Sensory play is a fun way to promote your child’s learning and help them to develop important skills like decision-making, fine and gross motor skills, verbal and nonverbal language and sensory awareness. AMT’s therapists love to incorporate sensory play during music therapy sessions as we work with our clients to create a musical soundscape filled with many sounds, textures and sensory experiences.
This October, Miss Kerry is sharing some of her favorite ways to explore autumn using all 5 senses. All of these ideas are easy to DIY and adapt for use at home with items you already own.
Click on the links in the colorful headings below!
Sound: Halloween Dance Party
Listen to this festive playlist and shake your groove thing! Try jumping, twisting, clapping, stomping, snapping, skipping and running to the music to promote fine and gross motor development.
Touch: Halloween Sensory Bin
Fill a container with shaving cream, beans, sand or tissue paper and hide some small Halloween toys inside. Encourage your child to touch a range of textures as you sift through the bin together and talk about what you find!
Sight: View Some Local Scenery
Take a trip to a nearby farm, pumpkin patch or any of these other Halloween alternatives. What colors, shapes and sizes do you see?
Taste: Halloween Snacks
Work together to make and eat yummy Halloween snacks, like Jack-O-Lantern milkshakes or ghost pretzels.
Smell: Pumpkin Spice Water Play
Fill a bucket with water and orange food coloring, then sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice. Dunk small pumpkins and apples into the bucket, whisk the water with kitchen utensils and talk about the different scents you might smell in October.