Using feet for sensory play activities

Sensory experience is an important part of child development, but often kids are so busy getting their hands messy, that we forget about them using their feet for sensory play activities.

Using their feet for sensory or messy play has many benefits, especially when it comes to exploring the sense of touch.
 

Using feet for sensory play activities

Kids feet are as sensitive to touch as their hands and are a great learning and development tool.

Walking barefoot and exploring their feet’s reaction to different textures is not only fun, but helps to promote an awareness of their senses and their surroundings.

Sensory play helps toddlers and preschoolers to learn and develop through touching and feeling with their feet. It also helps them to gain a holistic preparedness for their environment and how their body works.

Feet sensory play is a must-try activity. There are so many ways your toddler or preschooler can explore the sense of touch with their feet, indoors and out, including setting up your own fun sensory walk.
 

Sensory walks – exploring the sense of touch

Sensory walks are a fun sensory play activity which uses your kids feet.

They are easy to set up at home and are very engaging for little explorers.

Sensory walks can help toddlers and preschoolers to understand concepts such as cause and effect, self-regulation and problem-solving, to name a few.

They also teach young kids about textures and feelings, such as soft, hard, ticklish, cold, wet etc.

How to set up your sensory walk

1. Find some large, low-sided plastic boxes, washing up bowls or baking trays, large enough to fit your kids feet.

2. Fill each box with a different type of texture.

3. Line the boxes up and let your kids walk barefeet through the line of sensory boxes.

Ideas for your sensory walk

A nature sensory walk can include sea shells in one box, leaves in the second box, beach sand in the third and sea water in the fourth box.

A food sensory walk could include dried pasta, jelly, water and flour.

Other textures you could include for your sensorsy walks include shaving foam, play dough, feathers, small stones, shower gel, kids paints, ribbons etc.

Use whatever materials you have to hand, the list is endless!

More kids activities articles to enjoy:

• Benefits of messy play for preschoolers
• The benefits of adventure play
• What's all the fuss about heuristic play

Source: This article was written by Messy Magpies – messy play sessions for kids under 5 years old.
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