sticky, add a drop or two more contact solution or a small bit of baby oil and knead.

These troubleshooting tips should help you to get the right consistency with your slime.Looking for more easy sensory play recipes to inspire creativity? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Here are some other St. Patrick’s Day activity ideas:

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bottle

Easy St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bag

St. Patrick’s Day Fun Breakfast

Zoo Mini Sensory Bottle

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Recently, we discovered a new way to bring excitement to our sensory bottles by making mini ones in little play test tubes. This Zoo Mini Sensory Bottle is so cute.

small bottle with animals and text that reads "Zoo Mini Sensory Bottle"

Zoo Mini Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Pour clear dish soap into a mini bottle until it’s about half full.
  2. Drop in the tiny animals.
  3. Add in sequins and glitter.
  4. If there’s any room left in the bottle, fill the the top with water.
  5. Replace the lid. If using with small children, you can secure the lid with hot glue.

With any other sensory play activity including this one, adult supervision is recommended. Even with the lid glued in place, it can be opened by determined kids or when the glue gets old. The bottle contains small parts that could be a choking hazard for kids.

This mini sensory bottle allows kids to bring it with them anywhere. It can be tucked into the seatback pocket of the vehicle, put in your child’s backpack, kept on their bedside table, or included in their calm down kit.

This adorable mini calm down bottle engages both the visual and tactile sensory systems. Because the glitter and sequins stay suspended in the dish soap and fall slowly as it is turned, it also produces a calming effect. Kids can watch the items fall slowly as they work on regulating their breathing.

If you’re looking for other sensory play ideas, join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions. You’ll also get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out our other mini sensory bottles for kids:

Football Mini Sensory Bottle

Baseball Mini Sensory Bottle