In this BLOG post I will teach you how to set-up the ultimate sensory experience, the benefits of sensory play and how to enhance your learning and play.
Head to our Instagram page to see more ways to learn & play at home or in the classroom! We love to see you play & share the joy of hands-on crafts & activities at home. Be sure to tag @aplayfilledlife on Instagram or Facebook if you try any of our ideas!!
XO Gina
This sensory experience is AMAZING. It is soft and squishy and can meet the needs of kids (and adults) of all ages.
It is shaving cream + bubble wrap and we can't get enough.
Shaving cream is such a versatile sensory base. If you have a local Dollar Store, grab some there to keep this cost effective. You can smoosh it, swirl it or squeeze it. You can add color to it, or leave it as is. You can draw in it, write in it or turn it into paint.
While you explore you have the added benefit of strengthening fine motor skills. The POP is soooo satisfying.
You will also be working on critical thinking skills and problem solving. How hard to you have to push to pop the bubbles? Can you do one at a time or a bunch? What happens after you pop them? How do they feel?
This type of activity also supports self-regulation. It can be extremely calming and offer a safe way to release big emotions.
Do you have someone who is still exploring with their mouths? Switch out the shaving cream for cool whip or whipped cream!
Materials:
Shaving cream
Bubble wrap
Painters tape
Butcher paper or newspaper
Step 1: Put down newspaper or butcher paper. Tape it to the table or floor with painters tape.
Step 2: Put the bubble wrap on top. You can purchase bubble wrap or reuse packaging that comes with a shipment! Tape it down with painters tape.
Step 3: Squirt a few piles of shaving cream all around the bubble wrap.
Step 4: (optional): Squirt a few drops of washable paint into each pile. This adds an extra layer or sensory-goodness to your play. Think color identification and color mixing!
Step 5: PLAY!!!
Not only is this activity FUN for all ages, but it is also incredibly calming for some kids. Arts and crafts, particularly painting and/or sensory play is a great practice in self-regulation. It is known to reduce stress & anxiety in both children & adults. It not only encourages a quiet, peaceful environment but it also allows your brain to focus on the colors & the lines & the brush strokes, providing those "feel good feelings" that we all get when we are doing something we love!
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.
What skills are you working on during messy play?
Fine & Gross Motor Skills: As the child squishes and squeezes, they are developing their finger and hand muscles. Those same finger and hand muscles are responsible for self-help skills such as: feeding yourself, zippering your coat and holding a pencil during writing! Messy play can also help support spatial awareness, balance & coordination.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Hand-eye coordination is simultaneously using your hands & your eyes for a task. Strong hand-eye coordination helps you with tasks such as feeding yourself, coloring in the lines & pouring a drink in a cup.
Bilateral coordination: Using both sides of the body to complete a task.
Cognitive development refers to how a child acquires and understands information; how they think, learn and problem solve. There are many opportunities to develop cognitive development during messy play through problem solving and understanding cause/effect.
Language Development: Messy play is SO good for supporting language development. There are opportunities to learn new words and practice phrases.
Social Skills: Messy play can help to establish and strengthen social skills. Children will practice using their manners, sharing, turn-taking and having patience.
Do you have a sensory-sensitive child?
Look for fragrance-free shaving cream.
Use a paintbrush to explore the shaving cream or the eraser part of a pencil.
Put the shaving cream and bubble wrap inside of a Ziploc bag. Seal it, then explore!
Want to extend your learning?
Practice writing letters, numbers, shapes or words in the shaving cream! Even just the process of scribbling is an excellent way to strengthen motor skills and pre-writing skills!
Grab some monster trucks and run them through the shaving cream. See if you can pop any bubbles!
Grab your plastic dinosaurs or farm animals and stomp them through the mixture!
Clean up-tips:
For easy clean up: keep wipes nearby, along with a plastic bag or trash bin to discard.
Wear old clothes or a bathing suit, and plan to head to the tub after this fun sensory play!
Take it outdoors! Wash it off with a hose when you're done.
Use an old beach towel or sheet under the bins to catch any spills.
If you are outdoors, use the hose to rinse the paint mixture right off!
You can reuse the bubble wrap if you want. Rinse it off in the sink and keep the play going!
You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home. Always monitor young children.
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