It’s important for children to explore using their senses. Investigating how different things look, sound, feel, smell, and even taste helps them understand the world around them. Plus, learning—and practicing—new ways to describe their sensory experiences can build their vocabulary while laying the foundation for richer conversations about feelings and emotions.

The resources in this bundle will…

  • offer simple activities to do together to encourage conversations about senses,
  • give children the opportunity to talk about how things look, feel, and sound,
  • and provide something to do when children need a calm-down-break.

 

  1. 1
    Video

    Sensory Bin Video

    Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfgBarzeI1I

    In this video, you’ll learn how to create a sensory bin with your child. The video will give you step-by-step instructions for how to make the bin using just a few items from around your home. The video will also model how you might use your sensory bin to help your child build vocabulary, talk about feelings, or calm down when he’s having big feelings.

    As you make your own sensory bin, remember to use materials that are safe for your child, avoiding objects that could be small, sharp, or breakable. Adult supervision is always a good idea. And if you’re using dry beans or rice, be sure not to let them go to waste—just give them a good rinse before you cook them!

    Even though babies may be a bit young to use a sensory bin, you can still help them engage their senses! Offer assorted plastic toys or teethers, textured balls or blocks, or pieces of fabric to crinkle and cuddle. Just be sure the objects you offer are safe for them—we know how babies love to put everything in their mouths!

  2. 2
    Printable

    I Spy

    Download printable

    Finding the right words to describe how things look, feel, sound, and smell helps children process their experiences and communicate what they’re learning about the world around them. Talking about physical senses is a great pathway to talking about feelings, too!

    While coloring this printable, ask questions like, “what kind of sound do you think that object would make if you dropped it?” and “how many different words can you use to describe that thing you are coloring?”