Here is a super simple activity that takes seconds to set up at home, is fun, engaging and brilliant for sensory awareness.
Quite often sensory experiences are designed for children to use with their hands. I think it’s important not to forget that children can learn so much about sensory awareness by using their feet!
This activity couldn’t be easier to set up for your own children to do at home. I simply had a look in my cupboard and selected a variety of safe items that would feel different under foot and were easy to wash or discard afterwards. Here is what I used –
- Cardboard lid
- Muffin tin (upside down)
- Large plastic bag
- cake drying rack
- Wet chux dish cloth
- old cake board
- ice cube trays
Of course you need to consider safety first. I also made sure these items were placed on a nonslip surface like carpet or a rug. Wooden floorboards make items slip and so it’s just asking for an injury. Be safe.
Little Possum had such a brilliant time doing this. At first my husband thought I was crazy but once he saw how wonderful the activity was for Possums balance and sensory awareness he was easily won over.
Many times Possum giggled as she experiences the texture of each item, how some of the surfaces squashed beneath her weight and the various temperatures of the cold metal or wet dish cloth. It was quite funny to watch.
I couldn’t tell you how many times Possum moved along the sensory path that I’d made for her. It was A LOT! It was great to be able to mix up to order and talk to her about each piece that was available for her to walk over. Perfect for building on her understanding of language.
She even decided to try crawling, which became an added sensory experience for her.
I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at this post. I have many more sensory activities available here, here, and here. Be sure to check them out!
Kate xo
What sensory activities have you done with your children?
This is a great idea, one I’ve never thought of. I agree with the importance of sensory awareness with feet and was so glad when the weather got warmer so my son didn’t have to wear socks and now the grass is nice and dry, he can feel the grass underfoot.
Great idea! 🙂 Will have to give this a try! 🙂
Love it! Will have to give this a try! Thanks x
Very cool & easy for anyone to set up.
We’ve done sensory stepping stones before which is similar. Fun
Looks like great fun Kate. It’s amazing the things you can do with the stuff you already have in the cupboard.
Very cool. JJ really loves to touch things with her feet. She takes her shoes off ALL THE TIME – I’m so glad summer is coming so I don’t have to worry about her toes falling off 🙂
Cool idea to experience texture with our feet!
Fantastic idea Kate…we love sensory fun here and i am so doing this on the weekend with the girls!
He he! I like this. It’s like a toddler friendly version of walking hot coals. It is a great idea.
Great idea! Must set one of these up for Noah. He’d love it! (and Maddie would be all over it too, haha) Be fun with a blindfold for older kids! 🙂
How easy! Never would have thought!
I love this. My little 18mo would really enjoy this. I am going to set it up tomorrow for her. I particularly love the fact that there are no ‘little bits’ to be flung around. Thank you!