As humans, we connect with the world first and foremost through our senses. When we step outside in the morning, one of the first things we notice is the weather: the temperature on our skin, precipitation (or a lack thereof), the color of the sky and the appearance of the clouds.
We also have powerful, lifelong memories tied to senses a song, smell, taste or texture can transport us back to the past in a split second. Similarly, things that connect us to our senses in the present can surprise and ground us in the moment.
There’s no doubt we as humans are powerfully connected to our senses. This connection begins early in life. Babies often explore toys with not only their hands but their mouths. Many toddlers love to explore novel textures like clay and slime.
All these experiences, besides engaging children in the moment, are helping them forge important connections in their brands that will build the foundation for problem solving, cognitive development and creativity.
Here are four sensory activities for preschoolers that’ll encourage them to look, listen, touch and more.
Shaving Cream as a Canvas
Sometimes the simplest products we have sitting around our homes can be repurposed to encourage sensory learning.
All you need for this activity is a can of shaving cream and some aluminum foil. Spray a dollop of shaving cream on the foil, then have the kiddos draw shapes and patterns plus freely explore the many sensory aspects of these products, like crinkling metal noises and the fresh smell of shaving cream. You can also add in sprinkles and/or food coloring for an extra visual effect.
Another way to play with shaving cream is to scatter small paper dots or sprinkles on the tin foil and have the preschoolers pick them up without disturbing the shaving cream. This will encourage fine motor skills. Of course, at the end, it’s time for everyone to get their hands messy without abandon.
Create a Sensory Play Bin
The great thing about sensory bins is that there are no rules. As one mom demonstrates on her YouTube channel, sensory bins are great for unstructured play, solo or with small groups. Examples include: paper products, fabric, fuzzy poms, yarn, rice/beans/sand/pasta, buttons, sensory beads, rocks and more. Be sure to include utensils preschoolers can use to interact with the items inside, like measuring cups, spoons, sandwich containers, etc.
Simply make sure the items inside a sensory bin are age appropriate so as to eliminate any choking hazards or potential for accidents. Voila, now you have a sensory bin for a rainy day indoors, a nice day in the back yard or even to pack in the car on the go.
Go on a Listening Walk
It’s easy to tune out some of the ambient noise from the environment. So, the purpose of a listening walk suggested by the experts at Tinkergarten is to specifically keep an ear out for the many sounds going on all around. Depending on the environment in which they’re walking, preschoolers may be able to pick out bird calls, traffic noises, wind, crunching footsteps and much more.
One way to ramp up the hearing aspect and get kids deeply in touch with their auditory perception is to use blindfolds when it’s safe to do so, like during a period of rest.
Make Your Own Slime
As we mentioned earlier, preschoolers tend to love digging their hands into odd textures like slime. The good news is that it’s pretty simple to make non-toxic slime from simple ingredients, like:
- School-safe glue
- Baking soda
- Contact lens solution
- Optional food coloring/glitter
Encourage preschoolers to explore slime from the angles of touch, sound, smell and sight. Plus, measuring ingredients and mixing the slime is a great way to incorporate other skills along the way.
The opportunities to explore sensory activities with preschool-aged children are nearly endless, so get creative and engage different senses in turn. Although it may seem all fun and games, you’re actually helping young ones build important skills for later in life.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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