Magical Sensory Play

As you might have seen from our previous posts, the kids have been into all thing magical and we wanted to incorporate this into some sensory play!

1) Magical Mushroom Washing Brushes

Materials

• Mushroom brushes (You can purchase these online or in kitchen stores)
• Paint
• Dishwasher safe/waterproof sealant
• Brushes
• Stylus (or use a toothpick, paintbrush end or dowel end)
• Magical creatures (unicorns, pegai)

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Paint your mushroom caps in the colours you like.  We did a few layers, allowing them to dry in between.

• Add your dots with a stylus’ circular end, the end of a paintbrush handle, a dowel end or toothpick.  Allow to dry.

• We then covered the mushroom brushes with a few coats of dishwasher safe sealant so the paint wouldn’t wash off while the kids washed their unicorns, pegasus and the like.

• Add this to a bin of water with some soap fun and wash your toys!

2) Rainbow Foam

Materials

• Soap pumps (these ones we re-used that had baby wash in them)
• Soap (dish soap, hand soap, body wash)
• Food colouring
• Warm water
• Tray or bin
• Magical creatures (we went with dragons)

Directions

• Put approximately 1 tablespoon of dish soap/hand soap/body wash into your soap pump.

• Add about 10 drops of food colouring in your bottles.

• Add your warm water (we filled it about 2.5 cm/ 1 inch from the top to account for the displacement for the pump when you put it in) and gently mixed the elements by tilting it up and down.

• Don your smock and play with your foam and creatures in a bin, tray or water table- this is a perfect activity for outside!  You may want to have some rags handy and be sure to wear play clothes as the food colouring may stain.

3) Glittery Wash in Interesting Containers

Materials

• Various containers (condiment bottles, spray bottles- set to mist, medical supply spray bottles etc.)
• Warm water
• Food colouring
• Biodegradable glitter

Directions

• Put approximately 10 drops of food colouring in your bottles, along with a sprinkle of your glitter.

• Add your warm water and gently mix the elements by tilting it up and down.

• Don your smock and play- this is a perfect activity for outside.  You may want to have some rags handy and be sure to wear play clothes as the food colouring may stain.

• Give your toys a rinse!

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Purpose

• Exploring different types of sensory play.
• Washing one’s belongings.
• Making items to enhance play.
• This type of play can lead to discoveries related to displacement, viscosity, flow, capacity etc.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Follow product directions and safety guidelines, using child-safe soaps etc.
• These activities are recommended for children over the age of 3 and those who do not put items in their mouths/consume large amounts of soap.
• As with all water play, direct adult supervision is always recommended!