Sensory Play to Make Parenting More Fun
Sensory play is a central parenting strategy in my house! It’s our rainy day fall-back, and my favorite distraction technique when kids don’t feel well.
{Guest Post}Welcoming MaryAnne of Mama Smiles!
Sensory play is a great way for my kids to explore the world around them, make observations, and create art. As my kids get older, we’ve moved more and more towards sensory play that has an artistic component. We use contact paper to make sensory wall mosaic art, we build structures out of play dough and rocks, and my six-year-old daughter especially enjoys using our sensory rice trays to create pictures, like this:
I also love that sensory play can be made accessible for even the youngest children. Two favorite baby sensory materials in our house are cornmeal (great way for older kids to practice writing letters!) and corn starch mixed with water (hint: we use washable paint instead of food coloring to add a splash of color to liquid sensory play, because I’ve had problems with food coloring staining). The key to easy clean-up is to limit how much you give out!
Sensory play is also a great way to introduce kids to scientific investigations! I don’t think my kids will ever tire of mixing baking soda and vinegar!
There are so many simple ways to incorporate sensory play into daily life, but the simplest is to go outside! Nothing beats the great outdoors in terms of smells, textures, and sights, and sounds!
How do you use sensory play in your home?
MaryAnne is the mother of three children, with a baby due any day now! She lives with her family in Massachusetts, where they enjoy crafting, playing, learning, and enjoying the little things that make life beautiful.
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My 2 year old went to a Montessori school for 9 month. They have a lot of sensorial activities built into each day. Now that I’m transitioning into a SAHM, I want to be sure to keep this up. After discovering this wonderful site, I’ve tried a few activities and he LOVES it. He gets really focused on the activity and he’ll keep at it for 20-30 minutes. It’s amazing. I really believe this is a great way to introduce kids to creativity and the world around us.
Thanks!