Hi Everyone,

We've been having such a great time this week playing with a funky sensory material called sand slime.  To make it you use white glue and laundry starch (just like flubber.)  But, added to that, is beach sand (you could also use packaged play sand from Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.)

The beauty of sand slime is that it holds together like play dough but has the elasticity of flubber/ silly putty.

To make sand slime you need:

-One cup sand

-1/2 cup white glue

-laundry starch (pour a little at a time, while mixing with your hands until it holds together in a ball 

and is not sticky.)

         

Ingredients 

You will have to knead it and work it around with your hands, until you have the desired consistency. It should feel like a sandy version of play dough.

Decorating with real beach shells.

Scissors make a nice clean cut.

                            We like to use sticks to build with.

It stretches, but is also quite strong.  Look at the tent we made!

Bottle caps make great "cookies."

Have fun!  In my next post, I will show you how to use eggshells in a sensory activity as well as an art project.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Eileen

For my next few posts, we will demonstrate how to make and use sensory materials which are alternatives to play dough.  Don't get me wrong.  Homemade play dough is fantastic and I will provide recipes for a few of my favorites.  But, we will start with a crazy, squishy substance called "Flubber."

To make flubber you need:

-  1 cup Elmer's school glue

- 1/2 cup Linit laundry starch (found in detergent section of supermarket)

-food coloring (optional)

-bowl

*These measurements are approximate.  You have to play around with the proportions until you reach the desired texture.

  Ingredients

    Pour glue into bowl

  Add some laundry starch

    Mix around with your hands

It will be gooey, slimy, stretchy and sticky

               Keep molding it until consistency is a ball that holds together well.  If it feels too            sticky, add a little laundry starch.  If it feels too stringy, add a little glue.

 We like to hide spiders and try to find them!

Poking around for the little devils

  Got  it!

       Now we'll hide beads.  Looks like a cookie!

And of course, we like to stretch it

and cut it

  It becomes translucent when you stretch it out

 Have fun!

-Eileen

Part 2 of sensory breathing activity.  Last post I demonstrated how to use a breathing technique to blow bubbles with water and dish detergent.  Today, I will show you how to blow pompoms through cardboard tubes.  This is a game for 2 people and is good for children 3 and up.

Blowing Pompoms Through Cardboard Tubes
Materials:
- 2 cardboard tubes that can fit one inside the other.  If they are the same size, you can tape them together
- 2 straws
-pompoms
- holder for the cardboard tubes (optional)

                                                           

                Materials

                                           

Secure one tube inside the other

       

Ask partner, "Are you ready?"  Blow pompom through tube to partner.  They might have to try blowing a few times, until the pompom makes its way to the other side.

"I caught it!"

                                                   

 Everyone practices!

Children will be amazed that the pompom disappears, then reappears.  They may want to experiment with more pompoms going through the tube.  See how many can fit before they get "stuck."
Have fun!

Today I will describe a fun sensory activity that involves breathing.  The set-up is easy and makes use of items found around the house.

Note: Before you start the water activity, make sure the child understands the difference between blowing into and sucking up water. Have them practice blowing air through the straw and feeling it on their hand.  

Blowing Bubbles with Straws
You will need:

-drinking straws
-pint size container
-water
-dish detergent
-food color

Pour about two inches of water into a pint container.  Using a straw, demonstrate to the child how to blow into water.  There will be a little bubble action

After the child tries this a few times, add about 10 drops of dish detergent.  The child will be delighted at how the bubbles multiply.

Lots of bubbles!

You can then add some food coloring to make the bubbles stand out even more.

Kids will delight in their ability to make the bubbles keep going...and going... and going!  

 The act of  blowing bubbles is very calming and organizes a child's sensory system.  It helps children to breathe a little deeper automatically. This results in more muscle activity in the trunk which in turn results in more awareness and posture in the trunk.  This postural and movement awareness, also called proprioceptive information helps a child focus his/her attention more easily.  But you don't have to tell them all that.  Kids will just find bubble blowing extremely fun.

In my next post, I will show you another breathing using pompoms.  Stay tuned...