Activity

Sensory Exploration with Household Items: Touch & Discover

Whispers of Wonder: Sensory Exploration for Little Discoverers

Engage your 6 to 18-month-old in a sensory exploration activity using household items to stimulate their touch, sight, and sound senses. Set up a safe space with various textures, shapes, and sizes of items for your child to explore. Encourage them to touch, feel, and describe each item while promoting language, fine motor skills, and cognitive development in a safe and supervised environment. This enriching activity offers a valuable learning experience for young children while keeping them engaged and entertained.

Children’s Age: 6 months – 1.5 years

Activity Duration: 5 – 10 minutes

Developmental Areas:

Sensory Development

Instructions

Prepare for a sensory exploration activity by setting up a clean and safe space. Gather various household items with different textures, shapes, and sizes.

Sit comfortably with the child and place the items within their reach.
Encourage the child to explore each item one at a time, using words like "soft" or "smooth" to describe the sensory experiences.
Let the child freely touch, feel, shake, and explore the items at their own pace.
Offer guidance if needed while ensuring all items are clean, non-toxic, and safe, without choking hazards or sharp edges.
Supervise the child closely throughout the activity to ensure their safety.

This activity supports sensory, language, fine motor skills, and cognitive development, providing an enriching experience for young children.

Conclude the activity by:

Praising the child for their exploration and curiosity.
Encourage them to share their favorite item or sensation from the activity.
Reflect on the experience by asking simple questions like, "What did you like touching the most?" or "Which item made a funny sound?"
Celebrate their participation with a hug, high-five, or a simple "Well done!" to boost their confidence and connection.

Safety Tips

Physical Risks:
- Choking hazards from small items: Avoid using items that can easily fit into a child's mouth.
- Sharp edges or points: Ensure all items are smooth and rounded to prevent injuries.
- Toxic items: Check that all items are non-toxic in case a child puts them in their mouth.
- Supervision: Always closely supervise the child to prevent accidents or ingestion of inappropriate items.
Emotional Risks:
- Overstimulation: Watch for signs of overstimulation such as crying, turning away, or covering ears, and provide breaks as needed.
- Understimulation: If the child loses interest, introduce new items or activities to keep them engaged.
Environmental Risks:
- Safe space: Choose a clean and clutter-free area to conduct the activity to prevent tripping or falling.
- Secure items: Make sure items are placed securely to avoid them falling on the child.

Warnings

Warnings and precautions for the sensory exploration activity:

Ensure all items are free from choking hazards or sharp edges to prevent accidental injuries.
Supervise the child closely to prevent putting small items in their mouth.
Watch for any signs of discomfort or overstimulation in the child, such as crying, turning away, or agitation.
Check for any potential allergies to household items used in the activity.
Avoid items with strong scents or textures that may overwhelm the child's senses.
Be cautious of the child's reactions to different textures or sensations to prevent distress.
Keep the space where the activity takes place free from any environmental hazards, such as slippery floors or reachable electrical outlets.

First Aid Tips

Be prepared for potential choking hazards by ensuring all items are larger than the child's fist to prevent accidental ingestion.
Watch out for any sharp edges or small parts that could cause cuts or injuries. Remove any items that pose a risk.
If a child gets a minor cut or scrape, clean the wound with soap and water. Apply an adhesive bandage if needed and monitor for signs of infection.
In case of an allergic reaction (e.g., hives, difficulty breathing) due to contact with a new material, remove the child from the allergen, administer any prescribed antihistamines, and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
Keep a first aid kit nearby with essentials like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, and gloves for quick access in case of minor injuries.
If a child shows signs of distress, such as persistent crying or difficulty breathing, stay calm, comfort the child, and assess the situation. Seek medical help if necessary.
Ensure the child does not put any small items in their mouth. If ingestion occurs, stay calm, remove the item if possible, and seek immediate medical assistance.

Goals

Engaging in this sensory exploration activity with household items contributes significantly to a child's growth and development.

Cognitive Development:
- Enhances sensory processing and integration.
- Encourages exploration and curiosity.
- Supports cognitive skills through identifying and categorizing different textures and shapes.
Language Development:
- Expands vocabulary as children experience new sensations.
- Encourages language development through verbal descriptions of the sensory items.
Fine Motor Skills:
- Improves hand-eye coordination through touching and manipulating objects.
- Develops fine motor skills by grasping, shaking, and exploring items of various sizes and shapes.
Sensory Development:
- Stimulates sensory exploration of touch, sight, and sound.
- Enhances sensory awareness and responsiveness to different stimuli.

Materials

Materials needed for this activity

This activity requires the following materials:

Various household items with different textures, shapes, and sizes (e.g., soft fabric, plastic container, wooden block, metal spoon)
Clean and safe space for exploration
Supervision for the child
Optional: Rug or mat for the child to sit on
Optional: Mirror for visual stimulation
Optional: Additional sensory items like a textured ball or a musical toy
Optional: Baby wipes for easy clean-up

Variations

Here are some creative variations for the sensory exploration activity with household items for children aged 6 to 18 months:

Sensory Bin: Instead of placing the items within the child's reach, create a sensory bin filled with items of different textures. Let the child dig in and discover the items hidden within the sensory material, such as rice, beans, or sand. This adds an element of surprise and enhances tactile exploration.
Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Turn the activity into a scavenger hunt by hiding the items around the room or play area. Encourage the child to find and touch each item based on verbal clues or pictures. This variation promotes movement, sensory exploration, and cognitive skills.
Mirror Play: Place a child-safe mirror in front of the child during the activity. As they explore the items, they can also observe their own reactions and expressions in the mirror. This variation introduces self-awareness and visual stimulation to the sensory experience.
Sensory Obstacle Course: Create a mini obstacle course using sensory items like cushions, textured mats, and soft tunnels. Allow the child to crawl, touch, and explore each item as they navigate through the course. This variation combines sensory exploration with gross motor skills development.

Benefits

This activity is designed to support your child's development across the following key areas of learning and growth. Learn more about each area and how it contributes to your child’s overall development below:

Sensory Development

Sensory development involves the enhancement of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. It helps individuals process and respond to their environment effectively. Activities that stimulate sensory development contribute to cognitive growth, motor skills, and overall well-being.

Parent Tips

Choose a variety of items: Select items with different textures, shapes, and sizes to provide a diverse sensory experience for the child.
Encourage exploration: Allow the child to lead the exploration process at their own pace, touching, feeling, and shaking the items as they wish.
Use descriptive words: Describe the sensory experiences using simple words like "soft" or "smooth" to help the child make connections between the items and the sensory input.
Ensure safety: Check all items for cleanliness, non-toxicity, and safety to prevent any accidents or health hazards during the activity.
Provide supervision: Stay close to the child at all times to offer support, guidance, and ensure their safety throughout the sensory exploration activity.