Sensory activities 20-34 months
Shape find
You need - Med sized shapes cut out of coloured card - Rice OR flour - Paint brushes Place shapes in turf tray and cover with rice OR flour. Learning outcomes PSED – Can play alongside others PD- How to use brushes to make marks EAD- Expresses feeling through movement M- Explores the concept Envelopment (covering) Schema Trajectory (movement in lines) Schema
Key words and phrases - Naming shapes - Naming colours of shapes - What's underneath..? - Brush, sweep, swoosh - Look, you made that line. Facial expressions of interest and surprise
Sponging water You need - A small amount of water in turf tray few mm deep - A range of sponges Toddler uses sponge to soak up water, squeezes out Learning outcomes PSED- Becomes interested in what others are doing PD- Squeezes water out of a sponge, strengthening hands CL- Notices the noises of everyday things Transporting schema Fine motor development Extend by adding bowls and cups once children are able to confidently squeeze the sponges
Key words and phrases - Splash, slosh, splish, pitter, patter - The sponge is filling up with water. - Look, the water is coming out! - It's like rain. Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning
Cotton wool pick up You need - Metal cupcake tray/egg boxes/pots - Spoons of different sizes - Cotton wool balls Toddler will pick up cotton wool balls in hand/with spoons and place in different containers Learning outcomes M- One object to one space PD- Can use a spoon to scoop up objects EAD- Explores textures M- Understanding of full/empty open/closed Enclosure (containment) Schema Hand eye coordination Extend by adding tongs for older children
Key words and phrases - inside, outside, full, empty - One more/ another one - Scoop, pick up - Basic counting Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning
Toilet roll threading You need - Toilet rolls cut into rings - Ribbon tied through the middle of a card square Toddler threads rolls on to 'string' Learning outcomes PD- Can push a string through an object CL- Can understand simple sentences PSED- Begins to learn that some things are shared
Hand eye coordination
Key words and phrases - through, inside, pull, push - Basic counting - One more, another one Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning
Sticky challenge You need - Tape sticky back plastic, sticky side up in the turf tray - Bowls of pompoms/card/lolly sticks etc Toddler will explore the stickiness and ability to stick on/pull off objects Learning outcomes PD- Uses pincer grip UW- Explores how things work CL- Enjoys exploring new things Hand eye coordination Extend by placing at different levels, on the wall, on the floor etc
Key words and phrases - Pull, push, stick, sticky - Can you pull it off? - Look, my hand is stuck! - Name objects used Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning
Coloured pasta pick up You need - Cooked and cooled spaghetti, colour to match interest/knowledge - Tongs, pegs Toddler will pick up spaghetti in different way Learning outcomes PD- Learning to use one handed tools PSED- Learns that actions affect objects CL- Starts asking simple questions Hand eye coordination Fine motor development can adjust pressure
Key words and phrases - Squish, squash, long, short, slippery, open, close - You picked it up! - You have (insert colour/length).. spaghetti Facial expressions of interest and surprise
Ice break You need - Freeze different toys in yoghurt pot - Bottles of coloured water - Paint brushes Toddler will explore temp of ice and find ways to get the toys out Learning outcomes PD- Pick up and move slippery objects EAD- Explores temperature UW- Experiences different natural process PSED- Shares experiences with others Hand eye coordination Problem solving
Key words and phrases - Cold, ice, slippery, slide, melt, poke, prod, brush, pour - What's happening? - How can we get it out? Facial expression and tone of interest and excitement
Messy recipes
Cloud dough You need - 5 cups of flour - 1 cup of baby/veg oil - Can add food colouring/scent - Can add glitter Tools Introduce with only a few molds, small pots and spoon. As children have experience with how it works add different objects, tongs, forks, brushes, sticks, animals, cars etc
Clean mud You need - 4 packs of toilet tissue - 2-3 cups of warm water mixed with food colouring - A squish of washing up liquid - Can add glitter Process - Shred toilet paper, mix with other ingredients Tools This is mouldable, use with just pots at first. Then add spoons tongs etc.
Bubble dough You need - 1 cup of corn flour - Âź cup of washing up liquid Process - Mix together, will take a few mins to mix fully Tools - Introduce by itself. Later used with knives, rolling cutters and scissors
Ice cream play You need - 1 ½ cups of corn flour - 1 cup water - Add food colour and flavour - Mix and then freeze Tools - Will slowly melt - Use with bowls, spoons, forks, knives, tongs etc
Moon sand You need: - 4 cups sand - 2 cups corn flour - 1 cup water - Powder paint/ food colouring Process - Mix sand and cornflour together - Slowly add water until it can be moulded into a ball Tools - Use with spoons, cutters and bowls
Messy play tips - If you are not able to directly supervise DO NOT set out messy play.
- Try to redirect instead of saying NO -Introduce the material by itself before adding tools - Use food based products if you are worried about it being eaten - Enjoy yourself!!!
“Please excuse the mess,
the children are making memories!�