In this BLOG post I will share FIVE different fun and engaging ways to incorporate a sunflower theme into your sensory play!
Play Dough Station:
Materials:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5-10 drops food coloring (optional)
5-8 drops essential oil (optional)
How-To:
Pour all ingredients (except essential oil, if using) into a pan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.
When it forms a ball, remove from pan.
After it cools, knead well (add essential oils now, if using).
Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months!
For the sunflower set-up we made on batch of yellow and one batch of brown, then formed it into a sunflower shape! In the center, we added black beans to represent "seeds." For an extra layer of fine-motor fun, we challenged the kids to remove the seeds using tongs!
Sunflower Oobleck:
Materials:
(2) cups Cornstarch
(1) cup Water
Sensory bin or bowls
Spoon
Food coloring (Optional)
Black beans "seeds" (Optional)
How To:
Mix corn starch, water, and food coloring in a tub or tray and have fun experimenting!
Add in your favorite scoops or bowls and PLAY!!
Make observations as you play. How does it smell? How does it feel? What happens when you add more water to the Oobleck bin? What does it look like as it dries?
Explore color theory: what happens when you mix blue and yellow together?
If you let Oobleck completely dry out and harden, you can store it in an airtight container. The next time you want to use it, simply add water to reactivate!
Messy play is SO beneficial for children. It's open-ended, encourages creativity, provides sensory input & teaches them about their personal boundaries. Messy play activates the senses and has been known to be calming, offering an incredible opportunity to practice self-regulation strategies.
APFL Tip: Mix the food coloring into the water first, the add to the cornstarch to make a pretty, even color!
Rice Sensory Bin:
Materials:
White rice
Sensory bin or bowl
Spoon
See our Ultimate BLOG Post to learn the THREE different methods to dye a dry sensory base. Click HERE!
Extend your learning and play by adding in your favorite scoops, bowls and trinkets.
Sunflower Water Play:
Materials:
Water
Yellow paint (Optional)
Sensory bin or bowl
Scoops, Cups, Bowls
Pipettes
How To:
Pour water into the sensory bin or bowl.
Squirt in 2-4 drops of paint and mix. If you want a darker color, add more. Stir well.
Drop in your favorite scoops, bowls and cups!
If you have any pretend flowers or bees, add them in the water.
PLAY! Scoop and dump and pour and play away!
Water play is such a great way to work on practical life skills such as pouring, measuring and serving yourself!
APFL Tip: There should not be any color transfer once the paint is mixed in. That being said, be aware of what surfaces you are playing on.
Sunflower Process Art:
Materials:
Yellow, green and yellow washable paint
Q-tips
Plastic forks
Construction paper
Tray or plate
How To:
Pour paint onto the tray or plate.
Using the fork and the q-tip, dip and stamp to create a beautiful flower!
Process art is SO MUCH FUN! It is about the process or creating, rather then focusing on the end product. Using forks and q-tips to paint is engaging, novel and SO good for strengthening fine motor skills!
Are you looking for more process art activities? Check out our Vertical Art Wall HERE!!
You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home. Always monitor young children.
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