• Skip to content

Sensory Play for Kids

  • What is Sensory Play?
  • Sensory Play Recipes
  • Sensory Play Activities

Uncategorized

8 Sensory Table Benefits for Kids

March 11, 2020 By sensoryplay Leave a Comment

Here are 8 sensory table benefits, along with how to set up a sensory table space in the classroom or at home. Make sensory play easy and manageable!

Using a sensory table at home or in the classroom has multiple benefits for kids. From educational to social skills, playing on a sensory table is incredibly important for children. And, children of all ages can reap these benefits. 

We know the importance of sensory play in general, but read on to see how having an established area such as a sensory table can really benefit kids. 

What is a sensory table?

A sensory table is a designated table that hosts sensory bins, messy play, or other materials that encourage children to learn with all 5 senses. 

It is meant to encourage children to explore by touching and experiencing the materials that have been presented to them. This is an open-ended, creative and imaginative process for kids. 

One of our favorite messy play activities at a sensory table is oobleck! See how to make oobleck here. 

How to set up a sensory table space

Having a space for sensory play in the classroom or the home helps keeps sensory play manageable with kids. When parents or educators hear the words sensory play, they often equate that with mess. 

This can be as simple as a small table with sensory bins on it, or a table built in bin areas, or a large tub-style sensory bin on legs that multiple children can stand around. 



While messy play is often a component of sensory play, the mess doesn’t have to take over. By setting a clearly definite space, like a sensory table, children automatically understand some boundaries around their play, such as keeping materials in the designated area, or the number of children allowed to play in the area at a time. 

It can also be helpful to keep a tarp or a high chair splat mat under the sensory table to contain the mess as well. 

Keeping sensory play open-ended is essential, but providing rules and boundaries around the sensory table play keeps the process manageable for educators and parents and more peaceful for children. 

By setting up a sensory table area and setting some boundaries, you can really allow children to reap the benefits of sensory table play! 

8 Sensory Table Benefits for Kids

Here are a few reasons why you might want to entertain the idea of setting up a sensory table in your space.

Fine motor skills: pinching, grasping, and pouring are all excellent for little fingers. These are fundamental to pre-writing skills too! 

Critical thinking: what will happen if I move these materials here, or what will sound will dumping this make? These are the kinds of thought that children will experiment with and test. 

Language skills: children will work together and engage in conversations about what they are playing with. They will build their vocabulary as they are exposed new materials, and they will engage in pretend play play talking through different scenarios. 

Social skills: having a sensory table space that allows multiple children to play with together encourages discussion, collaboration and teamwork.

Calm down tool: sensory play is great for decompression and  overstimulation. Playing with sensory materials often has relaxing properties as well. 

Creativity: sensory play is meant to be open-ended and allows for creativity and imagination in the play.

Multi-sensory learning: setting up your sensory table to go along with a concept you are teaching, or a theme such as a holiday, provides children with the opportunity to learn more about the material through a multi-sensory approach.

Math skills: add measuring cups to teach measurement. Add tall and wide containers to teach conservation (the idea that amount of a material stays the same despite the way it arranged). Encourage counting, addition and subtraction at the table! 

The benefits of a sensory table are awesome

As you can see, not only is sensory play incredibly fun for kids, but it’s also incredibly beneficial to development! By setting up a sensory table as a designated space in your classroom or home, sensory play will be manageable and fun for all. 

For some ideas of play in a sensory table:

Sensory play for 1 year olds include activiites such as sensory bags, sensory bottles, sensory bins and edible sensory play. A list of oobleck activities for sensory play with kids. From glow in the dark oobleck to fun crafts with oobleck, there is something for everyone.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A Fail-Proof Slime Recipe Plus Awesome Ways to Play

January 27, 2019 By sensoryplay 1 Comment

Confession time: My kids and I love slime.

Yes, I have come into messes and I have even had to scrub slime out of the carpet. But with some ground rules, we have been able to enjoy the non-Newtonian fluid over and over again without any further incident.

Related reading: How to get slime out of carpet plus ground rules for minimizing the mess

Before we get into the best fail-proof slime recipe here are some fun facts!

What is slime?

Like Oobleck, slime is a Non-Newtonian fluid.

What this means is that slime acts differently depending on the stress put on it.

When slime is left on it’s own, it will slowly ooze and drip. If you take it and pull at it quickly, it will rip like a solid. And, if you stretch it slowly, it will almost resemble hot mozzarella cheese on a pizza, able to stretch long distances before breaking.

Not only is this type of play dough an awesome way to teach kids about non-Newtonian physics and engage in the benefits of sensory play, it is also a fascinating way for children to learn about chemical reactions.

This is the chemical reaction that makes slime.

School glue is made up of long flexible molecules called polymers. Borax dissolved in water or contact solution containing boric acid have borate ions. When mixed together the borate ions bind with the polymers in the glue to turn a liquid into more of a soild.

It’s important to note that both Borax and contact solution with boric acid have the same chemical make up needed for slime. If you are concerned about whether to use one or the other, consider this movie from Steve Spangler on the safety of Borax.

The best fail-proof slime recipe

Ready to make some slime? Here is the best fail-proof slime recipe!

Slime recipe – What you need:

  • 1 tsp Borax (if you don’t have access to Borax, use contact solution and baking soda following these steps)
  • 1 cup hot tap water
  • 2-3 tbs. tap water
  • School glue
  • Food colouring (optional)
  • Glitter (optional)

Slime recipe – What to do:

  1. Dissolve Borax in one cup of hot water, mixing the solution until you can’t see white particles.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine glue, 2-3 tbs of tap water, food colouring and glitter if you’re using glitter.
  3. Once the coloured glue is fully mixed, add Borax mixture to glue mixture.
  4. Remove slime from access water and enjoy!

More awesome ways to play with your slime!

After you’ve made our fail proof slime recipe, you may want to try some of these activities.

  1. Dripping slime – hang a colander or cooling rack and set your slime on top. In about 30 minutes, you’ll have dripping slime. Learn more here.
  2. Calm down squish ball – using a funnel and a balloon put slime into a balloon as a DIY stress ball. Learn more here.
  3. Toy impressions – Grab a handful of toys and wait as they slowly sink into the slime. Remove and check out the impressions!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to get slime out of carpet

January 17, 2019 By sensoryplay 1 Comment

Slime is fun but it can get on everything. Find out how to get slime out of carpet and clothes using simple steps including great ground rules too.

When it comes to slime, it can be a love it or hate it thing.

A couple of years ago, it became all the rage for school-aged kids along with fidget spinners and the floss dance. And with that came hilarious parent commentary about the non-Newtonian fluid running havoc in their homes.

From pictures of it dripping off of countertops to slime-stained carpets, it is clear that slime can be a problem. The good news? Whether you just love it or your kids do, we have some great parent-tested ways to enjoy slime without it being a problem.

Before we get into how to get slime out of carpet, let’s get into some preventative strategies for enjoying slime.

From pictures of it dripping off of countertops to slime-stained carpets, it is clear that slime can be a problem. The good news? Whether you just love it or your kids do, we have some great parent-tested ways to enjoy slime without it being a problem.

How to enjoy slime without it becoming a disaster

Set ground rules.

As a parent, I have come into the kitchen to find dirty mixing bowls, Borax spills and and trails of food colouring. I have also spent an inordinate amount of time with a scrub brush and water getting dried play dough out of our carpet.

Our rules for slime are simple.

  1. The kids have to ask before they make it.
  2. They need to clean up and put away whatever they use.
  3. The slime has to go into an airtight container.
  4. And, if they get any slime on their clothes, they need to tell me right away.
  5. Finally, they have to store their slime in an air-tight container.

Since setting ground rules, we haven’t had an issue. In fact, I haven’t had to clean up anything slime-related since.

How to stop slime from getting on the carpet

The best strategy for getting slime out of carpet is not to have slime on your carpet. In order to prevent carpet spills, slime must always be stored in an airtight container.

slime drips, find out how to get slime out of carpet
Dripping slime

One of the coolest (and most treacherous things) about slime is that it drips. Slime left on a countertop or a coffee table for a certain amount of time will end up on the floor. If it dries, it can be a nightmare to clean up.

The other crucial piece is establishing a rule where slime isn’t allowed near carpet or upholstery.

How to get slime out of carpet

Clean clothing and carpet with slime on it immediately

As soon as slime dries, it becomes so much harder to clean slime.

If slime gets in contact with clothing or carpet, remove any access immediately.

Pick away anything you can get out. Using a scrub brush and water, scrub what remains. If you’re cleaning clothing, launder clothing normally.

When getting slime out of carpet, you may want to add a cleaning solution to the carpet. According to WikiHow, the best cleaning solutions to get slime out of carpet include:

  • rubbing alcohol,
  • goo remover,
  • citrus solvent, or
  • WD-40.

It is best to test solutions on a hidden part of carpet before trying it on the stain.

If it has dried, here is how to get slime out of carpet

  1. Chip away at the dried slime using a knife, credit card, or similar. (We have used scissors on our shag rug too but did so very carefully.)
  2. Then, soak the spot with water and vinegar.
  3. Using a scrub brush clean the spot. You may want to add one of the cleaning solutions above.

If any food colouring gets on your hands while cleaning, put foaming shaving cream on your hands. Wait about 30-60 seconds and then wash thoroughly.

Have you had this problem? How did you get slime out of carpet?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

20 Oobleck Activities for Sensory Play

January 15, 2019 By sensoryplay Leave a Comment

Oobleck activities are such a fun way to engage in sensory play as it has a squishy, goopy texture but also provides wonderful opportunities for learning. As a non-Newtonian fluid, it has the properties of a liquid and a solid, which has inherently encourages scientific exploration.

Fun Ways to Play with Oobleck

Oobleck is quick and easy to make at home by mixing cornstarch and water (see full oobleck recipe here) and can be colored with food coloring or liquid watercolors for an added bit of fun.

Below are some fun ways to play with oobleck so that kids can explore this material over and over again!

A list of oobleck activities for sensory play with kids. From glow in the dark oobleck to fun crafts with oobleck, there is something for everyone.

Oobleck Activities for Kids

Oobleck is so simple to make, but can be ‘upgraded’ to create fun thematic setups for kids. Check out the list below for fun ways to play with oobleck, including making it glow in the dark, taking it outside for paint on the sidewalk, or making it fluffy!

A list of oobleck activities for sensory play with kids. From glow in the dark oobleck to fun crafts with oobleck, there is something for everyone.

Oobleck Drip Painting on the Sidewalk // Views From a Step Stool

Lavender Oobleck Recipe // Sensory Play for Kids

Dinosaur Small World // Messy Little Monster

Fluffy Oobleck Slime Recipe // Fantastic Fun and Learning

How to Make Oobleck Out of Potatoes // STEAM Powered Family

Frozen Oobleck Sensory Play // Messy Little Monster

Bartholomew and the Oobleck STEM Activity // STEAM Powered Family

Magic Color Changing Oobleck Science Experiment  // STEAM Powered Family

Creative Painting with Oobleck // Twitchetts

Glow in the Dark Oobleck // Schooling a Monkey

Frozen Oobleck // Inspiration Laboratories

Glowing Oobleck // Inspiration Laboratories

How to Make Oobleck with Baby Powder // STEAM Powered Family

Gingerbread Oobleck // My Bored Toddler

Oobleck and Leaves // Happy Toddler Playtime

Rainbow Oobleck // Busy Toddler

Watermelon Oobleck // Gift of Curiosity

Marbled Oobleck: Science, Art and Sensory Play // Little Bins for Little Hands

Easy Sensory Activity: Blocks and Gak // Busy Toddler

Rainbow Oobleck and Pig Play // Fun Littles

Earth Day Goop // Little Bins for Little Hands

We hope you find a fun way to play on this list of obbleck activities for kids!

Don’t forget to check out the recipe for oobleck on our sensory play recipes page!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: kids activities, oobleck, preschool, sensory play

Sensory Play Recipes

January 11, 2019 By sensoryplay Leave a Comment

There are so many sensory play materials that can be made at home! This decreases the cost of many of these materials and can be fun to make with the kids.

Sensory play recipes for materials such as oobleck, play dough, cloud dough, slime and more. Great to make at home or in the classroom.

How to make common sensory materials:

Play dough

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 1 tbsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup water

Oobleck

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups cornstarch
A list of oobleck activities for sensory play with kids. From glow in the dark oobleck to fun crafts with oobleck, there is something for everyone.

Moon Sand

  • 8 cups flour
  • 1 cup oil

Colored Rice

  • dry rice
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • food coloring

Slime

  • 1 bottle glue
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tbsp contact lens solution
  • 1/4 cup water (optional – will make for a stretchier slime)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Copyright © 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in