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31 Day Sensory Play Challenge Inspiration

December 19, 2014 by Emma Gadsby Leave a Comment

Here are 93 sensory play ideas to get your creative juices flowing for the 31 Day Sensory Play Challenge. The activities are either taken from our Adventures of Adam blog or provided by our blogging friends. Click on each picture to find out more information about each individual sensory play activity. These ideas are given as a guide. You can follow these ideas exactly, adapt them in some way or think of your own – it is completely up to you.

A handy shopping list for the 31 Day Sensory Play Challenge can be found here.

Remember to download the challenge calendar here.

You can find more sensory play inspiration in our 31 Day Sensory Challenge Blog Hop.

Day 1 – Cotton Wool Play

We love the texture of cotton wool and so far have centred our cotton wool play around sheep. There are other possibilities though such as baking cotton wool – coming to the blog very soon.

Adventures of Adam toddler sheep shearing
Sheep Shearing
Adventures of Adam sheep window art
Sheep Window Art
Adventures of Adam Shaving Foam sensory bin
Penguin Sensory Bin

Day 2 – Rice Sensory Bin

Rice can be used straight from the cupboard or dyed to create Rainbow Rice. It is a great base for a sensory bin and is perfect for hiding objects in.

Adventures of Adam rainbow rice
How to make Rainbow Rice
Adventures of Adam Alphablock Rainbow Rice Hunt
Alphablock Rainbow Rice Hunt
Adventures of Adam Rainbow Rice Fishing
Rainbow Rice Fishing

Day 3 – Shaving Foam

Shaving foam is an extremely cheap resource which has so many possibilities. We particularly love painting with it either by creating shaving foam car tracks or in the bath.

Adventures of Adam shaving foam car tracks tuff spot
Car Tracks in Shaving Foam
Adventures of Adam shaving foam bath painting
Shaving Foam Bath Painting
Adventures of Adam Snowman zip-loc bag
Snow Man Zip-Loc Sensory Bag

Day 4 – Play Dough

Home made play dough is easy to make – take a look at Imagination Tree’s no-cook recipe. Add food colouring and the play dough possibilities are endless.

Adventures of Adam playdough Aliens
Day 14 – Aliens Love Panta Claus Play Dough
Autumn Play Dough from Learning and Exploring Through Play
Play Dough Hedgehogs from The Natural Momma In Me

Day 5 – Jelly

Despite our Jelly Digging Fail back at the start of our play adventures we still love jelly play. Tip – add additional gelatin to your jelly to ensure that it sets hard enough to play with.

Adventures of Adam Jelly Digging Fail
Jelly Digging
Adventures of Adam jelly digging tuff spot
Jelly Digging
Adventures of Adam edible jelly worms
Edible Jelly Worms in edible mud

Day 6 – Slime or Gloop

Gloop is really easy to make and a great activity for children who love messy play. Simply mix corn flour and water to create a unique texture. This amazing substance will help teach your little one about the concepts of solids and liquids.

Adventures of Adam toddler play
Making Gloop
Gloopy Gloop from Messy Little Monster
Silly Slime from Natural Beach Living

Day 7 – Sensory Fun In The Bath

If you are concerned about the mess created from sensory play then you will love sensory fun in the bath. The mess is contained in one place and easy to clean.

Adventures of Adam Rainbow Painting in the bath
Rainbow Painting in the bath
Herbal Discovery Bath from Emma Owl
Pool noodle sensory bath from The Jenny Evolution

Day 8 – Bubble wrap

Whether you pop or paint with bubble wrap it certainly is a resource that stimulates the senses. Not only does it make a great sound but it makes interesting patterns and shapes with paint.

Adventures of Adam Bubble wrap ball pool
Bubble Wrap Ball Pool
Bubble Wrap Salt Dough from Crafty Kids At Home
Bubble wrap jellyfish from Crafty Kids At Home

Day 9 – Pasta

Pasta can be used uncooked, cooked or straight from a tin. You can add colour to it or paint with it.  Why not try pasta threading or adding it to play dough.

Adventures of Adam Rainbow Spaghetti
Rainbow Spaghetti
Adventures of Adam messy play with cars
Heinz Alphabetti Pasta Messy Play
Cooking with play dough from Emma Owl

Day 10 – Sensory Play using kitchen Cupboard Items

You will be amazed how many sensory play opportunities can be created with items you already have in your kitchen cupboard. Whether it is cornflakes, soap or salt you will not look at every day objects in the same light after this challenge.

Adventures of Adam Cornflake Sensory Bin
Cornflake Tuff Spot
Adventures of Adam Clean Mud
Clean Mud
Adventures of Adam Rainbow Salt Tray
Rainbow Salt Tray

Day 11 – Sticky Play

Sticky play can come in the form of contact paper or sellotape. At Adventures of Adam we have a love/hate relationship with contact paper – mostly because I end up getting tangled up in it.

Adventures of Adam Sticky Apple Tree
Sticky Apple Tree
Adventures of Adam Sticky Christmas Tree
Sticky Christmas Tree
Sticky Tape Web from The Natural Momma In Me

Day 12 –Bubbles

It does not matter whether you use shop bought bubble mixture or attempt to make your own for this challenge. Who can resist blowing and popping bubbles!

Bubble Snake from The Natural Momma In Me
Bubble Painting from Learning and Exploring Through Play
Bubble Whisking from The Natural Momma In Me

Day 13 – Exploring Texture / Sensory Stepping Stones

Texture play is something we need more of on Adventures of Adam. This why I have set aside a day for us to find different ways to play with texture. We hope to create some sensory stepping stones. You could try painting on different textures, go on a texture hunt in your local area or create textured play dough.

Adventures of Adam experimenting with string in water
Exploring the texture of dry and wet wool
Alphabet Sensory Cards from Best Toys 4 Toddlers
Textured pumpkin play dough from Mama’s Happy Hive

Day 14 – Ice

This time of year is a perfect time for ice play. You can discover ice puddles outside or bringing the ice inside. Failing that why not make your own ice. How quickly can your little one melt the ice?

Adventures of Adam frozen vinegar Rainbow fish
Frozen Vinegar Rainbow Fish
Under The Sea Exploration from Building Blocks and Acorns
Exploring ice from Learning and Exploring Through Play

Day 15 – Scented Play Dough

We haven’t attempted scented play dough yet so I am looking forward to Adam’s reaction. Why not add food essence such as peppermint or coconut to make sweet smelling play dough.

5 Currant Buns Play Dough from Building Blocks and Acorns
Orange Scented Play Dough from Learning and Exploring Through Play
Gingerbread Man Play Dough from The Gingerbread House

Day 16 – Light Play / Glow Sticks

As it gets dark so early at this time of year it’s perfect for light play. If you don’t have access to a light table why not make your own. Or you could explore ways to play with glow sticks.

Adventures of Adam DIY Light Box
DIY Light Box
Adventures of Adam DIY Colour Blocks for the Light Box
DIY Colour Blocks for the Light Box
Adventures of Adam Glow stick play
Glow Stick Play

Day 17 – Sensory Play Using Recycled Materials

Look no further than your recycling bin to get inspiration. Plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and  kitchen roll tubes are our favourites.

Adventures of Adam recycled plastic bottle water wall
Adventures of Adam DIY ribbon sticks
DIY Ribbon Sticks
Adventures of Adam DIY Tug Box
DIY Tug Box

Day 18 – Food Colouring 

Food colouring can be used within a edible sensory activity, such as our edible artwork, or it can be added to enhance an activity. We added blue food colouring to our duck sensory bin and green to our Christmas Tree Play Dough to enhance the activity.

Adventures of Adam edible artwork
Edible Artwork
adventures of adam duck sensory bin
Duck Sensory Bin
Adventures of Adam Aliens love Panta Claus playdough Underpants tree
Aliens Love Panta Claus Christmas Tree Play Dough

Day 19 – Cloud Dough

Cloud Dough, sometimes known as Moon Sand, is made by mixing flour and baby oil together. It can be moulded together like damp sand but becomes powdery flour again by applying a little pressure to it. Substitute the baby oil with coconut oil and you have an edible version.

Adventures of Adam cloud dough tuff spot
Cloud Dough Tuff Spot
Adventures of Adam oranges and lemons moon sand
Oranges and Lemons Guest post from The Natural Momma In Me
Edible Cloud Dough from Emma Owl

Day 20 – Snow (real or artificial)

If we are lucky enough to have snow on day 20 of the challenge then perfect. If we aren’t so lucky then not why not make artificial snow or create a snowy sensory bin for your little one to explore.

Arctic Sensory Tub from Building Blocks and Acorns
Snowy Sensory Play from Messy Little Monster
Home made snow from The Natural Momma In Me

Day 21 – Sensory/Discovery Bottles

Sensory bottles, sometimes known as discovery bottles, are cheap to make using recycled plastic bottles and are long lasting. You can add any small objects you already have around the house. Sensory bottles are perfect for little hands and help children to observe, explore and experiment with a wide array of scientific concepts.

Adventures of Adam Discovery bottles
Discovery Bottles
Firework Sensory Bottle from Messy Little Monster
Sensory Bottles from Learning and Exploring Through Play

Day 22 – Beans and/or Lentils Sensory Bin

Beans and lentils are perfect for a sensory bin base as they make a wonderful sound when poured and have a great texture. Black Turtle Beans and Red Split Lentils are our personal favourites. These can be purchased from supermarkets.

Adventures of Adam Halloween Spider Sensory Bin
Spider Sensory Bin Guest Post on Building Blocks and Acorns
Dinosaur Sensory Bin with Lentils Guest Post on Rainy Day Mum
Space in a bowl from Building Blocks and Acorns

Day 23 – Exploring Sounds

The sense of sound is frequently neglected in sensory play so we have dedicated a day to it. What sounds can your little one make using recycled objects or from kitchen utensils?

Toddler nursery rhyme activities
I Hear Thunder Rain Stick Guest Post from Betsy Finn Photography
Adventures of Adam Musical Tree
Musical Tree
Rice and pasta musical instruments from The Natural Momma In Me

Day 24 – Sensory Bags

We love a zip-loc bag at Adventures of Adam. Not only are they great for sensory bags but they can contain objects that you want your little one to explore but not to touch. Sensory bags are also fantastic for non-messy paint mixing.

Adventures of Adam Fish Tank Sensory Bag
Fish Tank Sensory Bag
Adventures of Adam sensory bags
Sensory Bags
Adventures of Adam squashing peas
Pea Finger Football

Day 25 – Water Beads

I have a confession. So far we haven’t blogged about our water beads adventures. Water beads are water absorbing polymers that grow in size. Water beads, sometimes called crystal soil, are used for floral arrangements and can be non-toxic and biodegradable. However, water beads do pose a choking hazard so supervision is needed. If you are looking for inspiration on how babies can play safely with water beads then read this great post.

Exploring Water Beads from The Natural Momma In Me
Halloween Water Beads Sensory Bin from Learning and Exploring Through Play
Water Beads and Shaving Foam Trifle from Crafty Kids At Home

Day 26 – Pipe Cleaners

Exploring and playing with pipe cleaners is a fantastic way of developing little ones fine motor skills. They are strong enough to push into substances like Styrofoam and play dough yet are flexible enough to coil into circles.

Adventures of Adam pipe cleaner posting
Pipe Cleaner Posting
Adventures of Adam coiled pipe cleaners
Coiled Pipe Cleaners
Adventures of Adam pipe cleaner posting
Pipe Cleaner Posting

Day 27 – Edible Play

If your little one likes to explore with their sense of taste then this is a perfect sensory activity day. Create a sensory bin using edible items. It can be as elaborate as our edible dinosaur sensory bin or as simple as our smash tuff spot.

Adventures of Adam dinosaur sensory bin
Edible Dinosaur Sensory Bin
Adventures of Adam smash tuff spot
Smash (Instant Potato) Tuff Spot
Adventures of Adam melted chocolate sensory bin
Melted chocolate sensory bin

Day 28 – Masking Tape

At Adventures of Adam we have a slight obsession with masking tape. My husband no longer bats an eye lid when he walks into our living and masking tape is across the sofa and floor. You can build cities, shapes, letters, an obstacle course – all from a roll of masking tape.

Adventures of Adam Polar Express Masking Tape Train Track
Polar Express Masking Tape Train Track
Adventures of Adam masking tape pull
Masking Tape Pull
Adventures of Adam Masking Tape Car Track
Masking Tape Car Track

Day 29 – Balloon Play

Balloons can either be used blown up or as a container to hold sensory objects. You could add water to them or trying painting with a balloon!

Adventures of Adam ghost balloon busters
Ghost Balloon Busters
Sensory Balloons from The Natural Momma In Me
Adventures of Adam sheep balloon and sheepdog balloon
Animal Balloon Herding

Day 30 – Cereal Sensory Bin

We all have cereals in the kitchen cupboard so why not turn them into a sensory play experience. Porridge oats, cornflakes and Cheerios are all great as a sensory bin base.

Adventures of Adam harvest sensory bin
Harvest Sensory Bin
Adventures of Adam mark making with wheat flakes
Wheat Flakes Tuff Spot
Adventures of Adam oats and chick pea building site
Oats and Chick Pea Building Site

Day 31 – Straws 

For our final day of the challenge we have chosen to play with straws. Straws are classed as an emergency play item in our household. If I need to occupy Adam for a while then out come the packet of straws. If you cut them up they make a great sensory bin base or add them to a discovery bottle for babies. You could also use straws as part of an activity as demonstrated by Learning and Exploring Through Play.

Adventures of Adam fine motor skills straws
Playing with straws
Adventures of Adam fine motor Halloween
Halloween Straw Sensory Bin
Using straws to erupt bubbles from Learning and Exploring Through Play

Which day are you looking forward to the most? Write a comment below.

 

 

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Emma and Adam

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with Adam as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children’s play whilst they are ill.

To learn more about Emma and Adam click here.

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