Summer is the perfect time for preschoolers to engage their senses and explore the world around them in exciting ways. As the warm weather beckons us outdoors, there are endless opportunities for sensory play that not only entertain but also promote development. In this blog post, we’ll unveil seven delightful sensory preschool activities to keep your littles engaged and learning in the summer season.
1. Sand and Water Sensory Play
Transform your backyard into a sensory wonderland with sandboxes and water tables. Encourage tactile exploration as little hands mold sandcastles and splash in refreshing waters. Dive into the benefits of sensory engagement while ensuring safety around water for a worry-free playtime.
For extra fun, tailor your sensory table to your child’s interest. My kids LOVE cars and monster trucks, so we add both to the mix and they have SO much fun with it! For a sturdy, ready-to-go water table, this is what I have and we love it!
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Unleash your preschooler’s curiosity with a sensory-rich nature scavenger hunt. Create a list of things found nearby, like leaves, flowers, and rocks. Foster a deeper connection with nature as they embrace different textures and scents while foraging outdoors. This is one of my personal favorite sensory preschool activities to do in spring and summer.
3. DIY Sensory Bins
Unlock endless sensory adventures with DIY sensory bins tailored for preschoolers. Make rainbow rice bins teeming with hidden surprises or kinetic sand bins for imaginative molding and shaping. Stimulate their senses and creativity with varied textures and objects right in the comfort of your home.
There is so much fun to be had with sensory bins and this is a sensory activity you can easily tailor to your preschooler. Add something with texture, like rice, dry beans, cotton balls, then add things to discover throughout the bin, such as play coins or dinosaur bones. The possibilities are endless!
4. Ice Play Sensory Preschool Activities
Beat the summer heat with cool sensory exploration through ice play. Freeze tiny treasures in ice cubes for a thrilling excavation experience. Dive into the colorful world of ice cube painting, igniting artistic expression as melting hues splash onto paper canvases.
5. Sensory Nature Walk
Embark on a sensory expedition through nature’s playground, engaging all senses in a harmonious symphony. Listen to the rustle of leaves, feel the earth beneath your feet, and inhale the fragrant bouquet of wildflowers. Collect nature’s bounty for sensory art projects, enhancing appreciation for the natural world.
6. Sensory Block Play
Let’s talk about block play—it’s not just about stacking blocks; it’s a whole sensory adventure for preschoolers! When they grab those blocks, feeling their textures and sizes, it’s not just fun—it’s also helping them develop those little hand muscles. And don’t even get me started on the colors and patterns! They’re like a feast for their eyes. Plus, as they’re busy building, they’re also figuring out how to balance everything and solve problems. And let’s not forget about the sounds—those satisfying clacks and the crashes when everything topples over! It’s all part of the sensory experience that’s shaping their little brains and bodies for the future. My favorite to use are wooden pattern blocks, like these.
7. Sensory Art with Nature Materials
Encourage creativity and sensory exploration by incorporating natural materials into art projects. Provide preschoolers with items such as leaves, flowers, twigs, and pinecones, and let them create beautiful masterpieces using these sensory-rich elements. Experiment with textures, colors, and shapes to inspire imagination and artistic expression.
Elevate summer fun with these seven sensory preschool activities tailored to captivate young minds and hearts. Embrace the magic of sensory engagement while prioritizing safety and supervision. Fuel curiosity, creativity, and learning through sensory exploration, making this summer a season of cherished memories and boundless discovery.
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Looking for MORE Sensory Preschool Activities?
Check out these 12 Easy Muffin Activities for Preschoolers from Run Play Explore! Or check out this complete Summer Preschool Activities List HERE!
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