sensory play

Pretend Cotton Candy for Sensory Play

Pretend play meets sensory play with this DIY play cotton candy. It’s easy to make, so, so soft, and offers hours of fun. You only need two items to make this!

My girls discovered this a few years ago. Once they stumbled upon how to make it, they made it in multiple colours and it was perfect for all kinds of play opportunities.

How to make fake cotton candy for sensory play:

Materials needed:

yarn in pastel colours
pet brush with wire bristles

Instructions:

Comb out the yarn with the dog brush until it becomes fluffy and very soft.
Play!

Yes, it’s really that simple.

Making it themselves is part of the fun, so be sure to allow your child the chance to comb the yarn themselves. Adult supervision is recommended for this and all other sensory play. The wire bristles are sharp so use your best judgment when it comes to your child’s age and skill level.

This fake cotton candy looks like the real thing. It is so soft. I wish you could reach through the screen and give it a feel. It has a silky feeling that kids love.

Cotton candy is sometimes also called fairy floss.

It’s perfect for using in sensory bins or pretend play. You could also include it in a play kitchen.This sensory cotton candy would be so cute in a carnival or circus themed sensory bin!

It would also make a unique party favour or cute decoration for a circus or carnival themed birthday or party.

Pretend Cotton Candy Variations:

Use different colour combinations.
Wind some of the “fairy floss” around a paper straw to give it the look of cotton candy on a stick.
Place a ball of the cotton candy in a paper cone.
Make a large amount and attach it to clothing and a hat to create a cotton candy costume.

Check out some of our other sensory play ideas:

Kitchen Play with Oobleck

By Sharla Kostelyk

Easily set up hours of fun for your child using common household items and a few pantry supplies with this kitchen oobleck. You’ll likely have everything you need to create this play experience already in your home.

Of all the sensory play recipes, oobleck is the absolute easiest. Chocolate oobleck makes a great pretend mud for play use. We also have made Easter oobleck, Candy Cane oobleck, and lemonade oobleck. Our kids have had so much fun with all of them and I loved how easy they were to make.

Kitchen Oobleck:

Supplies needed:

4 cups cornstarch
2 cups water
food colouring
plastic bin
kitchen tools

Directions:

In a large bowl, stir some food colouring into the water. Mix in the cornstarch to create the oobleck.
Pour the oobleck into a sensory bin (plastic bin) and set the bin on the floor.
Add in some kitchen tools for exploration through play.
Invite your child to discover and learn with the oobleck and kitchen tools.

What kitchen tools should I use?

Really, there is no right or wrong answer here. Use your imagination and invite your child to choose tools as well.

Here are some household items we found worked well:

potato masher
slotted spoon
small strainer
funnel
fork
spoon
spatula
garlic press
tongs
egg separater
meat tenderizer

Cleanup tips:

We love, love, love messy play, but you can set out a shower curtain or dollar store plastic tablecloth underneath the bin to contain the mess in you want.

Never put oobleck down the drain as it will clog.

Clean the kitchen tools as you normally would since the ingredients in the oobleck are edible.

How the Science of Oobleck Works:

Oobleck is not only a great sensory activity, it is also a learning one. Oobleck is what’s known as a non-Newtonian fluid or a suspension. That means it can mimic qualities of both a solid and a liquid.

It’s made of only two ingredients, but it’s the combination of those ingredients that creates the unique properties that can be both a liquid or a solid. When pressure is applied, the cornstarch molecules bond together to create a solid state.

As your child explores through play, they can discover the changes in state that happen as this goes from liquid to solid.

Looking for more great sensory play recipes? Join thousands of others who are loving the five day email series, Sensory Activities and Solutions and you’ll get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Fluffy Fish Slime

By Sharla Kostelyk

Pretend you’re playing underwater with this fluffy fish slime. The consistency of this fluffy slime lends itself well to imaginary play and the fish add another adorable element.Slime is pretty popular in our house and fluffy slime is the favourite. Everyone loves the texture that the shaving cream gives to it. Plus, it’s got that really nice stretch to it.

Fluffy Fish Slime Recipe:

Supplies needed:

⅔ cup white Elmer’s School Glue
1 1/2 Tbsp. contact solution containing boric acid and sodium borate
¼ cup water
½ tsp. baking soda
3 cups foaming shaving cream
10 drops neon blue food colouring
mixing bowl
mixing spoon
fish toys
baby oil (optional)

Directions:

Pour the glue into a large mixing bowl.
Add in the water and mix well with a spoon (we find that a wooden spoon works well).
Drop in the baking soda. Mix.
Spoon in the shaving cream. Fold into the mixture and mix.
Add the blue food colouring drops. Stir well until the slime is blue all over.
Slowly add in the contact solution and stir.
Continue to stir to get a fluffy slime consistency.
Finish by kneading the slime with your hands. The slime is going to feel sticky at first. But don’t give up. Keep kneading! If you like, you can use a small amount of baby oil on your hands to keep the slime from sticking to you.
After kneading for several minutes, the slime should be nice and fluffy!
Add the fish toys and fold them into the slime.

Adult supervision should be used with this and all other sensory play activities.

This engages the visual, proprioceptive, and tactile sensory systems, making it a great sensory play idea. You can find more easy ideas in our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Be sure to check out some of our other fluffy slime recipes. These ones are our favourites:

Unicorn Fluffy Slime

Edible Shark Fluffy Slime

Heart Fluffy Slime

Simple Bugs Fun Hand Soap for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

By now, we all know how important hand washing is for our health. But getting your kids to wash their hands often is sometimes easier said than done. Instead of constantly reminding your kids to wash their hands, why not make handwashing fun? This fun bugs hand soap for kids will keep your kids engaged as they wash, ensuring they never forget to wash their hands again.If your kids are struggling with some of the pandemic protocols such as wearing masks and frequent hand washing, this fun soap can make it a bit easier for them (and for you).

Bugs Hand Soap for Kids

Supplies needed:

clear container with push dispenser
clear liquid hand soap
plastic bugs
small blue and white beads

Instructions:

Fill the clear container with hand soap, leaving around one inch of space at the top of the bottle to make room for the bugs and beads.
Push the bugs into the bottle, then add the beads to the top.
Place the lid on the bottle and tighten it to keep the soap from leaking out. Turn the bottle upside down to mix up the beads and bugs inside.

Handwashing Tips

Placing this fun soap for kids near the bathroom sink is a great way to remind your kids to wash their hands more frequently. They’ll have a blast squirting bug soap on their hands!

And since we know how important having clean hands is to our health, it’s always a good idea to remind your kids about proper hand washing techniques. After you make your bugs soap, give your kids a quick lesson in hand washing so they wash their hands the right way every time:

Follow five simple steps. Start by teaching your kids the five steps, then demonstrate the best method for getting their hands clean. There are five basic steps for handwashing:

Wet
Lather
Scrub
Rinse
Dry

Wash for 20 seconds. They key to killing germs is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. One fun way to count down the time while scrubbing is to sing a song. Singing Happy Birthday twice is a simple tune your kids are sure to know. Or you can make up your own hand washing song.

Scrub everywhere. Another important lesson to teach your kids is to scrub all over as they wash, including between each finger, along the top and bottom of the hand, and under the fingernails.

When should kids wash their hands? After learning how to wash their hands, your kids may be wondering when they should take the time to use their bug soap. The best answer is simply whenever their hands feel dirty. But if they’re still unsure, remind your kids that it’s always important to wash their hands:

after using the bathroom
before and after eating
after touching a pet
after coughing, sneezing, or wiping their nose

You might also like these fun bug sensory activities:

Easy Easter Slime Recipe

By Sharla Kostelyk

Slime is fun to play with regardless of the occasion. Pull, stretch, knead, push, and play using this easy Easter slime recipe. This provides great sensory feedback while having fun.

Homemade slime is great for any occasion. In the video below, you’ll see just how easy it is to make this slime at home.

Easy Easter Slime Recipe:

Supplies Needed:

1 cup Elmer’s Clear School glue
2-3 Tbsp. contact lens saline solution
1/2 tsp. baking soda
purple/pink, blue, and green metallic mini beads
Easter bunny erasers

Instructions:

Pour the glue into a large mixing bowl and stir the baking soda into it.
Begin to add the contact lens solution a few drops at a time as you stir.
When the mixture begins to pull away from the bowl, begin kneading.
Add the beads. Continue kneading.
Fold in some of the bunny erasers or offer them to your child to add to their sensory play.
If the slime is still too sticky, add one or two drops more of contact solution and continue to knead.
When you’re not playing with it, store it in an airtight container.

Be sure to use adult supervision with this or any other sensory play activity.

The slime created with this recipe is nice and stretchy. This activity offers tactile, proprioceptive, and visual sensory feedback.

Easter Slime Gift:

If you want, you can make this slime recipe as a gift. It’s great for adding to an Easter egg hunt or Easter basket. All you need to do is put the slime inside a medium or large size plastic egg and close it.

Check out some of our other Easter sensory activities:

Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

Sensory bins are perfect for interactive play. And when you add in seasonal elements, they’re a fun way to celebrate a holiday with your little ones too. This adorable Easter egg hunt sensory bin is filled with unique ways for your kids to explore using an Easter theme, whether they’re learning at home or in the classroom.

Using common Easter themed items in your sensory bin is the perfect way to get your kids playing and learning by using their senses. Each item on the bin is designed to help your child learn as they play by engaging at least one of their senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

Instructions:

Spread the yellow and purple Pluffle in the bottom of the bin, placing one colour on each side.
Place the letters in the bin. You can use the letters to spell out words (like Easter Egg Hunt) or simply let your kids play with the letters and spell words on their own. Kids love to spell out their own names and familiar words.
Spread the sequin eggs and baby chick toys around inside the bin.
Place the magnifying glass on top of the items for the kids to use.

Easter Sensory Bin Activities

Once you have your sensory bin set up, your kids can explore each item inside the bin as they play. These sensory bin activities are fun ways to encourage your kids to explore:

Use the magnifying glass. Move the magnifying glass over each element in the sensory bin and explore the different colours and textures up close. Compare the fluffy chick’s feathers to the smooth letters to see how they are different.
Touch the different items in the bin. Use your fingers to touch each item in the bin and describe what each one feels like. Which items in the bin are soft? Which are hard?
Squish the Pluffle. Use your hands, a spoon, or a scoop to move the Pluffle around. Squish the Pluffle in your hands or combine the colours to see what happens.
Sort or spell with the letters. Put the letters in alphabetical order, sort them by colour, or spell Easter words with them inside the sensory bin.
Play hide and seek. Hide the eggs or chicks under the Pluffle and dig around in the bin to find them. Or play a game with a friend or sibling by hiding items inside the bin and asking someone else to find the hidden treasures.

Check out our other Easter sensory ideas: