Toddlers and young preschoolers love opportunities to play and explore using their senses. Activities that invite them to touch, squeeze, smell, and taste will spark their curiosity, while encouraging learning and discovery through play. Themed sensory activities encourage conversation, and offer a way to introduce children to new words and topics. In this article, we share summer-themed sensory activities about foods and activities that can help keep us cool on hot summer days.
This simple and colorful sensory activity requires only a few simple ingredients: DIY ice cream playdough, sprinkles, and ice cream cup cones. Start by making your ice cream playdough using equal parts salt, water, and flour (about a cup each). Add a bit of corn meal and food coloring and mix until your dough has the desired color and consistency. You might consider making a few different bowls, using different food coloring in each. Once the dough is ready to go, offer it to young children in a sensory bin (you can also use large plastic bins or bowls) so they can explore. Then set out ice cream cones, scoopers, and sprinkles and invite little ones to scoop up the ice cream and explore all the different textures in the bin! As a note, this activity is entirely safe to eat, (although the ice cream likely will not have a very good flavor), making it a great option for little ones who are inclined to explore by putting things into their mouths.
This unique sensory activity invites children to experience a light foamy texture that looks like sea foam! To make the foam, combine dish soap, water, and blue food coloring in a large bowl. Use a handheld mixer to blend the ingredients until the foam becomes frothy and foamy. (If you don’t have a handheld mixer, you can do this by hand, although it will require some arm strength!) Next, place the foam in a large container with toy sea animals and sea shells. Add spoons, cups and other sensory bin tools for children to use as they discover and play with the foamy texture!
This sensory squish bag looks like a popular summer fruit – watermelon! Little ones will enjoy the feeling of squeezing the bag, while also strengthening small muscles in their hands and fingers. To make these bags, you will need clear hair gel, large ziplock bags, red food coloring, small black buttons (dry black beans or black beads will also work), and green painters tape. Put the hair gel and a few drops of red food coloring into your ziplock bag. Seal the bag and then squeeze between your hands until the color is evenly spread. Re-open the bag and add in your seeds. Seal the bag for a final time, trying to remove any extra air before closing. Add the green painter’s tape to the top of the bag to resemble the watermelon skin. Invite children to squeeze the bag – exploring the squishy texture!
This summer activity requires just two ingredients and is entirely taste-safe! To make your sand, all you will need is whole-wheat flour and vegetable oil. Combine the two together, adding and mixing until it reaches your desired consistency. It should feel like slightly wet beach sand, without being sticky. Once it’s ready to go, place the sand in a large sensory bin or bowl. Offer shovels, seashells, and any other sand toys you have available. Invite little ones to play and explore!
