TransparencySummer Sensations
SUMMER SENSATIONS
Summer is here! Older children are out of school and younger
children are excited and/ or anxious to have their sibling home.
The entire family may also be looking forward to a vacation away
from the daily norm. Whatever it is, very young children can feel
the change in the air and may act in ways we do not expect. Being
a prepared parent can help us get through a long, hot summer!
In previous articles I have written about creating routines and
limits that help children stay regulated so that they can fully
participate in the day. In this article I want to offer some
ideas that can be used to help fill a day when the regular
routines have been broken. Summer is a great time to offer new
and exciting sensory based activities while at home. Traveling is
another potentially tough activity, so being prepared by having a
Magic Bag of tricks helps maintain stability at an otherwise
chaotic time. Below I will offer some suggestions for sensory fun
at home and ideas for magic bags to take with you.
Thinking ahead and planning most of the details will aide in your
child’s overall behavior.
Sensory Play: (Please note some children
have a hard time with getting dirty, with loud noises or with too
much stimulation in general. You know your child; some of these
activities may take time for your child to accept. Offering it
without expectation or with some adaptation might be warranted.)
- Frozen Fun: Freeze small toys into a large block of ice (use
a tray or container with an edge so when the melting happens it
is contained). Good toys to freeze might be small cars, bugs ,
stars shells…Offer “tools” to help with getting out the objects,
or offer toys to play with on top. Children will enjoy the cold,
and enjoy the slippery texture then enjoy the melting and the
surprises coming out! This is fun for a sustained amount of time.
Source: Friendshipcircle.org
- Painting with Water: Children love to use big paintbrushes
and parents like to only deal with little messes. Use a bucket to
put water into and large clean paintbrushes for your child to
paint with. Find a fence, rock, sidewalk or some large structure
for your child to paint. Your child can paint over the same area
many times as they learn about the sun and evaporation. “You can
also let your preschooler place their hands and feet in a bucket
of water to make footprints and handprints on the driveway. It’s
a great summertime activity that they can cool down with and once
the water dries they have a clean canvas to start all over again.
“Itsybaby.com
- Bags full of paint & ( Q-tips): Place a small amount of
tempera paint into a large Ziplock Baggie, place that baggie into
another one to help with small rips that will occur over time.
Give child baggie to explore…. Offer a Q-Tip to “draw with” or
just use fingers. It is less mess than finger painting but still
has a sensory component.
- Home -made play dough: Making play dough is a fun rainy day
activity. Let your child help make the clay and then give them
the play clay and some kitchen tools to use. The recipe below is
easy and your child can watch as a liquid becomes a solid when
heat is applied. Science at a very young age!!
- In the Dark / Flashlight Tag A flashlight is a mysterious and
wonderful thing! Have on hand several flashlights and let your
child just explore dark and light at first. Next, hide items and
have a scavenger hunt using flashlight to find item, or play
flashlight tag!
- Playing in the Kitchen: Inside or outside this can be fun,
but often loud, so be ready! Use pots, pans, covers, muffin tins,
graters and large spoons wooden and metal, measuring cups and
spoons…. Have a marching band or sit on the floor or grass and
explore the sounds. You can play STOP and GO with the music or
sing a song and make a beat.
- Mud Pies : No explanation needed here. Sand/ dirt water and
pans, spoons or shovels …. Having two different materials like
sand and dirt offer a variety and make the fun last longer….
Clean up with the hose is refreshing!
- Obstacle course : Outside or Inside / Use cushions or pillows blankets and low tables and or chairs, hoola hoops, and large balls work well too. If you model how to get through the obstacle course your child will join in. Incorporate walking, crawling, jumping and climbing to make this activity great for motor development and fun for all. Video tape or take pictures for long lasting fun!
Magic Bags with Sensory Items: When a child
must go in the car for a long ride, attend a sibling’s recital or
go to the doctor’s office, there is often a tantrum that goes
with the child to those activities. If you create a Magic Bag for
those times when you need something positive for your child to
do, you will have less tantrums and a happier child. These bags
should be ready for you to use when you know your child will be
upset, anxious, or fidgety. You control the contents of the bag:
one toy at a time will keep the magic going. Good items to have
on hand:
Vibrating toys: bumble ball, or buzzing bee or giggle stick
Special stickers and new book
Little animals or special small cars
Magnetic toys with a metal can or container, and Travel sized
aqua doodle / magic doodle
Whistles/ Blow toys ( if you can stand the noise)
Small Flash light and or toys that move or wind up ( if they can
do it themselves)
“Summertime can be both wonderful and stressful for kids with
sensory issues and their families. Why do some kids seem to
regress over the summer while others zoom ahead? Changes in
routine, unfamiliar activities, food, faces, places, and sounds
can make it very hard for sensitive kids to relax and enjoy
themselves.” (Sensorysmarts.com )
So, when routines need to change, make sure you tell your child
and include him/her in the planning, and then offer an activity
that allows him to participate a way that encourages exploration.
Have fun!
Play Clay Recipe
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water ( add food coloring)
2 TBSP of oil
Mix all dry ingredients first in pan add water and oil and stir on medium heat. The mixture will be hard to stir and form a ball. Take out of pan and knead for 3- 5 minutes. Keep in ziplock bag.