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Children with sensory differences ... painting the world beautiful.
Bean's Sensory Recipes
Jeanette Loftus
Play dough is a classic sensory activity that provides hours of fun entertainment for children with sensory processing disorder (and adults!).Buying Play-Doh at the store can be more convenient than making your own play dough at home. Making your own sensory play doughs can be a rewarding experience for children who have sensory differences.
Not only can you create the play dough recipes with your own preferences but you can also control the ingredients you use and make safer options for younger children. Here are some engaging homemade play dough recipes to try!
Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Sensory Activity
This pumpkin spice play dough is so simple to make! As an added bonus, after making a batch my kitchen smells amazingly delicious. Let’s gather our ingredients!
To make your own pumpkin spice play dough, you will need:
1 cup water
½ cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
12 drops yellow food coloring, 4 drops of red food coloring
1 cup flour
Dash of pumpkin pie spice
In a medium sauce pan, combine the water, salt, and cream of tartar on low heat and stir until well combined. Add the oil and food coloring. Slowly add the flour while stirring.
Once the dough starts to form, transfer the mixture to a lightly floured cutting board. Continue kneading the dough while adding in a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
Store the dough in a zipper plastic bag for up to a few weeks.
While prepping the dough, the kids can learn how to measure liquids and dry ingredients properly. They can also help with stirring the pumpkin spice play dough.
Two Ingredient Lavender Sensory Playdough
In just a few minutes, you'll have a fresh batch of sensory playdough ready for your kids to use!
1/2 cup baby lotion
1 cup cornstarch
Instructions
In a large bowl, add one cup of cornstarch.
Add in one half cup of baby lotion.
Stir until mixed thoroughly.
If playdough is still sticky, add cornstarch one tablespoon at a time until texture improves.
If playdough is clumpy, add one teaspoon of lotion at a time until texture improves.
Knead for a few minutes, and then get ready to play!
Apple Cinnamon Playdough Recipe No Cook
Your children will love the smell, the feel, and the whole sensory experience from this homemade playdough recipe. You can’t go wrong with apple and cinnamon.
Ingredients:
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 cup Salt
2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
1 heaping Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 heaping Tablespoon Apple Pie Spice
2 Tablespoons oil (we use coconut oil – you can use any cooking oil)
1 1/3 Cup Boiling Water
Directions:
Add all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Slowly stir in 1 1/3 cups boiling water
Mix, and Knead with your hands until it forms a ball.
Let your dough sit for 10 minutes to cool and then it’s ready for play.
optional: add a drop of your essential oil to the playdough ball when you’re kneading the dough.
Texture is a very important part of sensory play. It can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and offer children a better sensory experience. Play dough textures can enhance engagement because different textures can captivate children's attention and encourage longer periods of play. Textures also promote sensory exploration because it stimulates a child's tactile sense.
There are many different methods for creating more texture when playing with play dough. Creating texture in play dough is easy and fun! Everyday items around your home can serve as excellent tools for creating texture such as leaves, flowers, pebbles, glitter, sand, twigs, marbles, bark, beans and rice.
Creating texture when playing with play dough can be a great way for children to explore.
DISCLAIMER: I have learned a lot over the years but I am still learning. Always do your own research and exercise sound judgment. I am not an occupational therapist or a physician. I am an adult who has sensory processing disorder, a sensory parent and a Grandma. The information on this website is not medical advice and does not replace the information that your child's therapists or medical professionals give you. These are just ideas that I have learned myself over the years of being a parent and an adult living with SPD. If you are concerned for your child, please always seek medical attention through a family doctor, pediatrician or therapist. This website is for awareness purposes only. Each child is different and what works for one child may not for another because all children have different sensory needs. Please always consult with a medical professional. Click on links throughout each page for more resources and information. Click here for more resources https://sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport.com/sensoryprocessingdisorderresources
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