Sensory activities20-34 months

Shape findYou need- Med sized shapes cut out of coloured card - Rice OR flour- Paint brushes Place shapes in turf tray and cover with rice OR flour. Learning outcomesPSED – Can play alongside others PD- How to use brushes to make marks EAD- Expresses feeling through movement M- Explores the concept Envelopment (covering) Schema Trajectory (movement in lines) Schema

Key words and phrases- Naming shapes- Naming colours of shapes- What's underneath..?- Brush, sweep, swoosh - Look, you made that line. Facial expressions of interest and surprise

Sponging water You need- A small amount of water in turf tray few mm deep- A range of sponges Toddler uses sponge to soak up water, squeezes out Learning outcomes PSED- Becomes interested in what others are doing PD- Squeezes water out of a sponge, strengthening hands CL- Notices the noises of everyday things

Transporting schema Fine motor developmentExtend by adding bowls and cups once children are able to confidently squeeze the sponges

Key words and phrases- Splash, slosh, splish, pitter, patter - The sponge is filling up with water.- Look, the water is coming out!- It's like rain.

Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning

Cotton wool pick up You need - Metal cupcake tray/egg boxes/pots

- Spoons of different sizes - Cotton wool balls

Toddler will pick up cotton wool balls in hand/with spoons and place in different containers Learning outcomesM- One object to one spacePD- Can use a spoon to scoop up objects EAD- Explores texturesM- Understanding of full/empty open/closed Enclosure (containment) Schema Hand eye coordinationExtend by adding tongs for older children

Key words and phrases- inside, outside, full, empty- One more/ another one- Scoop, pick up- Basic counting

Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning

Toilet roll threading You need

- Toilet rolls cut into rings- Ribbon tied through the middle of

a card squareToddler threads rolls on to 'string'Learning outcomesPD- Can push a string through an objectCL- Can understand simple sentencesPSED- Begins to learn that some things are shared

Hand eye coordination

Key words and phrases- through, inside, pull, push - Basic counting- One more, another one

Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning

Sticky challenge You need- Tape sticky back plastic, sticky side up in the turf tray - Bowls of pompoms/card/lolly sticks etc Toddler will explore the stickiness and ability to stick on/pull off objects Learning outcomes PD- Uses pincer grip UW- Explores how things work CL- Enjoys exploring new thingsHand eye coordinationExtend by placing at different levels, on the wall, on the floor etc

Key words and phrases- Pull, push, stick, sticky - Can you pull it off?- Look, my hand is stuck!- Name objects used

Facial expressions and tone of excitement, interest, questioning

Coloured pasta pick up You need- Cooked and cooled spaghetti, colour to match interest/knowledge - Tongs, pegs Toddler will pick up spaghetti in different way Learning outcomesPD- Learning to use one handed tools PSED- Learns that actions affect objects CL- Starts asking simple questions Hand eye coordination Fine motor development can adjust pressure

Key words and phrases- Squish, squash, long, short, slippery, open, close- You picked it up!- You have (insert colour/length).. spaghetti Facial expressions of interest and surprise

Ice break You need

- Freeze different toys in yoghurt pot - Bottles of coloured water - Paint brushes

Toddler will explore temp of ice and find ways to get the toys out Learning outcomesPD- Pick up and move slippery objects EAD- Explores temperature UW- Experiences different natural processPSED- Shares experiences with others Hand eye coordination Problem solving

Key words and phrases- Cold, ice, slippery, slide, melt, poke, prod, brush, pour - What's happening?- How can we get it out?

Facial expression and tone of interest and excitement

Messy recipes

Cloud doughYou need- 5 cups of flour- 1 cup of baby/veg oil- Can add food colouring/scent- Can add glitter

ToolsIntroduce with only a few molds, small pots and spoon. As children have experience with how it works add different objects, tongs, forks, brushes, sticks, animals, cars etc

Clean mud You need- 4 packs of toilet tissue - 2-3 cups of warm water mixed with food colouring- A squish of washing up liquid - Can add glitter Process- Shred toilet paper, mix with other ingredients ToolsThis is mouldable, use with just pots at first. Then add spoons tongs etc.

Bubble dough You need- 1 cup of corn flour - ¼ cup of washing up liquid

Process- Mix together, will take a few mins to mix fullyTools- Introduce by itself. Later used with knives, rolling cutters and scissors

Ice cream play You need- 1 ½ cups of corn flour- 1 cup water- Add food colour and flavour- Mix and then freeze

Tools- Will slowly melt- Use with bowls, spoons, forks, knives, tongs etc

Moon sandYou need:- 4 cups sand- 2 cups corn flour- 1 cup water- Powder paint/ food colouring

Process- Mix sand and cornflour together- Slowly add water until it can be moulded into a ballTools- Use with spoons, cutters and bowls

Messy play tips

- If you are not able to directly supervise DO NOT set out messy play. - Try to redirect instead of saying NO -Introduce the material by itself before adding tools- Use food based products if you are worried about it being eaten- Enjoy yourself!!!

“Please excuse the mess, the children are making

memories!”