These activities are designed for sensory fun. They have been used with all different types of special needs, the most common being Sensory Processing, ADHD, Autism, and the Blind.

Crayon Balls
Melt crayons together and use sandpaper to draw on.

Pastels
Use pastels to draw on different types of paper. Cardboard, construction, sandpaper, tracing, tissue paper, Kleenex, paper towels, etc..

Etchings or Scratch Drawings
Crayons and construction paper, go around and rub over different items. Like pennies or the bark of a tree, or the bottom of the climber, or brick, etc

Soapsud Pictures
½ cup of dry detergent or a capful of liquid detergent, 2 tbl spns of liquid starch, food colouring. Mix together to create a thick soapy mixture.

Squeeze Bottle Glitter
Use an old ketchup bottle or mustard. The glitter is 1 part salt, 1 part flour and then add water until it’s thick and dough like. Add food colouring to make different colours. The salt will sparkle.

Wax Painting
Draw with crayon unto construction paper and rub over with water paint. Point out scientifically how water and wax don’t mix and they separate from each other.

Tornado in a Bottle
Fill one bottle with water and glitter.Tape together (or use modeling clay-it seals well) the two 16 oz. pop bottles.The glitter helps the children see the motion of the water.
Spin the bottom bottle and than flip, you have a mini-tornado! You can actually feel the motion of the water spinning within the bottle.

Bathtub Finger Paints
Mix 1/3 cup clear, liquid dish soap and 1 tbs of cornstarch and food colouring and put into ice cube tray. The children can use the different colours on tile in the bathroom and it easily washes off.

Play Dough Recipe (my favourite play-dough recipe)
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
2 tsp cream of tarter
1 cup water
1 tsp vegetable oil
Food colouring
Mix the dry ingredients first and then add the remaining ingredients and stir. In a heavy skillet, cook the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes stirring constantly. Knead the dough until soft and smooth. Then mix food colouring. Will store in baggies in the fridge for weeks or freezer for months.

Washable Finger Paint
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup cold water
3 cups cold water (not a misprint)
Food colouring
In large saucepan mix the flour with the 1 cup cold water and stir til smooth. Then add the 3 remaining cups of cold water. Cook over medium heat, stirring til mixture thickens and bubbles. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute more while still stirring. Divide into three heat-resistant bowls. Tint with food colouring, cover and cool.

Funny Putty
2 parts white glue
1 part liquid starch
Food colouring
Mix glue and food colouring, then pour starch over top. Swish so that all the glue is covered. Let set for about 5 minutes. Squeeze of extra starch, and knead til mixed.

String Painting (one of my favourites)
Use flat trays like the bottom of 24 cases of pop boxes. Play construction paper inside the box and use string to paint with. For younger children colour the strings before hand instead of letting them dip into the paint. They can leave the string on the construction and it will dry sticking to the paper, making 3-D art.

Marble Painting
Same as string painting but sway the box to make the picture with the marble rolling around.

Cool Whip Finger Painting (great for those finger lickers)
Just cool whip and food colouring, adding texture to it, like smarties (they will melt and gives the cool whip swirls of colours) or for the healthy ones, berries do the same. Paint your heart out!

Tooth Paste Painting (not good for younger ones)
Same as above but the smells of different type of toothpastes are neat. Good activity for Health themes.

Spray Painting
Make finger paint but a little watered down. You can use one of the recipes above. Use long rolls of paper and clothes pin it to the fence. Fill water bottles (from $1 store) with paint and make sure its not windy out! Cover children in long smocks or garbage bags to keep their clothes clean. They can spray the paper and leave it in the sun to dry. Good team work and mural making!

Blot Painting
Paint with sponges cut into different shapes.

Paste Painting
3 tablespoons of paste and food colouring, and different texture items, like dry macaroni, straws, pipe cleaners, etc.
Then can paint with the glue first than add other items to stick to their picture.

Rock Pets (everyone has had made a pet rock in their lifetime, lets show the young ones how to do it!)
Let them pick the rocks on a walk, use paint and google eyes. Enjoy!

Ice Cube Painting (a good hot day activity)
Colour water in your ice cube tray before putting it into the freezer. Let the children paint with the ice cubes as they melt.

Drizzle Goo
1 cup flour, ¼ cup salt, ¼ cup sugar, ¾ cup water and food colouring. Mix together flour salt and sugar and water and add food colouring into separate squeeze bottles (ketchup or mustard bottles work well) Then can squeeze the thick drizzle goo unto paper and make 3-d pictures.

Goop (did this for my sons 2nd birthday-I think the parents had more fun than the children!)
Equal parts starch and water and food colouring. Mix together until it looks runny but is in somewhat of a solid form when you pick it up. It should melt slowly between your fingers as it warms up in your hand.

Be Sociable, Share!

•