Dear StrongStart families,

At StrongStart we have had many opportunities for messy and sensory play. Those explorations were always well-loved by everyone, from very young to older children. Sensory play is very important for brain development, it prepares the brain for all sorts of learning down the road and it is also calming. Through sensory play children learn about the world around them. They develop their problem solving skills, fine and gross motor skills, and hand eye coordination. Sensory play builds language and social skills and helps with math and science skills though hands-on experimentation, exploration, and manipulation.

An easy at-home sensory play activity is play dough!  Make sure you involve your children into the process of making of the play dough as it is a wonderful opportunity for math and measuring.
Sensory play builds confidence as children decide where to take their play and use their imagination and materials without worrying about the end product – it’s the process they enjoy!  To extend their play, you can add some additional materials such as animals to make it dramatic play as well.

Here are few new play dough recipes for you to try at home along with some ideas about how to use them.

Ooblick

Needed: 1 box of cornstarch, 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water, few drops of food colouring.

Add water to the cornstarch until it is semi-firm. When it becomes dry, simply add more water to soften again. Watch it change from solid to liquid (science!).

No Cook Play Dough

Needed: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, food coloring.

Mix flour and salt together. Slowly add the water, oil and a few drops of food colouring. Knead the dough and keep it in a Ziplock bag in the refrigerator.

Hair Conditioner Play Dough

Needed: 1 part (1 cup) hair conditioner, 2 parts cornstarch (2 cups). Mix together and knead.

Cornstarch is a bit dusty. It is best to put the bowl in the kitchen sink.

Mud Play Dough

Needed: 4 cups flour,  1 cup cocoa powder, 5 cups water, 2 1/2 cups salt, 3 Tbsp cream of tartar (you will find this amongst baking supplies at the supermarket), 10 Tbsp oil.

Mix dry ingredients in a large pot. Add water and oil. Cook at low/medium heat until mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pot. When you pinch it, it should no longer be sticky. Remove from pot. Knead until smooth.

Homemade Kinetic Sand

Needed: 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup corn starch, 1 Tbsp cream of tartar, 4 Tbsp of water, food colouring, medium bowl, whisk.

Pour baking soda, sugar, corn starch and cream of tartar in a bowl. Mix well.

Add few drops of food coloring to 1/4 cup of water (that is 4 Tbsp). Add half of water to the mix and mix it using a whisk. Add remaining water, mix with the whisk. The texture will be like a snow. Place in the fridge. Store in ziplock bag in the fridge.

Enjoy and please don’t forget to share your photos with me!

Ms. Lillian