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5 Sensory Bases for Small World Play
Small world play is a magical way for children to explore their imaginations and develop important skills while engaging in sensory-rich experiences. Through the use of different sensory bases children can embark on captivating adventures right at their fingertips. In this blog, we'll dive into the world of sensory small world play and discover how these five sensory bases can ignite creativity and enchantment in young minds.
Whether you're setting up a farm, an outer space scene or dinosaur land there are so many great options to bring small world play to life and ignite children's senses at the same time! we'll share some of our favourites here.
Water:
Nothing beats water play right? Simple, easy and straight from the tap.
Water provides a dynamic sensory experience that captivates children's attention and stimulates their senses. Whether it's splashing in their sensory tray or exploring a small world pond, water play offers endless possibilities for imaginative adventures. Children can float boats, splash with sea creatures, or even engage in sensory exploration by adding natural elements like rocks and shells. Water play not only promotes sensory development but also encourages scientific inquiry and problem-solving skills as children explore concepts like buoyancy and displacement.
Adding blue food colouring is great to enhance the visual experience. Adding kinetic sand, rocks or toy sea creatures is perfect for creating seashore or marine scenes. Freezing water is also another fun option. Freeze some water in a container, along with some plastic animals and little ones can use warm water to unfreeze the ice block to reveal what lays inside!
Sensory Sand:
Sensory sand or kinetic, with its soft texture and moldable properties, invites children to sculpt, shape, and explore. From building to digging for buried treasures, sensory sand offers a tactile playground for imaginative play. Children can create desert landscapes, beach scenes, or even construction sites, using their hands and tools to manipulate the sand. Sensory sand play encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity as children experiment with different shapes, textures, and structures. Plus because kinetic sand clumps together it also tends to create less mess than real sand!
We love using sand to bury some dinos, little ones can use their hands or scoops to reveal their prehistoric findings.
Playdough:
Playdough is a beloved sensory material that engages multiple senses, including touch, sight, and smell. Playdough is a fun base, that most of us with little ones will have around the house
Its pliable nature and vibrant colours inspire endless possibilities for creative expression and exploration. Children can mold playdough into creatures, objects, or landscapes, bringing their imaginative worlds to life. Playdough play encourages sensory exploration, fine motor development, and social interaction as children collaborate on imaginative projects and share their creations with others.
Chia Slime:
Chia slime adds a unique twist to sensory play with its gooey texture and mesmerizing properties. Made from simple ingredients like water, chia seeds, and food colouring, chia slime offers a hands-on sensory experience that fascinates children of all ages. From stretching and squishing to watching the seeds dance and grow, chia slime provides endless opportunities for sensory exploration and scientific inquiry. Children can create alien worlds, swampy habitats, or enchanted forests, using chia slime as the backdrop for imaginative adventures.
Here's how > First mix a 1/4 cup of chia seed and 1 1/2 cups of water and refrigerated overnight. Then to make a chia slime all you need to do is add cornflour/corn starch to your chilled chia seeds. We use just 1/2 a cup to allow it to fill the bottom of the PlayTRAY. If you wanted it a bit more slime-like and to come off the hands easily just keep adding cornflour until the right consistency is achieved. Then add your favourite food colouring!
Fake Snow:
Fake snow brings the magic of winter indoors, allowing children to explore snowy landscapes and embark on chilly adventures year-round. With its fluffy texture and cold touch, fake snow offers a sensory experience that stimulates the imagination and promotes sensory development. Children can build snowmen, sculpt snow forts, or go sledding down imaginary slopes, experiencing the joys of winter play without the cold. Fake snow play encourages creativity, sensory exploration, and dramatic play as children immerse themselves in wintry wonderlands.
Our Rainbow Eco Play snow comes as a dry powder that just needs water adding, plus a little goes a long way! This snow can also be frozen and defrosts back to a fluffy snowy texture!
Sensory small world play is a valuable and enriching experience for children, offering opportunities for creativity, imagination, and sensory exploration. By providing access to a variety of sensory bases, such as water, sensory sand, playdough, chia slime, and fake snow, parents and educators can nurture children's development and foster a lifelong love of learning. So, let's embrace the magic of sensory play and watch as children's imaginations soar to new heights, one small world adventure at a time.
