I am THRILLED to share with you my very first guest writer this afternoon. My friend and fellow “December Mama,” Marina was so nice to take time out of her (extra) busy day to explain how she created an awesome sensory board and fun activities for her twin infant girls. I hope you enjoy her thoughtful creativity as much as I do. Thank you so much for sharing, Marina! You are an awesome mom and a wonderful friend!
Hi. I’m Marina. I’m a former special education teacher turned stay-at-home mom to my amazing, 11 month old, identical twin girls, Ella and Harper. My twins were born almost three months early, so I am always looking for engaging and stimulating activities to help them grow and develop.
Sensory play is a term that refers to play that encourages the use of your senses: sight, touch, hear, taste, and smell. This can be as simple as taking your baby for a walk and allowing them to smell the flowers or more organized activities like sand and water tables or finger-painting.
Sensory play is beneficial for all children. It can be a great way to engage your child and help them explore their environment. Here are some ideas to help your baby engage their senses.
A sensory board allows your child unrestricted access to the items on the board. This will help your little one to become more independent and creates a safe space for them to explore.
For example, when you see your child pulling or banging on something they shouldn’t be playing with, bring them to the sensory board and show them something they can pull or bang.
Putting these items in water causes them to move slower and makes them more visually engaging. To really engage your child and draw their attention to the bottle, shine a flashlight under or through the bottle.
These are plastic bags filled with interesting textures and visually appealing items. This allows your little one to experience touching these things without getting messy.
Some Things to Consider:
Remember, sensory play doesn’t have to be structured or extra work. Children are naturally observant and love to explore. Encourage your little one to discover the things around them and enjoy as you watch them learn.