
Playing outside in the snow is an essential part of the early childhood experience in New England. However, you can’t always send the kids outside to play. Sometimes, it’s too cold out, about to get dark, or there just isn’t enough time to get everyone into their snow gear. When that happens, you can bring the magic of winter weather indoors with winter-themed sensory play. Sensory play is a key part of early education and care for kids, and there are several easy ways to set up sensory play at home.
Engage kids with winter-themed sensory play. Here are some ideas that are easy to set up and use items you have around the house.
Fake Snow Sensory Bins
There are a couple of easy recipes for making fake snow. You can use baking soda and shaving cream or cornstarch and conditioner. Both are simple and quick to make. For the baking soda and shaving cream method, pour a box of baking soda into a bowl and then cover it with 3 to 4 inches of shaving cream. Mix them together until you have a crumbly mixture. Adjust the texture by adding more baking soda or shaving cream as needed. The result is a fluffy, crumbly, snow-like texture that’s even cold to the touch!
If you prefer to use cornstarch and hair conditioner, mix 2 cups of cornstarch with ½ cup of white hair conditioner. After you’ve made your preferred fake snow, put it in a bin and add some winter and snow-themed toys. Let the kids explore the texture and play with their toys in the indoor “snow”!
Snow Salt Tray
If you don’t have time to make (and then clean up) fake snow, you can make a sensory tray with salt instead. Pour some Epsom or table salt into a shallow tray. You can use a single type of salt or combine regular table salt, rock salt, and sea salt to include more textures. Let the kids explore the textures and draw pictures or patterns in the salt with their fingers. Add some small toys or winter-themed items for more imaginative play.
Shaving Cream Finger Painting
This art project is a little messy, but that’s part of the fun! Spray some shaving cream onto a sheet of thick paper (like cardstock) and add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor paint. Your kids can finger paint with the shaving cream, draw pictures or patterns, or just enjoy the tactile experience of spreading shaving cream around with their hands. Keep it winter-themed by using shades of blue, or use your favorite colors and let the kids stretch their imaginations.
Early Education and Care | Wollaston Child Care Center
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