Sensory Balloon Squeeze Pairs

Sensory Balloon Squeeze Pairs

Steps:

  • Fill two balloons with dry beans, two with rice, and two with oats.
  • Squeeze some water into two final balloons and tie all of them securely.
  • Place all the textured balloons inside a large bowl.
  • Have your child close their eyes and pick up one balloon.
  • Ask them to squeeze it gently with their hands to feel the texture.
  • Challenge them to find the matching balloon in the bowl using only their sense of touch!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during balloon play. Uninflated or broken balloons can be a choking hazard. Keep materials away from mouths.

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Steps:

  • Place an empty, clear plastic bottle on a flat table.
  • Drop a lightweight ping pong ball inside the bottom of the empty bottle.
  • Fill a large bowl with cool water and place it right next to the bottle.
  • Have your child dunk a sponge into the bowl to soak up the water.
  • Hold the bottle steady with their helper hand to keep it still.
  • Use the other hand to squeeze the wet sponge directly over the bottle opening.
  • Repeat this process, watching the ping pong ball float higher and higher.
  • Once the ball reaches the very top, use pinching fingers to pluck it out!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely during water play. Ensure the bottle has a wide opening with no sharp plastic edges.

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

Steps:

  • Use scissors to cut a long cardboard strip, about ten inches long.
  • Use your markers and ruler to draw a straight line down the middle.
  • Color the left side blue and the right side orange.
  • Squeeze two clothespins and clip them to the bottom to make legs.
  • Stand the cardboard strip upright on a flat table.
  • Hand your child a basket of colorful clothespins.
  • Ask them to hold the wobbly cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Use their pinching fingers to clip clothespins onto the top edge.
  • Challenge them to match the color of the pins to the cardboard side.
  • Gently place a pom-pom into each clipped pin to finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during play. Clothespins can pinch little fingers, and pom-poms are a choking hazard.

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

Steps:

  • Place the Styrofoam block flat on a table.
  • Use colorful markers to color the flat, round top of each golf ball tee.
  • Explain to your child that these tees are fingers getting a manicure.
  • Ask your child to hold a tee tightly with their pinching fingers.
  • Use the other hand to hold the Styrofoam block steady.
  • Push the pointed end of the tee straight down into the Styrofoam.
  • Line up five tees in a row to create a hand.
  • Carefully place a small sticker on top of each colored tee to finish the style!

Safety Tip:
Golf tees have pointed ends. Always supervise your child during play to prevent accidental pokes or swallowing of small stickers.

The Pencil Top Target Spin

The Pencil Top Target Spin

Steps:

  • Use a small bowl to trace a circle onto your cardboard.
  • Carefully use scissors to cut the circle out.
  • Let your child draw a bright spiral pattern on the circle using markers.
  • Push the pencil tip straight through the center of the cardboard circle.
  • Make sure the cardboard fits snugly near the bottom of the pencil.
  • Lay your butcher paper flat on the floor and secure it with masking tape.
  • Use your markers to draw three nesting target circles on the paper.
  • Hold the pencil top with your thumb and first two fingers.
  • Twist your fingers quickly to spin the top onto the target circles!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the pencil tip is not overly sharp to prevent accidental pokes during the spinning motion.