Sensory Processing - Page 5 of 14

The Foil Pan Bead Toss

Steps:

Place the aluminium foil pan on a flat table or a waterproof surface.
Fill the pan about halfway with cool water to create a shallow pond.
Ask your child to stand a few steps away from the pan.
Give them a handful of colorful beads to hold in one hand.
Challenge them to toss the beads one by one into the water pan.
Once all the beads are in the water, give your child a spoon.
Ask them to use their dominant hand to scoop up one bead at a time.
Have them carefully carry the bead on the spoon to a nearby bowl.
Try to see how fast they can rescue all the beads from the pond!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play to prevent any accidents. Beads are a significant choking hazard, so keep them away from children who still put objects in their mouth.

The Foil Pan Color Pond

Steps:

Fill three paper cups halfway with cool water and add two drops of different food coloring to each.
Place the empty aluminium foil pan onto a flat table or a waterproof surface.
Ask your child to hold the eyedropper using their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge them to suck up the colored water from a cup and carefully move it over to the pan.
Have your child use their other hand to hold the edge of the pan to keep it still.
Encourage them to release small drops into the pan to create colorful patterns or ‘ponds.’
Try to mix colors together in the pan to see what new colors appear!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play. Ensure that food coloring is handled carefully to prevent staining of clothes or household surfaces.

The Floating Island Bean Drop

Steps:

Fill the aluminium foil pan halfway with cool water to create your ‘ocean.’
Place the sponge gently into the water so it floats like a tiny island.
Put a handful of dry beans into a small bowl next to the pan.
Show your toddler how to pick up one bean using their thumb and pointer finger.
Encourage your child to carefully set the bean onto the center of the floating sponge.
Watch as the sponge bobs and tilts with each new bean added!
Challenge them to see how many beans the island can hold before it gets too heavy.
When finished, they can use their fingers to scoop the beans off the sponge.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Beans are small and pose a risk. Always supervise your toddler closely and store materials safely after play.

The Foil Pancake Button Press

Steps:

Tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil using both of your hands.
Encourage your toddler to crumple the foil into a flat, thick pancake shape.
Place the foil pancake inside the aluminum foil pan or onto a piece of cardboard for stability.
Give your child a handful of colorful buttons from your collection.
Ask them to use their pointer finger and thumb to pick up one button at a time.
Challenge your toddler to press each button firmly into the surface of the foil pancake.
Watch as the foil wraps slightly around the edges to hold the buttons in place!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Buttons are small and pose a risk. Always supervise your child closely during this activity. Ensure all buttons are put away safely once you are finished playing.

The Shaving Cream Marble Maze

Steps:

Fill a Ziplock bag with shaving cream and a little food coloring.
Seal the bag and squish it to mix the color.
Place a marble inside the bag and seal it again.
Use a marker to draw a winding path on the bag.
Tape the bag flat to the table with masking tape.
Use your index finger to push the marble along the path.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Ensure the Ziplock bag is sealed tightly to avoid leaks.