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Sensory Bags for Babies – Helpful Tummy Time Distractions

Sensory Bags for Babies – Helpful Tummy Time Distractions

Sensory Bags for Babies – Helpful Tummy Time Distractions!

These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great distraction during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them!

These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great tool to use during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them! 

Benefits of Sensory Bags for Babies

Even babies can enjoy sensory play! Not only are these sensory bags for babies a fun distraction during that critical tummy time, but sensory play in general, is so beneficial for baby! This type of sensory play can help build neural connections in the brain as those young hands explore new textures, colors, and sounds.

They will also strengthen hand-eye coordination, and generally, are great for baby’s rapidly developing vision.

Tummy time will be a success as they will be so curious to see and try to feel what’s inside the bags!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

 

 

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

Watch How to Make Sensory Bags for Babies

In this quick video, you’ll see how easy it is to make sensory bags for babies.

The 4 bags I created were all based on items I had in my home, which included a bag filled up with cheap hair gel and googly eyes, one filled with water beads, another one filled with oil, water, and food coloring; and finally, one filled up with leftover wrappers that made a crinkly sound! 

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas.

Watch How to Make Sensory Bags for Babies

In this quick video, you’ll see how easy it is to make sensory bags for babies.

The 4 bags I created were all based on items I had in my home, which included a bag filled up with cheap hair gel and googly eyes, one filled with water beads, another one filled with oil, water, and food coloring; and finally, one filled up with leftover wrappers that made a crinkly sound! 

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas.

These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great distraction during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them!

Tips for Setting Up This Activity

Use What You’ve Got! As mentioned above, these sensory bags for babies were made of items I found around the house (including granola bar wrapper trash!). They do not need to be fancy, so feel free to adapt them based on what is available! Water, oil, shaving cream, water beads, hair gel, rainbow rice, paint – anything that makes a great sensory base will work well in a sensory bag!

Seal and Secure with Tape. For using sensory bags during tummy time, you’ll not only want to tape the plastic bags to the floor, but you’ll also want to first seal the zipper edge of the plastic bag with tape to prevent any spillage! Use an easy to remove masking tape for the floor, and something more strong like gorilla tape for sealing bags shut.

Make the Bag Label-Free. Both acetone, aka nail polish remover, and rubbing alcohol will remove the white label found on most plastic bags!

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Remove the label on plastic bags using nail polish remover.

Step 2

Fill up your sensory bags with different sensory materials including water beads or crinkly leftover granola wrappers! You can also fill one up with oil, water and food coloring. Or you could fill one up with cheap hair gel and something like googly eyes!

 

Step 3

Seal the bags shut with strong tape. This is especially important when using liquids. Plastic bag’s built in zipper are not fool proof and are prone to breaking, so this will help prevent a clean up headache!

Step 4

Tape the sensory bags to the ground so that baby can enjoy looking at them and touching them during tummy time without the bags sliding around!

Step 1

Remove the label on plastic bags using nail polish remover.

Step 2

Fill up your sensory bags with different sensory materials including water beads or crinkly leftover granola wrappers! You can also fill one up with oil, water and food coloring. Or you could fill one up with cheap hair gel and something like googly eyes!

Step 3

Seal the bags shut with strong tape. This is especially important when using liquids. Plastic bag’s built in zipper are not fool proof and are prone to breaking, so this will help prevent a clean up headache!

Step 4

Tape the sensory bags to the ground so that baby can enjoy looking at them and touching them during tummy time without the bags sliding around!

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great distraction during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them!
These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great distraction during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them!

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

Top Baby Toy Picks

Here are a few of our top picks for toys that are great for baby development!

black and white baby activities

Play Gym

This item is the ultimate play gym for babies with multi-sensory areas, 3 rattles, and lots of black and white cards!

black and white baby activities

Crinkle Activity Book

This black and white activity book includes a mirror as well as black and white images that prop up easily.

sensory play for babies

Tummy Time Splash-Free Mat

This mess-free aquatic themed water mat is great for tummy time and strengthening baby’s neck and shoulders! 

baby toy ball

Baby’s 1st Ball

This easy to grasp ball is perfect for young babies just learning how to hold objects and later transfer them from hand to hand.

What’s Next?

DIY Baby Toy – How to Make Sensory Wrist Bands

DIY Baby Toy – How to Make Sensory Wrist Bands

DIY Baby Toy – How to Make Sensory Wrist Rattles

diy baby toy how to make black and white wrist rattles

This DIY baby toy is so easy to make! Babies will enjoy exploring the high contrast colors and jingly sounds of these homemade rattles that can be placed on their wrists or feet! 

Benefits of this DIY Baby Toy

Around 2 months, babies begin to discover their hands. This DIY baby toy is a great way for babies to continue to explore those hands and develop their strength through sound and high contrast colors! With bells enclosed inside the felt band, they can hear rattling. Plus, the high contrast colors of the white band with the black jumbo pom poms is great for vision development in babies.

The wrist bands attach with velcro making them easy to put on and off by adults, but not easy for babies to take off! So they perfect for bringing on-the-go because they are secure and won’t be easily lost!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

 

 

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

Watch How to Make This DIY Baby Toy

In this quick video, you’ll see how easy this DIY baby toy is to make!

We attached them to the wrist, but you could make them for the feet too! I used high contrast colors because they are great for younger babies, but you could also use other more vibrant colors especially for older babies whose vision is more developed.

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas

Watch How to Make This DIY Baby Toy

In this quick video, you’ll see how easy this DIY baby toy is to make!

We attached them to the wrist, but you could make them for the feet too! I used high contrast colors because they are great for younger babies, but you could also use other more vibrant colors especially for older babies whose vision is more developed.

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas

diy baby toy how to make black and white wrist rattles

Tips for Setting Up This Activity

Extra Large Pom Poms. As babies develop their hand control, they usually bring them straight to their mouths. This is why using extra large pom poms, 1.75 inches and larger, is important to avoid any concerns for choking hazards.

Parts Need to Be Secured. The bells inside the velcro straps need to be firmly secured as they are small parts and it would be very dangerous if they were to get loose. Therefore, strong glue must be used or, alternatively, the pieces can be sewed together. Either way, supervision is required at all times.

Wake Windows. A wake window is that short time in between feeding and sleeping (or being changed!). Between 0-12 weeks wake windows can be between 60-75 minutes and up to 2 hours by 4 months. During this time, babies will benefit greatly from activities like this that not only stimulate their bodies, but their brains too. Be sure to grab these moments during the wake windows or else baby may get tired and cranky and may not want to play!

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Firmly secure bells onto a strip of felt.

Step 2

Glue another strip of felt on top to enclose the bells.

 

Step 3

Glue extra large pom poms onto the felt band.

Step 4

Use velcro stickers on the ends so that the band can open and close around baby’s wrist.

Step 1

Firmly secure bells onto a strip of felt.

Step 2

Glue another strip of felt on top to enclose the bells.

Step 3

Glue extra large pom poms onto the felt band.

Step 4

Use velcro stickers on the ends so that the band can open and close around baby’s wrist.

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable
black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

More High Contrast Activities

Here are my top picks for more ways babies can play with black and white!

black and white baby activities

Play Gym

This item is the ultimate play gym for babies with multi-sensory areas, 3 rattles, and lots of black and white cards!

black and white baby activities

Crinkle Activity Book

This black and white activity book includes a mirror as well as black and white images that prop up easily.

black and white baby activities

Take Along Mobile

This mobile has black and white colors, calming music, and an adjustable arm that can fit many different environments.

black and white baby activities

Rattles

This set of plush rattles have an animal design, black and white patterns, crinkly paper, and other sounds that are perfect for babies.

What’s Next?

Baby Activity at 3 months – Fun with Balloons

Baby Activity at 3 months – Fun with Balloons

Baby Activity at 3 Months – Fun with Balloons

baby activity at 3 months balloon kicking

Tying balloons to the hands and feet is a great baby activity at 3 months. Keep on reading to find out all the benefits of this activity for babies!

Benefits of This Balloon Activity for Babies

During the first three months of a babies life, they sleep quite often, but there are some precious wake windows where babies can start to have fun and begin to strengthen important skills!

This is a great baby activity at 3 months because it’s an important time for babies to improve their visual tracking skills, and stay on the back before they begin rolling over from stomach to back.

It’s also a great way to keep baby busy, engaged, and strengthening gross motor skills with every kick and punch! As each arm and leg raise and move the balloons around, babies will also be developing an understanding of cause and effect!

 

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How to Set Up This Baby Activity at 3 Months

This activity is as easy as grabbing some balloons, using helium to blow them up, and tying 2-4 of them with string to baby’s hands and feet.

In this video you’ll see how my 3 month old enjoyed kicking, moving her arms, and tracking the balloons as they moved up, down, and side to side.

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Set Up This Baby Activity at 3 Months

This activity is as easy as grabbing some balloons, using helium to blow them up, and tying 2-4 of them with string to baby’s hands and feet.

In this video you’ll see how my 3 month old enjoyed kicking, moving her arms, and tracking the balloons as they moved up, down, and side to side.

For more baby activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

baby activity at 3 months balloon kicking

Tips for Setting Up This Activity

Ballon Type. While you can use any color balloon, the younger the baby, the more useful black and white balloons are due to their ability to see high contrast images better. Also be sure to grab some helium to keep the balloons up high!

Wake Windows. A wake window is that short time in between feeding and sleeping (or being changed!). Between 0-12 weeks wake windows can be between 60-75 minutes and up to 2 hours by 4 months. During this time, babies will benefit greatly from activities like this that not only stimulate their bodies, but their brains too. Be sure to grab these moments during the wake windows or else baby may get tired and cranky and may not want to play!

Supervision. It goes without saying that supervision is key! This is not an activity for babies to be left alone doing. Once you finish playing, safely dispose of the strings and balloons in the trash.

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable
black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable

Get FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

Need more fun things to do with baby? This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own – perfect for tummy time!

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

More High Contrast Activities

Here are my top picks for more ways babies can play with black and white!

black and white baby activities

Play Gym

This item is the ultimate play gym for babies with multi-sensory areas, 3 rattles, and lots of black and white cards!

black and white baby activities

Crinkle Activity Book

This black and white activity book includes a mirror as well as black and white images that prop up easily.

black and white baby activities

Take Along Mobile

This mobile has black and white colors, calming music, and an adjustable arm that can fit many different environments.

black and white baby activities

Rattles

This set of plush rattles have an animal design, black and white patterns, crinkly paper, and other sounds that are perfect for babies.

What’s Next?

Scented Play Dough – How to Make Rose Swirls

Scented Play Dough – How to Make Rose Swirls

Scented Play Dough – How to Make Rose Swirls 

scented play dough rose valentine's day kid activity school gift

This rose scented play dough recipe smells divine! It is a fun activity to do around Valentine’s Day. Keep on reading to find out how we make it!

Give A Scented Play Dough Gift!  

After you make this scented play dough, you may want to give it to all your friends (like we did!). Put the play dough into a small jar and pair it with a heart-shaped cookie cutter and rolling pin and you’ve got the most adorable Valentine’s gift for kids!

This play dough recipe is sensory-packed! Not only is including a scent amazing, but the swirls are so easy to make and fun to look at. Once kids begin to play with the dough, it also becomes a lesson on color mixing – what color does white and red make when combined?!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How to Make Swirl Rose Scented Play Dough!

Watch the video to see how easy it is to make this play dough recipe! You’ll see that my son (age 3 years old at the time) enjoyed doing most of the steps on his own!

Grown ups, of course, will need to mix in the boiling water. And, depending on a child’s age, it may be preferred for a grown up to create the layers and cut the dough into swirly sections!

How to Make Swirl Rose Scented Play Dough!

Watch the video to see how easy it is to make this play dough recipe! You’ll see that my son (age 3 years old at the time) enjoyed doing most of the steps on his own!

Grown ups, of course, will need to mix in the boiling water. And, depending on a child’s age, it may be preferred for a grown up to create the layers and cut the dough into swirly sections!

Easy to Make Play Dough – Tips and Tricks!

Mix while hot, but use caution! 

I wear gloves and mix the *very hot* play dough by hand to make sure that the dough is kneaded thoroughly, which spreads the heat, dissolving the granules to make a smooth texture. Don’t have your kiddos do this part!

Why is my batch too sticky?

Too much water was added! If too sticky add a little more flour.

Why is my batch too dry?

Not enough water was added! If too dry add a little more water.

Do I need to add oil?

The coconut oil gives the dough a super silky texture. You could also use glycerine. Alternatively, other vegetable oil will work too, but I’ve found that coconut oil makes it super silky!

What is cream of tartar, and do I need it?

The cream of tartar is a preservative and it makes the play dough have a longer shelf life. You can omit it, but the dough will not last as long!

scented play dough rose valentine's day kid activity school gift

How can I store and how long does it last?

Play dough can last up to 6 months if stored in a sealed container. We like using 4oz jars as pictured below. But with all things that kid’s touch, there is risk of germs entering once touched, so always be sure to look for mold – seen as black dots. If black dots form, it’s time to throw out!

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Mix together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl.

Step 2

Add the rose extract and coconut oil.

Step 3

Add food coloring into the 3/4 cup of water.

Step 4

Boil the water. (In my microwave, it takes about 2 minutes to reach best temperature.)

Step 5

Mix the water into the flour mixture, transferring to a flat surface to knead until smooth and not sticky. Don’t miss my note above about wearing gloves to protect your hands from the heat!

 

Step 6

Repeat above recipe except skip the food coloring to make plain white play dough.

Step 7

Roll out 2 layers of white and 2 layers of red.

Step 8

Stack the layers on top of each other in red, white, red, white order.

Step 9

Use the rolling pin to flatten all the layers together a little more.

Step 10

From bottom to top, roll the play dough into a roll to desired thickness.

Step 11

Cut into individual portions and enjoy!

Step 1

Mix together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl.

Step 2

Add the rose extract and coconut oil.

Step 3

Add food coloring into the 3/4 cup of water.

Step 4

Boil the water. (In my microwave, it takes about 2 minutes to reach best temperature.)

Step 5

Mix the water into the flour mixture, transferring to a flat surface to knead until smooth and not sticky. Don’t miss my note above about wearing gloves to protect your hands from the heat!

Step 6

Repeat above recipe except skip the food coloring to make plain white play dough.

Step 7

Roll out 2 layers of white and 2 layers of red.

Step 8

Stack the layers on top of each other in red, white, red, white order.

Step 9

Use the rolling pin to flatten all the layers together a little more.

Step 10

From bottom to top, roll the play dough into a roll to desired thickness.

Step 11

Cut into individual portions and enjoy!

The Importance of Playing with Play Dough

Playing with play dough in general is such a sensory rich experience. The tactile experience provides wonderful hand strengthening opportunities. Rolling, squeezing, twisting, pulling, and more — all of these actions are great for fine motor skills.

When you add a scent into play dough, it takes the sensory experience to the next level. This recipe had rose extract, but you could incorporate lots of different types of scents. Lavender, for example, would be a great way option for a calming, soothing recipe!

For more sensory play activities visit our comprehensive list!

scented play dough rose valentine's day kid activity school gift
scented play dough rose valentine's day kid activity school gift

The Importance of Playing with Play Dough

Playing with play dough in general is such a sensory rich experience. The tactile experience provides wonderful hand strengthening opportunities. Rolling, squeezing, twisting, pulling, and more — all of these actions are great for fine motor skills.

When you add a scent into play dough, it takes the sensory experience to the next level. This recipe had rose extract, but you could incorporate lots of different types of scents. Lavender, for example, would be a great way option for a calming, soothing recipe!

For more sensory play activities visit our comprehensive list!

 

More Sensory Bases to Explore

Here are my top picks for sensory bases you can buy!

sensory sand play for kids

Sensory Sand

Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!

mad mattr sensory dough modeling dough

Modelling Dough

This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.

play dough wild dough sensory

Premium Play Dough

This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!

slime kit sensory play for kids

The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit

This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.

What’s Next?

Black and White Patterns for Babies – Free Printable Cards

Black and White Patterns for Babies – Free Printable Cards

Black and White Patterns for Babies – Free Printable Cards

black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable

There are a ton of benefits to providing black and white patterns for babies. Keep on reading to find out what they are and to get your free printable set of 12 dozen cards here. 

Why Black and White Patterns for Babies Are Important!

Did you know that for the first months of a baby’s life their vision is super blurry! In fact, they can only see about 12 inches in front of them. Plus it isn’t until around 3 months when they can start to see colors. Before that, all they can see is black, white, and grays.

But during the time between birth and 6 months, a baby’s eyesight is developing at super speed! And allowing for your baby to look at black and white, high contrast images and toys provides them a great opportunity to stimulate their vision, strengthen optic nerves, and help their brains and eyes to coordinate.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How to Use the Free Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

This activity can be set up in no time! Since it is a free printable, all you have to do is grab the free printable from the link below, print it, and tape it together to have it stand alone (if you so choose!). In the video, you will see that I also laminated the cards before taping them to make them more durable and long lasting.

My baby at one and a half months old was mesmerized by the patterns and enjoyed looking at them during tummy time, when her diaper was changed, and in the car!

How to Use the Free Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

This activity can be set up in no time! Since it is a free printable, all you have to do is grab the free printable from the link below, print it, and tape it together to have it stand alone (if you so choose!). In the video, you will see that I also laminated the cards before taping them to make them more durable and long lasting.

My baby at one and a half months old was mesmerized by the patterns and enjoyed looking at them during tummy time, when her diaper was changed, and in the car!

black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable

Get the FREE Printable Black and White Patterns for Babies

This free printable set of black and white cards for babies includes 12 different high contrast images. Plus, tape them together to make them stand up on their own.

Make sure that you are allowing your baby to view them at a close distance. Remember, everything gets very blurry after 12-15 inches away from them! 

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Where to Use the Black and White Cards

There are so many great opportunities to use these black and white cards, here are just a few ideas! 

Tummy Time. These cards definitely help to hold and lengthen attention span during tummy time!

Diaper Changing. Prop some up on the side of your table to make diaper changing a little easier!

Car Seat. Safely tape some images to the seat in front of the baby to give them some car ride entertainment!

black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable
black and white high contrast stimulation cards for babies newborns free printable

Where to Use the Black and White Cards

There are so many great opportunities to use these black and white cards, here are just a few ideas! 

Tummy Time. These cards definitely help to hold and lengthen attention span during tummy time!

Diaper Changing. Prop some up on the side of your table to make diaper changing a little easier!

Car Seat. Safely tape some images to the seat in front of the baby to give them some car ride entertainment!

More High Contrast Activities

Here are my top picks for more ways babies can play with black and white!

black and white baby activities

Play Gym

This item is the ultimate play gym for babies with multi-sensory areas, 3 rattles, and lots of black and white cards!

black and white baby activities

Crinkle Activity Book

This black and white activity book includes a mirror as well as black and white images that prop up easily.

black and white baby activities

Take Along Mobile

This mobile has black and white colors, calming music, and an adjustable arm that can fit many different environments.

black and white baby activities

Rattles

This set of plush rattles have an animal design, black and white patterns, crinkly paper, and other sounds that are perfect for babies.

What’s Next?

Shaving Cream Art – A Vibrant and Sensory-Packed Activity

Shaving Cream Art – A Vibrant and Sensory-Packed Activity

Shaving Cream Art – A Vibrant and Sensory-Packed Activity

shaving cream art for kids marbled craft

This vibrantly colored activity is all about making shaving cream art! It is easy to set up and such a rich sensory experience for kids!

Shaving Cream Art, Sensory Play and Fine Motor Skills Collide!

So many fun skills collide with this shaving cream art activity. Using droppers to transfer liquid watercolor on top of the shaving cream is great for fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Plus, after using paper and a squeegee to make marbled artwork, kids are left with a brilliantly colored shaving cream mixture they can use for sensory and imaginative play! My son enjoyed making “ice cream cones” out of it!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links

Skills: 

Ages: 3 Years +

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Watch How to Make Shaving Cream Art!

Setting this up takes all of a few minutes, and the rest is all for your kiddos to do! Well, except squeezing out shaving cream can be tricky, so kids may need a grown up to help! But once the shaving cream is out, that will be their canvas for creating some super fun and sensory packed artwork! And once the art has been made, definitely don’t toss the shaving cream mixture away! Use it for some fun sensory play!

Watch How to Make Shaving Cream Art!

Setting this up takes all of a few minutes, and the rest is all for your kiddos to do! Well, except squeezing out shaving cream can be tricky, so kids may need a grown up to help! But once the shaving cream is out, that will be their canvas for creating some super fun and sensory packed artwork! And once the art has been made, definitely don’t toss the shaving cream mixture away! Use it for some fun sensory play!

 

shaving cream art for kids marbled craft

Tips for Making Shaving Cream Art

Prepare for the Mess. Just remember that this is going to get messy – that’s all part of the fun! Try to do this outdoors so everything can be hosed down, but if that’s not possible, place a waterproof mat underneath the workspace and have a bucket of water nearby to wash off hands.

Colors. You can use either food coloring or liquid watercolor for this activity. We prefer liquid watercolor because, once diluted, it is washable!

Large Droppers. Using large droppers is a great tool to strengthen fine motor skills. We like these extra large droppers because they are not too tricky to use!

For more sensory-packed activities, visit our comprehensive list!

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Fill up a tub with shaving cream.

Step 2

Use a dropper and liquid watercolors to create a design on top of the shaving cream. Swirl the colors around if you want!

Step 3

Place a piece of paper on top of the shaving cream color design.

Step 4

Use a squeegee to remove the excess shaving cream in top of the paper to reveal a fun marbled-design artwork!

Step 5

Use the leftover shaving cream mixture for sensory and imaginative play!

Step 1

Fill up a tub with shaving cream.

Step 2

Use a dropper and liquid watercolors to create a design on top of the shaving cream. Swirl the colors around if you want!

Step 3

Place a piece of paper on top of the shaving cream color design.

Step 4

Use a squeegee to remove the excess shaving cream to reveal a fun marbled-design artwork!

Step 5

Use the leftover shaving cream mixture for sensory and imaginative play!

Beyond Shaving Cream Art 

Process art is one of the biggest benefits of this rainbow activity. It’s a great way for the kids to see the entire process from start to finish on how art can be easy and simple to create. 

They can then use that to understand the artistic impression and see if they can recreate or create a rainbow (or something else) all on their very own.

Plus, as mentioned above, this activity isn’t just about art! It’s a fun way to strengthen fine motor skills, explore sensory play, and tap into their imaginations! 

shaving cream art for kids marbled craft
shaving cream art for kids marbled craft

Beyond Shaving Cream Art 

Process art is one of the biggest benefits of this rainbow activity. It’s a great way for the kids to see the entire process from start to finish on how art can be easy and simple to create. 

They can then use that to understand the artistic impression and see if they can recreate or create a rainbow (or something else) all on their very own.

Plus, as mentioned above, this activity isn’t just about art! It’s a fun way to strengthen fine motor skills, explore sensory play, and tap into their imaginations! 

More fun for the ice cream lover!

Here are my top picks for ice cream themed play items you can buy.

Scoop and Serve

This wooden set is perfect for the ice cream lover! It comes with 28 pieces including ice cream flavors, toppings, cones, a cup, a menu, and the counter!

Life-Size Food Cart

This large scale imaginative play food cart is adorable! Plus it has two different food cart themes: sweets like ice cream, and snacks like pretzels and hot dogs!

Ice Cream Truck Walker

This adorable walker is a great gift for toddlers! Removing and placing the ice creams back into the holder is great for fine motor skills! 

Paint Your Own Ice Cream Cone 

Such a great arts and crafts set! Your ice cream lover will love decorating these magnetic scoops that stick together! 

What’s Next?

Aladdin Party Idea – How to Make a Themed Play Dough Kit

Aladdin Party Idea – How to Make a Themed Play Dough Kit

Aladdin Party Idea – How to Make a Themed Play Dough Kit

aladdin party idea play dough kit sensory play

This Aladdin party idea will be a hit with the kids! It is such a fun activity to play with and also makes a great homemade gift! Keep on reading to find out how to make your own play dough and where to find all the items to include in the kit!

Unique Activity Makes a Great Aladdin Party Idea

Does your little one love all things Aladdin? Whether you are looking for Aladdin party ideas or gift ideas, this kit is an awesome thing to include!

One of my go-to activities for kids at parties is to have a play dough station with several colors of play dough and loose parts to spark their imaginations. It is so much fun to create a kit based on a party theme and this one, with the colorful gems and gold nuggets, did not disappoint!

This activity must be supervised. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How To Make Play Dough

In this video you’ll see our favorite play dough recipe! It comes out so silky and smooth. You can use food coloring to make any color you’d like as well.

We use this play dough recipe in all of our play dough kits. It can last for several months, up to 6 months if stored properly!

For all the details on how you can make play dough, I’ve explained the step by step instructions and other tips for making the perfect batch.

How To Make Play Dough

In this video you’ll see our favorite play dough recipe! It comes out so silky and smooth. You can use food coloring to make any color you’d like as well.

We use this play dough recipe in all of our play dough kits. It can last for several months, up to 6 months if stored properly!

For all the details on how you can make play dough, I’ve explained the step by step instructions and other tips for making the perfect batch.

aladdin party idea play dough kit sensory play

How to Assemble This Aladdin Party Idea

There is always a benefit to making play dough kits! We have made lots of different themes including ocean, cupcake, Frozen, and insect, to name a few! Here is my handy list of items to think about including when assembling kits of any theme. Plus, keep reading for the specific items I included in this kit!

 

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Start by making the homemade play dough. Don’t forget the coloring to make the play dough fun and different colors. 

Step 2

Let the cooked play dough cool down, and then the play dough will be ready to add to the kit. 

Step 3

Load the container up with all the decorative pieces, and it’s ready to go! 

 

Step 1

Start by making the homemade play dough. Don’t forget the coloring to make the play dough fun and different colors. 

Step 2

Let the cooked play dough cool down, and then the play dough will be ready to add to the kit. 

Step 3

Load the container up with all the decorative pieces, and it’s ready to go! 

Benefits of Creating a Play Dough Kit

Playing with play dough in general, is such a fantastic way to strengthen fine motor skills and provide a rich sensory experience.

I love that these play dough kits are a great way to keep everything neat in one simple storage case. This teaches the kids the importance of picking up after themselves, too, and keeps it all compiled in one easy and accessible location. 

The kits allow the kids to stay focused, be creative, and use their imaginations all at once. As a mom who is always busy, this is such a great bonus to have these kits on hand! When the kids need activity, they have their kits to turn to!

aladdin party idea play dough kit sensory play

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

aladdin party idea play dough kit sensory play

Benefits of Creating a Play Dough Kit

Playing with play dough in general, is such a fantastic way to strengthen fine motor skills and provide a rich sensory experience.

I love that these play dough kits are a great way to keep everything neat in one simple storage case. This teaches the kids the importance of picking up after themselves, too, and keeps it all compiled in one easy and accessible location. 

The kits allow the kids to stay focused, be creative, and use their imaginations all at once. As a mom who is always busy, this is such a great bonus to have these kits on hand! When the kids need activity, they have their kits to turn to!

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

More Sensory Bases to Explore

Here are my top picks for different types of sensory bases.

sensory sand play for kids

Sensory Sand

Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!

mad mattr sensory dough modeling dough

Modelling Dough

This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.

play dough wild dough sensory

Premium Play Dough

This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!

slime kit sensory play for kids

The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit

This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.

What’s Next?

Activity for Toddlers – Colorful Taste Safe Sensory Play With Cereal

Activity for Toddlers – Colorful Taste Safe Sensory Play With Cereal

Activity for Toddlers – Colorful Taste Safe Sensory Play With Cereal

activity for toddlers colorful taste safe cereal sensory bin

This activity for toddlers is a colorful way to use stale cereal for sensory play that is also taste safe! Keep on reading to find out how easy this is to set up! 

A Taste Safe Activity for Toddlers

This activity is not about eating the cereal! Taste-safe and edible play are not synonymous. We prefer not to do edible play because to avoid the confusion of what sensory bases are safe to eat versus not safe to eat. I want my kiddos to assume that all sensory bases are not meant to be put in the mouth! 

Therefore, this activity is taste-safe. Allowing a toddler to explore the sensory bases while learning not to put it in their mouth. Of course, if a toddler were to eat some, grown ups will know that it will not be harmful!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How to Make This Activity for Toddlers

Watch this short video to see how easy it is to make stale cereal colorful. I want to emphasize to use stale cereal because there is no use in wasting good cereal you can eat! However, if you have cereal that would otherwise go in the trash bin, always think about how you could use it for sensory play first!

My daughter, two years old at the time, had so much fun scooping and pouring and mixing it all up!

How to Make This Activity for Toddlers

Watch this short video to see how easy it is to make stale cereal colorful. I want to emphasize to use stale cereal because there is no use in wasting good cereal you can eat! However, if you have cereal that would otherwise go in the trash bin, always think about how you could use it for sensory play first!

My daughter, two years old at the time, had so much fun scooping and pouring and mixing it all up!

activity for toddlers colorful taste safe cereal sensory bin

Tips for Setting Up This Activity for Toddlers

Bowls and Spoons. Make sure to include them in the set up! They are perfect tools for young kids to learn the practical life skill of scooping, pouring, and transferring!

Keep it stale! As mentioned above, we don’t want to encourage playing with good food that can be eaten. Instead, this is about utilizing stale cereal that would otherwise hit the trash bin!

Food Coloring. We used a gel-based food coloring as it spreads a bit more evenly. The water-based food coloring is likely to absorb too quickly into the cereal and not spread as well. Also, be sure to let the cereal dry before playing with it to avoid the color transferring to the skin. However, if it does, wash hands with baking soda as this has been an effective way to remove stains on skin.

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

In a sealed container, add 1/2 cup of cereal. We used Cheerios. Add a squirt of gel based food coloring. (It may help to squirt it to the side of the container, not directly on the cereal itself.)

Step 2

Seal the container and shake, shake, shake! Once the color is spread throughout, lay the cereal out to dry for an hour to minimize the color from transferring. Repeat for each color.

Step 1

In a sealed container, add 1/2 cup of cereal. We used Cheerios. Add a squirt of gel based food coloring. (It may help to squirt it to the side of the container, not directly on the cereal itself.)

Step 2

Seal the container and shake, shake, shake! Once the color is spread throughout, lay the cereal out to dry for an hour to minimize the color from transferring. Repeat for each color.

.

The Importance of Sensory Play 

It’s important to teach kids sensory play because it teaches them to learn with their bodies’ various senses. 

This also teaches them colors as well as lets them feel the shapes of the cereal and hold the various colors with their hands. 

Teach them the importance of not putting things in their mouth without understanding that it’s safe to do so as well. 

This is one fun colorful activity that is perfect for toddlers and younger learners.

activity for toddlers colorful taste safe cereal sensory bin
activity for toddlers colorful taste safe cereal sensory bin

The Importance of Sensory Play 

It’s important to teach kids sensory play because it teaches them to learn with their bodies’ various senses. 

This also teaches them colors as well as lets them feel the shapes of the cereal and hold the various colors with their hands. 

Teach them the importance of not putting things in their mouth without understanding that it’s safe to do so as well. 

This is one fun colorful activity that is perfect for toddlers and younger learners.

 

More Sensory Bases to Explore

Beyond this taste-safe cereal activity for toddlers. Here are some more sensory bases to explore!

slime kit sensory play for kids

The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit

This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.

sensory sand play for kids

Sensory Sand

Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!

mad mattr sensory dough modeling dough

Modelling Dough

This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.

play dough wild dough sensory

Premium Play Dough

This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!

What’s Next?

Peppa Pig Activity – Make This Adorable Play Dough Kit

Peppa Pig Activity – Make This Adorable Play Dough Kit

Peppa Pig Activity – Make This Adorable Play Dough Kit

peppa pig activity for kids play dough kit sensory

Looking for a Peppa Pig activity? This DIY play dough kit is adorable, so easy to make, and can be played with time and time again! 

The kids had a blast with the theme, and I could tell that their imagination was already working in overdrive from the moment that we started. When it comes to sensory fun and learning, you can’t go wrong with play dough kits.

Endless Hours of Imagination with Play Dough Kits

This Peppa Pig Activity, and play dough kits in general are one of those creations that are a win-win for everyone. Not only do they help to contain the mess, but they also keep everything together in one easy space so that the kids can open the lid and start to play. 

This activity must be supervised. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How To Make a Homemade Play Dough 

Once you get started in making this simple kit, you’re going to love the process. It’s fun and easy to do, and all you need are a few easy supplies to get started. 

Keep in mind that these are not only handy to have in the house for play time for the kids, but they’re great to gift to others, too. These make perfect birthday gifts or even fun take-home gifts for kids that maybe attended a birthday party at your house.

How To Make a Homemade Play Dough 

Once you get started in making this simple kit, you’re going to love the process. It’s fun and easy to do, and all you need are a few easy supplies to get started. 

Keep in mind that these are not only handy to have in the house for play time for the kids, but they’re great to gift to others, too. These make perfect birthday gifts or even fun take-home gifts for kids that maybe attended a birthday party at your house.

peppa pig activity for kids play dough kit sensory

How to Assemble This Peppa Pig Activity Kit 

In addition to this Peppa Pig activity, we have made so many other play dough kits – from ocean, to cupcake, to Frozen, and insect themed to name a few. 

I know that it’s important to keep the supplies on hand to make the kits, and I try to do that always! The following are what I think is important to have on hand to create play dough kits for the kids.

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Create the homemade play dough and have the kids help decide the colors that they want to make it. We chose green for grass, brown for muddy puddles, and pink for the pig’s colored skin.

Step 2

Once the play dough has been made, make sure to let it cool down all the way and then store it in the container. 

Step 3

Put the rest of the play dough kit items inside, and you’re good to go! 

 

Step 1

Create the homemade play dough and have the kids help decide the colors that they want to make it. We chose green for grass, brown for muddy puddles, and pink for the pig’s colored skin.

Step 2

Once the play dough has been made, make sure to let it cool down all the way and then store it in the container. 

Step 3

Put the rest of the play dough kit items inside, and you’re good to go! 

Beyond Just a Peppa Pig Activity

Playing with play dough is so much more than just having playtime at home. The kids will use their hand muscles and dexterity to stretch and mold the play dough to create fun and new things.

This is great for sensory play and development and a simple way to have them think outside the box for creativity as well. Encourage independent playtime with play dough, too, as a fun way to work on that skill as well!

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

peppa pig activity for kids play dough kit sensory
peppa pig activity for kids play dough kit sensory

Beyond Just a Peppa Pig Activity

Playing with play dough is so much more than just having playtime at home. The kids will use their hand muscles and dexterity to stretch and mold the play dough to create fun and new things.

This is great for sensory play and development and a simple way to have them think outside the box for creativity as well. Encourage independent playtime with play dough, too, as a fun way to work on that skill as well!

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

More Sensory Bases to Explore

If your kiddo loved this Peppa Pig activity, here are my top picks for different types of sensory bases.

sensory sand play for kids

Sensory Sand

Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!

mad mattr sensory dough modeling dough

Modelling Dough

This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.

play dough wild dough sensory

Premium Play Dough

This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!

slime kit sensory play for kids

The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit

This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.

What’s Next?

Toddler Fun – Cut Paper Tubes to Strengthen Hand Eye Coordination

Toddler Fun – Cut Paper Tubes to Strengthen Hand Eye Coordination

Toddler Fun – Cut Paper Tubes to Strengthen Hand Eye Coordination

toddler fun activity paper tube recycled hand eye coordination stacker

This stacking game made out of recycled paper tubes is toddler fun at its best! Super easy to set up and great for hand-eye coordination! 

Lots of Toddler Fun with This Paper Tube Stacker

Are you ready to see how simple it is to make toddler fun learning activities at home? The best part is that you don’t need a ton of supplies to make this happen. In fact, the next time that you use up all your paper towels, you’re just about ready to use them as a stacking activity. 

You can easily spend money on a stacker toy at the store but why would you when you can make one cheaply at home? It’s also a fun way to have older kids be involved in the creation process, too! They’ll be so proud that they helped make this!

This activity must be supervised. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

Toddler Fun in Action!

Watch this video to see how much fun my toddler is having with this DIY stacking toy made out of paper tubes!

She is having such a good time stacking, and it is wonderful to see her working on her fine motor skills and hand eye coordination!

This is such a simple way to have fun, use what you’ve got in terms of materials, and strengthen some skills in the process!

Toddler Fun in Action!

Watch this video to see how much fun my toddler is having with this DIY stacking toy made out of paper tubes!

She is having such a good time stacking, and it is wonderful to see her working on her fine motor skills and hand eye coordination!

This is such a simple way to have fun, use what you’ve got in terms of materials, and strengthen some skills in the process!

toddler fun activity paper tube recycled hand eye coordination stacker

Tips for This Toddler Fun DIY Stacking Toy

Save all your paper tubes! These cardboard tubes are sturdy and such a great, free craft and play resource! So next time you finish a roll of paper towels, set it aside!

Cut it up! Big kids can work on their scissor skills by cutting up the pieces of cardboard. We made them about 2 inches wide, but you can mix it up based on your preference!

Make them colorful! A quick and fast way for adults to make paper towel tubes colorful is with spray paint. However, you can get the kids involved instead with non toxic paints and paint sticks!

Grab your paper towel holder! Borrowing a paper towel holder for this activity is best. However, if you don’t have one you could always glue a stick to a square of cardboard!

 

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Cut up recycled paper towel tubes.

Step 2

Make the pieces colorful by using paint, paint sticks, or spray paint.

Step 3

Use a paper towel holder or stand and task your kiddo with stacking the cut up paper roll pieces. Older kids can practice patterning as well.

Step 1

Cut up recycled paper towel tubes.

Step 2

Make the pieces colorful by using paint, paint sticks, or spray paint.

Step 3

Use a paper towel holder or stand and task your kiddo with stacking the cut up paper roll pieces. Older kids can practice patterning as well.

Toddler Fun For Learning

Not only is stacking fun but it’s also great hand-eye coordination for the kids. They’ll love being able to create a fun pattern out of the colors and stack them any way that they want. 

This activity is also great for teaching patterns as well. Challenge them to stack reds and yellows and then count home many of each color there are. This works well for color identification and counting skills, too. 

The last major benefit of this stacking activity is that it focuses on fine motor skills. Each time that they pick up a ring and stack it on the tube, they’re working their hand and finger muscles which is great for dexterity.

printable fine motor skills activity

For more ways to strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, try this fun and free printable using dull toothpicks!

printable fine motor skills activity

Toddler Fun For Learning

Not only is stacking fun but it’s also great hand-eye coordination for the kids. They’ll love being able to create a fun pattern out of the colors and stack them any way that they want. 

This activity is also great for teaching patterns as well. Challenge them to stack reds and yellows and then count home many of each color there are. This works well for color identification and counting skills, too. 

The last major benefit of this stacking activity is that it focuses on fine motor skills. Each time that they pick up a ring and stack it on the tube, they’re working their hand and finger muscles which is great for dexterity.

For more ways to strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, try this fun and free printable using dull toothpicks!

More Fine Motor Activities to Explore

Here are my top picks for toys that will help your kiddo strengthen their fine motor skills!

fine motor skills buckles and strings toy

Buckle and Threading Pillow

This colorful pillow is fantastic for fine motor skills with 12 buckles to explore as well as a threading exercise!

fine motor skills pike the hedge hog toy

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog 

These chunky spikes are easy for little hands to grasp while strengthening muscles as they fit into the back of the hedgehog!

fine motor skills threading toy with beads

Big Lacing Beads 

Threading large wooden beads are great for strengthening fine motor skills! This set includes 30 beads and 2 colorful laces!

fine motor skills tissue box baby toy

Pull and Play Tissue Box

This fun toy is a play tissue box that comes with 12 reusable scarves to encourage grasping and fine motor skills!

What’s Next?

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

salt dough ornaments how to make and decorate kid tradition holiday christmas handprint

Salt dough handprint ornaments are such great keepsakes! Keep on reading to find out how to make the dough and find ideas on how to decorate! 

A Classic Keepsake – Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments! 

Salt Dough Ornaments are a classic holiday craft! Not only are they fun to create, but the kids will love being able to decorate them and paint them after they’re dry. Our salt dough recipe is simple to make and will result in such a great homemade gift or item to decorate the tree at home.

Whether you create these DIY ornaments with handprints or not, the key is to give the kids a ton of creative freedom to have a blast! 

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 3 Years +

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Watch How to Make Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments 

In this video you’ll see how quick and easy it is to make salt dough handprint ornaments! This video is a tutorial to demonstrate the process, but be sure to get the kids involved from start to finish. They can help make the dough, roll it out, and decorate! 

Plus, with the extra dough not used for the handprint, have the kiddos make additional ornaments using cookie cutters!

Watch How to Make Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments 

In this video you’ll see how quick and easy it is to make salt dough handprint ornaments! This video is a tutorial to demonstrate the process, but be sure to get the kids involved from start to finish. They can help make the dough, roll it out, and decorate! 

Plus, with the extra dough not used for the handprint, have the kiddos make additional ornaments using cookie cutters!

salt dough ornaments how to make and decorate kid tradition holiday christmas

Tips for Making Salt Dough Ornaments

How do you prevent ornaments from puffing up? To prevent your ornament from puffing up, be sure to select a plain flour since the self-rising kind may cause your ornaments to get puffy when baked. Also, make sure you bake the dough at a low temperature. While we bake at 200F, all ovens can vary so if your ornaments puff up, bring the temperature down and bake for longer until dry.

What is the best paint to use? Acrylic paint! It is vibrant and long lasting!

How do you seal the ornaments? With a decoupage like Mod Podge. This will give the ornaments a great finish and preserve them too!

Caution for pet owners. Salt dough is toxic to pets, so be sure to keep them out of reach!

 

 

Materials

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 2

On wax paper, roll the dough out until it is about 1/8 inch thick. If it is too thick, you may end up with air bubbles. 

Step 3

Design your ornament using cookie cutters or cutting out the shape of a handprint. Have fun with it!

Step 4

Bake at 200F for about 1 hour, flip, and back for an additional hour until the dough starts to look golden.

Step 5

Once cool, use acrylic paint to decorate.

Step 6

When dry, cover with a layer of mod podge. Hang up on the Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 2

On wax paper, roll the dough out until it is about 1/8 inch thick. If it is too thick, you may end up with air bubbles. 

Step 3

Design your ornament using cookie cutters or cutting out the shape of a handprint. Have fun with it!

Step 4

Bake at 200F for about 1 hour, flip, and back for an additional hour until the dough starts to look golden.

Step 5

Once cool, use acrylic paint to decorate.

Step 6

When dry, cover with a layer of mod podge. Hang up on the Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets

fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam
fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets

More Holiday Crafts to Explore 

Here are more fun ways to do festive crafting during the holiday season!

sensory bin build you own bin michaels

Paper Mache Ornament Kit

This ornament kit includes 3 paper mache ornament balls, and a bunch of craft supplies to decorate with!

sensory bin marine creatures

Spinning Ornament Decorator

A creative way to decorate ornaments! Place the plain ornaments in the tree spinner, and decorate using markers!

christmas ornament crafting kits

Bead Elf Ornaments

Create your own bead elves with this fun kit that includes wooden beads in 5 shapes, paper hat cutouts, and 8 pipe cleaners.

christmas crafting kits

Gingerbread House

This large scale gingerbread house is all about coloring and decorating. Great for pretend play when personalized!

What’s Next?

Christmas Sensory Activity – How to Make Candy Cane Oobleck

Christmas Sensory Activity – How to Make Candy Cane Oobleck

Christmas Sensory Activity – How to Make Candy Cane Oobleck

christmas sensory activity candy can oobleck

Candy Cane Oobleck is such a fun Christmas sensory activity. Plus, add tongs to pick out candy canes to strengthen hand muscles! Keep on reading to find out how to make it yourself in minutes!

Sensory Play During Holiday Time!

Oobleck is fun to play with anytime of year, but there is something extra special when you add some holiday twists! 

By making the oobleck look like candy cane colors, adding a peppermint scent, and small candy canes to be plucked out, this combination is sensory packed and great for fine motor skills too!

For more info about oobleck, check out this article where we share everything you need to know about it!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 3 Years +

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Watch How to Make and Play With This Christmas Sensory Activity

It is super simple to make oobleck! At the very least, you just need corn starch and water. Mixing it together and then placing it in a tray will take all of a few minutes to do!

In the video, you’ll see how my kiddos loved exploring the texture, picking out the little candy canes, and then mixing up the white and red colors to make pink!

Watch How to Make and Play With This Christmas Sensory Activity

It is super simple to make oobleck! At the very least, you just need corn starch and water. Mixing it together and then placing it in a tray will take all of a few minutes to do!

In the video, you’ll see how my kiddos loved exploring the texture, picking out the little candy canes, and then mixing up the white and red colors to make pink!

christmas sensory activity candy can oobleck

Tips to Make the Most of This Christmas Sensory Activity

A Bowl of Water. Have one nearby! Even kids who love to get messy will want to wash their hands off from time to time and this will really extend the play longer!

Tongs. Add some tongs to the set up to strengthen fine motor skills! Make sure you have a thin layer of oobleck, so that the candy canes don’t fully sink inside it! The texture of the oobleck when resting is hard, so this is a great challenge for kids to remove them using tongs or tweezers!

Add a scent! Peppermint makes the most sense for this set up! It really adds so much more to the sensory experience.

Dilute Before Disposing. When playtime is over, you can either dump the oobleck mixture straight into a trash can, or you can dilute it fully first with water and then flush it down the drain or throw it in the garden!

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

White Oobleck: Combine 2 cups cornstarch with 1 cup water and a 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint flavoring.

Step 2

Red Oobleck: Same as the white oobleck, just add a nice squeeze of red food coloring. 

Step 3

Add a little bit of each color to a bin, alternating colors. Oobleck spreads quickly, so keep that in mind.

Optional: drop mini candy canes on top for an added fine motor challenge.

Step 1

White Oobleck: Combine 2 cups cornstarch with 1 cup water and a 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint flavoring.

Step 2

Red Oobleck: Same as the white oobleck, just add a nice squeeze of red food coloring. 

Step 3

Add a little bit of each color to a bin, alternating colors. Oobleck spreads quickly, so keep that in mind.

Optional: drop mini candy canes on top for an added fine motor challenge.

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets

fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam
fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets

More Sensory Bins to Explore 

Here are my top picks for sensory bins, toys, and books you can buy.

sensory bin build you own bin michaels

Build Your Own Sensory Bin Bundle

This fun bundle allows you to choose between different compounds, figurines and other accessories.

sensory bin marine creatures

Pre-Made Sensory Bins

Whether you want to explore the ocean, dinosaurs, ice cream shop and more. These pre-made kits make set up easy!

sensory play monster truck bin

Monster Truck Arena

This sensory-play item is perfect for the monster truck fan! It comes with 2 pounds of monster dirt and a monster truck!

fabric busy book

Sensory-Based Book

Sensory play doesn’t have to be messy! This fabric book is full of hands-on sensory-based activities!

What’s Next?

Fun Winter Activity – Make Your Own Snowman Puzzle

Fun Winter Activity – Make Your Own Snowman Puzzle

Fun Winter Activity – Make Your Own Snowman Puzzle

fun winter activity counting number recognition snow man winter theme

Do you want to build a snowman? Make your own snowman puzzle using rocks! It is a budget-friendly and fun winter activity for learning numbers and counting! 

Make Your Own Puzzles Out of Rocks!

We are all about DIY toys and games, and rocks make excellent puzzle pieces! We had a great time making this fun winter activity, but this technique can be used with so many different themes! 

So don’t underestimate the pocket full of rocks your kiddo may have collected on your last walk! They can be repurposed in such fun ways for hands on learning – like this DIY snowman counting puzzle!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

 

Skills: Early Math

Ages: 2 Years +

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Watch This Fun Winter Activity in Action

As mentioned above, you can adapt DIY rock puzzles in so many ways. We focused on learning numbers 1-5, but if your kiddo is more advanced than that, adjust accordingly! Or you could even do this with lowercase and uppercase letter matching!

In this video, you’ll see how my kiddo counts the dots and matches the rocks to the correct position to build a snowman. I love how tactile the experience is, allowing him to stay engaged longer!

Watch This Fun Winter Activity in Action

As mentioned above, you can adapt DIY rock puzzles in so many ways. We focused on learning numbers 1-5, but if your kiddo is more advanced than that, adjust accordingly! Or you could even do this with lowercase and uppercase letter matching!

In this video, you’ll see how my kiddo counts the dots and matches the rocks to the correct position. I love how tactile the experience is, allowing him to stay engaged longer!

 

fun winter activity counting number recognition snow man winter theme

Tips for Making This Snowman Counting Activity 

Find some rocks! Add an extra step to this activity, and explore the great outdoors! Collecting rocks is such a fun thing to do with kids. Once you wash them up, you can organize all the different shapes for repurposing them and creating your own DIY puzzle! If you don’t have access to collecting rocks, you can always pick up a bag of decorative rocks from places like Dollar Tree.

Paint the RocksIf washing up the rocks isn’t enough to make them look clean, paint them! Adults can quickly apply a layer of spray paint over them, or kids can enjoy painting them with acrylic paint.

Decorate with Permanent MarkersUsing permanent markers will ensure that the color is vibrant and that the color stays on the rock and doesn’t rub off the way a washable marker would!

Materials 

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

I grabbed some white rocks from the backyard and used a permanent marker to turn them into a snowman. If you don’t have white rocks, grab any rock and paint them white (spray paint works well!).

Step 2

I then traced the rocks onto some old cardboard (use a pencil first and then a pen so as to not get black marks on those precious white rocks!)

Step 3

I wrote numbers on the back of the rocks for reading and recognition, and on the cardboard, I wrote numbers represented by dots for matching.

Let the kids help with the collecting of the rocks and the painting and creating the snowman. This keeps them invested and involved in the process. 

Step 1

I grabbed some white rocks from the backyard and used a permanent marker to turn them into a snowman. If you don’t have white rocks, grab any rock and paint them white (spray paint works well!).

Step 2

I then traced the rocks onto some old cardboard (use a pencil first and then a pen so as to not get black marks on those precious white rocks!)

Step 3

I wrote numbers on the back of the rocks for reading and recognition, and on the cardboard, I wrote numbers represented by dots for matching.

Let the kids help with the collecting of the rocks and the painting and creating the snowman. This keeps them invested and involved in the process. 

learning counting printable worksheet snowman holiday christmas winter theme

Free Printable of This Snow Man Counting Puzzle

Don’t have time to create this DIY game? No problem! I wanted to make things extra easy for busy grown ups by providing a FREE printable version of this activity!

Just print the pages, cut out snowballs and have the kiddos count and match!

And if you like this, don’t miss our free Number Parking Lot printable and Count the Pizza Topping printable! Counting numbers for kids can be tricky, but this is a fun way to do it!

For more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

The Educational Benefits of This Fun Winter Activity 

Learning and reinforcing number recognition and counting is the primary objective with this activity! 

Using the stones as a manipulative and sensory tool, is a great way to keep them active and engaged! 

Don’t be scared to branch out and try new things with this fun activity. As mentioned above, you can use rocks for so many fun DIY puzzle themes, like the alphabet and sight words!

fun winter activity counting number recognition snow man winter theme
fun winter activity counting number recognition snow man winter theme

The Educational Benefits of This Fun Winter Activity 

Learning and reinforcing number recognition and counting is the primary objective with this activity! 

Using the stones as a manipulative and sensory tool, is a great way to keep them active and engaged! 

Don’t be scared to branch out and try new things with this fun activity. As mentioned above, you can use rocks for so many fun DIY puzzle themes, like the alphabet and sight words!

Store-Bought Early Math Games

Here are my top picks for the best early math games you can buy!

counting board wooden resources

Wooden Number Puzzle 

If you want something really simple, this is perfect! It’s a puzzle made of wooden numbers.

counting game with cupcake puzzle

Pom Pom Counting Cupcakes 

This activity uses soft pom poms and wooden cupcakes for early counting. It strengthens fine motor skills too.

counting toy for young kids

Math Shapes Puzzle 

This wooden puzzle lets your toddler match both the number with the correct amount of shapes.

counting game early math number recognition

Count the Popsicles

This count the popsicles game is a fun way to learn numbers! Great for counting and number recognition for numbers 1 to 10.

What’s Next?

Lacing Activity – How to Make a Toy for Preschoolers

Lacing Activity – How to Make a Toy for Preschoolers

Lacing Activity – How to Make a Toy for Preschoolers

lacing activity preschool threading apple diy

This lacing activity is great for strengthening fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. A super easy to make DIY toy! All you need are a few simple supplies to create this too! 

A Budget Friendly Lacing Activity

This lacing activity is the perfect example of making something yourself instead of spending money on buying a toy! Of course, there are very similar products for sale that could definitely be purchased if your kiddo absolutely loves this lacing activity.

But making one out of cardboard and using very few supplies is a great way to test the toy out before making a bigger investment!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

 

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

The Lacing Activity in Action 

Here’s a snippet of my kiddo, 4 years old at the time, playing with this lacing activity. 

He got such a kick out of seeing the “worm” go in and out of the apple that it just brings a whole new element of imagination and fun. 

It’s a great way to have them excited about an activity that is working on their hand-eye coordination at the same time.

The Lacing Activity in Action 

Here’s a snippet of my kiddo, 4 years old at the time, playing with this lacing activity. 

He got such a kick out of seeing the “worm” go in and out of the apple that it just brings a whole new element of imagination and fun. 

It’s a great way to have them excited about an activity that is working on their hand-eye coordination at the same time.

lacing activity preschool threading apple diy

Tips for Creating this DIY Lacing Activity

Have fun with this activity! The kids can be a part of the process from start to finish! Let them draw the apple on cardboard, then cut it out! Great for scissor skills and confidence as well. 

Use cardboard! If you get a lot of packages (like me!), it is a free crafting resource that has a super strong and durable texture!

Use tempera paint sticks! For coloring the apple and worm, we used tempera paint sticks. They come out super vibrant on cardboard which is not always the case with paint!

If you don’t have an extra long hole punch, use a sharp knife to create the holes!

 

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Cut out an apple and worm shape on the cardboard. Involve the kids if you’d like and have them color.

Step 2

Use a hole punch and cut out the holes. You don’t have to do very many, but I would say 8-10 are great. Make sure to put them all over. 

Step 3

Tie a piece of twine or yarn to the apple with the worm attached to the other end.

Step 4

Have the kids take the yarn and go through all the holes.

Step 1

Cut out an apple and worm shape on the cardboard. Involve the kids if you’d like and have them color.

Step 2

Use a hole punch and cut out the holes. You don’t have to do very many, but I would say 8-10 are great. Make sure to put them all over. 

Step 3

Tie a piece of twine or yarn to the apple with the worm attached to the other end.

Step 4

Have the kids take the yarn and go through all the holes. 

isThe Benefits of Lacing and Threading

Threading yarn through holes is a fun way to have kids concentrate and work their finger muscles. Lots of control and hand-eye coordination is required to get that yarn in the hole, but with a little patience, they can do it! 

Another everyday item to strengthen fine motor skills are using clothespins/pegs! This dinosaur-themed activity, is a free printable you should definitely check out! Kids use pegs to give dinosaurs their “spikes” back!

For more fine motor skills activities, be sure to check out our comprehensive list!

dinosaur activity printable fine motor skills color recognition counting
dinosaur activity printable fine motor skills color recognition counting

isThe Benefits of Lacing and Threading

Threading yarn through holes is a fun way to have kids concentrate and work their finger muscles. Lots of control and hand-eye coordination is required to get that yarn in the hole, but with a little patience, they can do it! 

Another everyday item to strengthen fine motor skills are using clothespins/pegs! This dinosaur-themed activity, is a free printable you should definitely check out! Kids use pegs to give dinosaurs their “spikes” back!

For more fine motor skills activities, be sure to check out our comprehensive list!

More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills

Here are some top picks for games and tools that will strengthen motor skills!

fine motor skills buckles and strings toy

Buckle and Threading Pillow

This colorful pillow is fantastic for fine motor skills with 12 buckles to explore as well as a threading exercise!

wooden sensory bin tools that are great for fine motor skills through play

Sensory Bin Tools

This set comes with 7 items including bowls, scoops, and a tong. A great set for learning practical life skills through sensory play.

color recognition sorting rainbow fine motor skills

Color Sorting Rainbow

Strengthen motor skills while using tongs to color sort this beautifully crafted rainbow! Caution: small parts!

fine motor skills alphabet recognition maze

Alphabet Maze

This magnetic maze activity is a fun way to strengthen fine motor skills while also building upon letter recognition skills!

What’s Next?

Play Dough Gift – Easily Assemble a Fun Princess Kit

Play Dough Gift – Easily Assemble a Fun Princess Kit

Play Dough Gift – Easily Assemble a Fun Princess Kit

play dough gift princess kit

Kids can enjoy not one, but so many princesses in this fun kit! These boxes are easy to assemble and make such great play dough gifts! Keep on reading to find out about not only what materials we used in this kit, but also how to use these kits as gifts and beyond! 

A Play Dough Gift and More

Play dough kits can be simple, fast, and easy to make. Not only do they make the coolest play dough gifts, but they are great for little ones to learn independent play,  creativity, and strengthen fine motor skills.

I love that these kits literally have everything that they need in them so that kids can take over and dive into their imaginations princess-style! Kits give them a great way to express their creative freedom and create something truly on their own.

This activity must be supervised. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

How to Make Play Dough for Your Gift!

If you’ve never made play dough before, you may think it is going to be a lot of work! But, nope! Our simple recipe is super easy to make. There is no cooking involved, just using a microwave!

Making play dough together with kids is such a fun way to include them in the process. They can learn so much by just measuring and counting ingredients. Plus, if you’re like us, you’ll want to make it in every color!

How to Make Play Dough for Your Gift!

If you’ve never made play dough before, you may think it is going to be a lot of work! But, nope! Our simple recipe is super easy to make. There is no cooking involved, just using a microwave!

Making play dough together with kids is such a fun way to include them in the process. They can learn so much by just measuring and counting ingredients. Plus, if you’re like us, you’ll want to make it in every color!

play dough gift princess kit

Building the Perfect Play Dough Gift Kit

We make a ton of play dough gift kits. It’s my go-to for birthday presents for kids aged 2-5 years old! We have made kits for dozens of themes, but whichever you choose (ocean, cupcake, Frozen, insect, you name it!) below are the basics for the general types of items I look for to fill up a box:

 

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Start by making homemade play dough. You can add glitter to it or use food coloring to make different colors based on your theme. In this princess play dough gift, I included 3 colors, purple, pink, and yellow, but feel free to switch this up however you prefer!

Step 2

Once the play dough has cooled down, add it to the storage containers.

Step 3

Use the above as a guide for deciding what loose parts, figurines, and other items you want to include.

Step 4

Close it up and cover in gift wrap if giving as a present!

Step 1

Start by making homemade play dough. You can add glitter to it or used food coloring to make different colors based on your theme. In this princess play dough gift, I included 3 colors, purple, pink, and yellow, but feel free to switch this up however you prefer!

Step 2

Once the play dough is cooled down, add it to the storage containers.

Step 3

Use the above as a guide for deciding what loose parts, figurines, and other items you want to include.

Step 4

Close it up and cover in gift wrap if giving as a present!

The Importance of Playing with This Play Dough Gift

Playing with play dough is one of those activities that can occupy your child for hours. When they want to play using their hands and minds, have them create with play dough! 

They’ll be able to pull, stretch, and mold and love having their kit to use. Plus, it’s so much fun to give them as gifts! Whether you make it as a gift, or for use at home or school, kids will love being able to have this kit to open and play with at any point in time. 

Having all of it stored neatly in a case means that you and the kids can have less mess and clean-up time and more time playing! This is a great way to motivate them to take care of their own personal kits.

play dough gift princess kit

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

play dough gift princess kit

The Importance of Playing with This Play Dough Gift

Playing with play dough is one of those activities that can occupy your child for hours. When they want to play using their hands and minds, have them create with play dough! 

They’ll be able to pull, stretch, and mold and love having their kit to use. Plus, it’s so much fun to give them as gifts! Whether you make it as a gift, or for use at home or school, kids will love being able to have this kit to open and play with at any point in time. 

Having all of it stored neatly in a case means that you and the kids can have less mess and clean-up time and more time playing! This is a great way to motivate them to take care of their own personal kits.

For more fun sensory play activities, check out our comprehensive list!

More Sensory Bases to Explore

Here are my top picks for different types of sensory bases.

sensory sand play for kids

Sensory Sand

Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!

mad mattr sensory dough modeling dough

Modelling Dough

This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.

play dough wild dough sensory

Premium Play Dough

This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!

slime kit sensory play for kids

The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit

This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.

What’s Next?

Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table

Everything you need to know to throw a super fun animal themed party! From animal themed activities, to cake & table design, we got you covered!

When planning a kid’s birthday party, I always have a handy checklist so I don’t forget something important! Here are the main areas:

  • Food
  • Dishes and Utensils
  • Beverages
  • Activities
  • Decor: Table and Front Door
  • Outfits
  • Trash Can
  • Party Favors
  • First Aid and Other Essentials Basket

Keep on reading to get all the details and see some inspirational animal party fun in action!

Skills: 

Ages: 

Prep Time: 

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our animal themed party in action!

From creepy crawlers to wild animals, my son loves to explore all kinds of living things! Instead of focusing on a specific type of animal theme party like jungle, safari, woodland, or otherwise, we stayed broad allowing the flexibility to include any and all animal types!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our animal themed party in action!

From creepy crawlers to wild animals, my son loves to explore all kinds of living things! Instead of focusing on a specific type of animal theme party like jungle, safari, woodland, or otherwise, we stayed broad allowing the flexibility to include any and all animal types!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

animal themed party table decor