Sensory Processing

Floating Noodle Squeezer

Steps:

Adult Step: Use your scissors to cut a pool noodle into thin round ‘donuts’ about one inch thick.
Fill a large container or plastic tub halfway with cool water and set it on a stable table.
Place all the colorful noodle rings into the water so they float freely.
Ask your child to hold the side of the container with their helper hand to stay steady.
Have your child reach into the water and grab a floating noodle ring with their other hand.
Challenge them to squeeze the ring as hard as they can to see the water spray out!
Tell them to drop the ‘rescued’ ring into a basket next to the tub.
Repeat until all the floating rings are safely in the basket.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play to prevent slips or spills. Pool noodle pieces are not for the mouth.

The Sticky Tape Hand Claps

Steps:

Place a pile of soft cotton balls and colorful feathers on a piece of construction paper.
Wrap a loop of masking tape around your child’s palms with the sticky side facing out.
Encourage your child to clap their hands onto the cotton balls and feathers to make them stick.
Show them how to use one hand to peel the treasures off the other hand.
Drop the rescued items into a small basket and start the game again!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses masking tape and small materials. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put the tape or feathers in their mouth.

The Foil Bead Wrap Rescue

Steps:

Tear off several small squares of aluminum foil, about the size of your hand.
Place one colorful bead in the center of a foil square.
Show your toddler how to use their fingertips to crumple the foil around the bead until it is completely hidden.
Place all the finished ‘silver balls’ into a bowl.
Ask your child to pick up one ball using their pinching fingers.
Challenge them to use both hands to carefully unwrap the foil and rescue the bead inside!
Once rescued, drop the bead into a separate tray and start the next one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small beads. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put any materials in their mouth.

The Pudding Bead Hunt

Steps:

Use markers to draw several colorful circles on the outside of a Ziplock bag.
Open the bag and scoop in about half a cup of pudding.
Drop a few colorful beads into the pudding and seal the bag shut.
Lay the bag flat and use masking tape to secure the edges to a table.
Ask your child to use their pointer finger to find a bead inside the bag.
Challenge them to slide the bead through the pudding until it reaches a matching circle!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the Ziplock bag is sealed tightly to avoid any leaks. Small beads are a choking hazard and should be kept away from younger siblings.

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

Steps:

Take an empty plastic bottle and make sure it is clean and dry.
Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the middle of the bottle.
Make sure the sticky side is facing out toward you.
Secure the ends of the tape with two smaller pieces of tape so it stays in place.
Scatter a handful of colorful beads inside a flat plastic container.
Show your child how to hold the bottle with both hands.
Ask them to roll the bottle over the beads until they stick to the tape.
Once the bottle is decorated, have them use their fingers to peel the beads off one by one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses beads which are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put beads or tape in their mouth.