Sensory Activities 

Children use their senses from birth through early childhood to explore the world around them. Sensory play includes activities where children are touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, moving and hearing. When children are able to engage their senses they are able to learn and retain more information. See below for opportunities on how you can provide sensory play for your children. 

Sensory Bins

Rainbow Rice!
  1. Place 1 c. of rice into each baggie.
  2. Mix 1/2 tsp. of water and 15-20 drops of food coloring per color.
  3. Place into the baggie, zip up completely and then shake until the color has spread evenly.
  4. Place the rice out on a piece of parchment paper or paper towel and allow to dry.
  5. Repeat for the other colors.
Colored Pasta!
  1. Measure about 2 cups of desired pasta, add to plastic zipper bag.  
  2. Add 1/8 of vinegar to a disposable cup, then add 20-30 drops of food coloring and stir.
  3. Add mixture to pasta in bag.  
  4. Mix well by shaking the bag until pasta is covered in color.
  5. Add additional food coloring to bag to increase color saturation if desired.
  6. Spread out on parchment paper to let dry.
  7. Break up and mix pasta 30 min into drying time to help it from sticking together.   
  8. Allow to dry overnight.​​
When the rice or pasta has dried add it to a storage bins. Don't forget to add tools to scoop or play with! Some of our favorites are ice cream scoops, measuring spoons and funnels. 

Light Table 

The possibilities for playing and learning with a light table in your preschool classroom are endless! The light table can be used for open-ended play experiences to arts and crafts, to teaching, there is so much you can do.

Bubble Wrap Runway

Spread the bubble wrap on the ground, and let your child walk and stomp on it. This activity will engage their sense of hearing and sense of touch. Children will hear the popping or crinkling sound when they move on the bubble wrap. Children will be interested in touching the raised bubbles.  

Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles come in many shapes, sizes, and themes, and can be used to keep a child busy or help them calm down. The best part is you can make your own, and theme them however you choose. Check out Pinterest for ideas! 
Materials:
  • Water bottle
  • Glitter  
  • Clear Elmer’s glue or Elmers glitter glue 
  • Food coloring 
  • Hot glue gun or super glue to glue the lid on  Warm water 
​Directions:
  1. Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way full with warm water.
  2. Add Elmer’s glue or Elmer's glitter glue.
  3. Add beads, letters, water beads or animals.
  4. If you used glitter glue skip this steps unless you want more color. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring into the water.
  5. Hot glue or super glue the lid shut.

Sensory Bag

Cloud Dough
Fill a gallon size Ziploc bag with half cup frozen peas. Fill the bag one third with cold water. Remove as much air as you can as you seal the bag. Test the bag by laying it flat to make sure it has enough water and peas. The bag should jiggle when you touch it and the peas should spread across the bag. Once your sensory bag is ready seal the bag with masking tape or duct tape. 
*When securing bag to floor or table check a small piece of tape fist to make sure it does not damage the surface when removed. 
Materials:
  • All purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil
  • Food coloring
Directions:
Add a 5-10 drops of food coloring to 1/4 cup vegetable oil and then mix in 2 cups of flour per color. Mix well.