Babies love movement and colour!
Sensory toys are perfect for keeping your little one entertained and for
developing their visual tracking and eyesight. Keep reading to find out how you
can make a homemade sensory toy for playing with your baby or toddler.
Sensory play is a great way to
entertain babies and toddlers. It includes any activity that stimulates
multiple senses and encourages your child to explore the world around them.
There are lots of toys out there being marketed as 'sensory toys' but you don't
need anything expensive or specialist to enjoy sensory play with your little
one.
What counts as a sensory toy?
Sensory toys can be anything that
helps your child explore their senses. The top five are taste, touch, smell,
sight and sound. But we actually have more senses that aren't talked about as
often.
Two examples are proprioception and
vestibular senses. Proprioception is an awareness of where our body is in
space. This sense can tell us where are head stops and the sky starts.
And it tells our brain where are limbs are at all times. We also have a
vestibular sense which is all about balance. We need to know how to stay
upright and navigate our environment.
So the term sensory toys should
really apply to any and all items that stimulate your child's senses and help them to explore
their body and the world around them.
Some people think sensory toys are all
electronic with flash lights and loud noises, but I actually prefer to go for
things that require more input from the child. There is an old saying that 'active
toys make for passive children.' For example, if you give a child a video game
they are likely to sit and stare. If you give your child a plain, old wooden
shape sorter, they will likely get stuck in and try to figure out how
everything works and what they can use the objects for! Of course there is room
for all types of toys in our lives, but when you are picking items for sensory
play it's helpful to go for things that will engage your child's curiosity and
encourage them to explore the object with all their senses and skills.
So what can I use for sensory play?
Household objects are brilliant for
sensory play. Fill a bag or basket with things from around your home. Wooden
spoons, kitchen roll tubes, scarves, sponges, bath gloves, cupcake cases,
balled up socks and even a rolling pin can make fantastic toys for young
children. But if you fancy making something extra special, here are my instructions
for how to make a homemade sensory toy for playing with your baby or
toddler.
How to make a Ribbon Ring Sensory Toy
Please be aware that children must be supervised when using
this toy. Any item with cords longer than 22cm are considered a strangulation
risk. Stay safe by only using this toy during supervised play. Enjoy exploring
the toy together.
Materials:
- Wooden ring
- 3 spools of ribbon (different
colours)
- Scissors
- Measuring Tape
- Lighter
Instructions :
1. Cut a 36 inch length from 3 separate colours of ribbon.
2. Take one of the colours, fold it in half and pinch the
folded end to create a loop. Thread the ends
through your wooden ring, then through the loop and pull tight.
3. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each colour of ribbon.
4. Cut the ends of the ribbon so you have 6 equal lengths.
5. Finally, melt the
ends of your ribbons very carefully by quickly passing them through the flame
of a lighter. This takes only a second or two and will melt the loose threads
to prevent the ribbons from coming apart.
How to play with your easy to make
Ribbon Rings
I hope you have enjoyed making your
homemade sensory toy for playing with your baby or toddler. So how are you
going to play?
These Ribbon Rings are perfect for rhyme time! Dance the ribbons
through air as you sing your favourite nursery rhymes. They are also fun to
include in a treasure basket with all things multi-coloured or rainbow themed.
Or why not make a batch of sensory rice
and bury your ribbon ring for your baby or toddler to find? There are so many
ways to play! I would love to see what you come up with. Tag me @craftytoddlercompany in your posts on
Facebook and Instagram.
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