Bella is at that age where she wants to touch everything and explore her surroundings. I love how curious and adventurous little ones are, I almost forgot what it was like after all these years!
Having worked in a private daycare I know how important it is for little ones to experiment, explore and expand their senses. Making a craft or having some fun with sensory play is a great way to entertain your little ones when the weather outside might keep you indoors. It is also an excellent way for them to learn and improve their fine motor skills.
Fine motor skill is the coordination of small muscle movements. This usually involves the synchronization of hands and fingers with the eyes. Fine motor skills aid in the growth of intelligence and develop continuously throughout the stages of development.
Bella’s fine motor skills are getting better with each passing day. We are still working on getting her to eat with utensils instead of her hands but she is defiant – I breed some strong willed children let me tell you! If Bella attended daycare she would have activities galore that help with fine motor skills. As a work-at-home-mom I can’t justify the outrageous cost of child care in my city when I am fully able to care for her so I have to be the one to plan our day and include key activities that will help her develop.
I have compiled a list of some great craft & sensory play ideas you can easily do with your little one from home to help develop their fine motor skills and encourage learning.
21 CRAFT & SENSORY PLAY IDEAS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS
3. Glittertastic Butterfly Craft
10. 8 Fall Sensory Activities At Your Fingertips
11. Sensory Bottles
12. Super Easy Sensory Play Soap: Soap Foam
13. How To Create A Fall Colored Rice Sensory Bin
14. DIY Simple Sensory Bottles
15. Neon Taste Safe Finger Paint
17. Cardboard Sensory Boxes For Toddlers & Babies
18. DIY Learning Alphabet Sensory Bottles
21. 5 Easy Sensory Baby Activities
What is your little ones favourite thing to play with? Let me know in the comments below!
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Suzanne Rudge says
There are some really great ideas here! The kiddos would go nuts with such bright colours and fun activities. These are perfect for any kinder class or pre-school.
Jennifer (momvstheboys) says
I used to work in a day care centre and one of my favourite things was creating new sensory bins for the kids!
{Erica}EverythingMomandBaby says
These are all excellent idea’s for crafts. I’ll be getting into this when big brother goes back to school and I’m home with my girls.
Crystal says
My kids are past the sensory items age wise, but these are great ideas, I am going to share this list with my daycare provider, I am sure she will love it!
Vanessa says
The soap foam looks like so much fun! I think this is a great list of ideas.
Darrah Bailey says
WOW, some really great ideas here! These will help me out.. Thanks so much
Cheryl says
Looks like some super ideas!! Thanks I will try a few for our little guy 🙂
mrdisco says
i love the idea of a sensory board. it’s also a fun craft project to create
Lynda Cook says
these are all awesome, my granddaughter loves exploring and touching everything right now, so I’m going to make some of these up for her, thanks for sharing!!
kristen visser says
what a great post full of wonderful ideas for my toddler 🙂 i stay home with my two girls and always looking for new ideas and things to do with my oldest. perfect list to go through 🙂
Judy Cowan says
Some really great activities, I am going to have to try some of these with my nephew. Thanks for sharing these and giving me some new ideas.
Piroska says
There’s some great ideas! When my kids were little, there wasn’t much about sensory play. Now, with my little granddaughter, there is so much more to explore!
LILLIAN BROWN says
Great ideas, sensory play is new to me
Krista M says
Sensory play is so important, it teaches great fine motor skills & helps regulate emotions. These ideas would be perfect for special needs children also, like those on the autism spectrum. Many therapy centers offer ideas like these (a favorite with the kids is the shaving cream bins!)
salexis says
Love the outdoor finger painting one – kids just LOVE getting messy! 🙂 Outdoor = easy clean up!
Debbie White Beattie says
There are many great ideas here but the one that I think takes real guts for a mom to make is the “Shaving Cream Sensory Bin” because the potential for a big mess is really high.
kathy downey says
We have a little one at 6 months,but it won.t belong before we need these items !