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Whole Child Development

Multi-Sensory Paint!

by Filed Under: Create, Learning through Play and Experience 5 Comments

 One of the things that makes young artists so great, is that they are concerned more with the whole experience than with the product alone.  Expand your next painting experience by trying out these tips that encourage children to use more than just their eyes to experience art.  (Originally posted January 2010.)

If you’d like to incorporate a few more senses into your painting projects, add some regular salt generously to your tempera paint and use as fingerpaint or with a brush. The resulting project will have a bit more texture and grit that becomes even more visible as it dries. [Read more…]

Sensory Play Inspiration to Get You Going

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience 16 Comments

Children are natural-born explorers.  Present them with a bin of dry beans and random tubes, and they will dive in hands first.  They will manipulate the medium — scooping, pouring, burying — creating stories and structures and, oh yeah, brain connections. 

Sensory play is a powerful and alluring learning experience for children.  Last year, I wrote this post explaining why sensory play is so important for preschoolers and this one about how to find sensory media inexpensively.  Recently, a reader commented asking for a quick-reference list of sensory media as well as ideas for tools and storage tips for those who might just be starting out with their sensory play adventures.

The first thing I would point out is that sensory play is happening all around you, whether you have a dedicated sensory table or not.  Children will naturally utilize their senses to investigate the world around them.  And because they use their senses to explore everything and anything, that means almost everything and anything can be used in a planned sensory play activity.  Notice the things they are drawn to in their impromptu sensory play.  To get your own creative juices going, here are some of the basics of sensory play to get you started. [Read more…]

Growing an In-Sync Child (Giveaway!)

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Music and Movement 18 Comments

Growing an In-Sync Child

 Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman had me interested before I even opened their new book, Growing an In-Sync Child.  I was already familiar with the Out-of-Sync Child books, written by Kranowitz as a toolbox for helping kids with Sensory Processing Disorder.  I had actually just picked up one of the resources to use with some of the consulting work I do when I was given a copy of this newer book.

The premise of the new book really struck me, and yet seemed so obvious.  The work that Carol and Joye had devoted more than 70 combined years to, has been life-changing  for children with SPD.  But children with SPD are not the only ones who become out-of-sync.  We all have our out-of-sync moments.  In fact, today’s pace and culture seems often to perpetuate this out-of-sync state.  As Joye and Carol question in their book, “Is it the child that is out of sync – or is it the world?”

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Have a Snack: Caramel Popcorn in a Bag!

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Snack Time 7 Comments

My sons and I were making this delicious recipe for caramel popcorn yesterday and I thought you might enjoy a fun snack on your holiday!  (Originally published 3/30/2009.)  Making popcorn is a great way to involve and discuss the five senses.  You can read more about the developmental benefits of cooking here, and check out this great post on cooking with kids from Simple Bites.

caramel-popcorn

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Colorful Ice Sculptures

by Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience 17 Comments

This is one of my favorite winter-time sensory activities!  Though it’s great any time of year, colder temps outside make it easier to freeze all those ice blocks!  Get your kiddos in on all the action by letting them mix the colors (I like to use washable liquid or powder watercolors), and letting them observe the change from liquid to solid…..and then back again!  Pop the colored ice into your sensory table, kitchen sink, or even the bathtub, and get building!  (Originally posted 12/18/09.)

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