Spring is a great time to incorporate sensory play into your day! There are so many free, accessible, beautiful offerings in nature to create and play with. Enjoy this free guide of play ideas for you and your family and feel free to share with others.
how to use this guide
I designed this guide for any adult to use regardless of "craftiness" or experience with sensory play. No matter the age, all sensory play requires adult supervision... and if you're going to sit and watch, you might as well join in on the fun!
Most of the invitations can be prepared and setup in minimal time with very few supplies.
If you're new to sensory play, set up a space for your play invitations. This can be a children's height table or a spot on the floor. Lay down a towel or blanket if you like. You can do all of these invitations indoors or outdoors. Choose a tray or a bin for your play invitations. Any washable bin or tray will work - it doesn't need to be fancy or expensive. *TIP* The thrift store is great place to find tools for sensory play - plastic trays, bowls, slotted spoons, pitchers, and the like.
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TIPS
Contain messy setups by putting your play tray inside a larger tray or plastic storage bin to contain the mess.
Keep a towel or a dish of soapy water near by so kiddos can rinse and wipe their hands as they like. Many kids enjoy messy play but the "oh no my hands are dirty and I don't like it" switch can flip very quickly!
Spring Playdough Invitations
- Make homemade playdough together! Some spring playdough ideas are grass green, sky blue, brown dirt, and sunny yellow. Incorporate your favorite essential oils or dried herbs/spices for even more sensory fun. I love incorporating coffee grounds for dirt play dough - it gives a great texture!
- Nature Imprint Tinker Tray: gather nature items and use them to make prints in your playdough, make nature creations, build playful nests and animal homes and so much more
- Create a spring playdough scene
Spring Nature Sensory Play Invitations
- Nature Scavenger Hunt - look for all the colors of the rainbow in nature
- Cloud Watching - laying in the grass and watching the sky is a great mindfulness practice and creative prompt
- Gel crayons on fallen leaves - this is one of those art invitations that I go back to every year because it's always so fun and easy to take on the go.
- Chalk/wet chalk - drawing rainbows is such a fun way to leave a little kindness in your neighborhood park. For kids who struggle with chalk drawing, try using a small bowl of water to wet the chalk. It goes on much smoother and makes a more vibrant line!
- Outdoor obstacle course - use chalk or nature items to create a fun obstacle course for gross motor play/heavy work
- Bubbles - blowing bubbles is so great for sensory regulation! And who doesn't love bubbles?
- Bird seed sensory bin - using bird seed as your sensory base is an eco-friendly way to play! It is no prep and when you're done you can leave it outside for your feathered friends.
- Nature Soup - the classic, original no prep sensory play.
- Mud Pies - nature soup but make it messy!
- Playing in the rain - another amazing sensory opportunity provided by mother nature
Spring Sensory Bin Ideas
- Bird's Nest Sensory Bin
- Pond Sensory Bin
- Bug Hotel Sensory Bin
- Bee Sensory Bin
- Ladybug Sensory Bin
- Spring Rain Sensory Bin
- Spring Storm Sensory Bin
- Rainbow Sensory Bin
- Spring Flowers Sensory Bin
- Easter Sensory Bin
- Spring on the Farm Sensory Bin
- Baby Animals Sensory Bin
- Bug Sensory Bin
- Dirt Sensory Bin
- Grass Sensory Bin
- Dandelion Sensory Bin
- Gardening Sensory Bin
Spring Messy Play Ideas
- Spring Oobleck - 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water makes this super fun substance! Add cocoa powder to make it "muddy" for spring. Pair with bug or animal figurines.
- Spring Chia Seed Slime - this one is VERY messy but so fun. Combine 1/4 cup chia seeds with 1 1/2 cups water. Mix and let sit overnight in the fridge. Definitely play with this one outside.
- Spring Fizzy Potions - the most simple mix of baking soda and vinegar can last for hours. I love to add a little dish soap for a foamier reaction.
- Spring Ice Painting - just as simple as it sounds, ice cubes and watercolor paints make the most fun art play
- Spring Shaving Cream/Whip Cream Nature Pies - when you spring clean your kitchen spice cabinet, use all of the expired spices to create a mega messy sensory bin. This is always a kid-favorite and simply washes up with water when they're done. *Use whip cream for toddlers who still mouth.*
- Mud Pies/Nature Soup