Since we have started to explore all things fall, apples and pumpkins are abundant in autumn. After talking about what is harvested in fall we set out two invitations to create, make, explore, and play with apples and pumpkins through two types of sensory play. Whether they made pie, soup, cupcakes, cookies, pasta, they were invited to create anything fall!
1. Apples Galore: In our tuff tray we filled the base with oats and provided cinnamon spice and sticks, kitchen utensils, pie tins, and green and red play apples.
2. Pumpkins Galore: This invitation was set with real & fake pumpkins, playdough, loose parts: cinnamon sticks, puka spice pumpkins, wooden cutouts of leaves + pumpkins. Lastly, an array of pie tins & wooden tools to roll and mold the play-dough.
When children sensory play, they are playing with a variety of materials and textures which stimulate the mind & body through the tactile experience. Children learn best and retain the most information when they engage their senses through hands-on exploration. Many of our favorite memories are associated with one or more of our senses and sensory play quite simply stimulates the senses. By giving children the opportunity to investigate and explore materials through open ended invitations we are giving them the time + developmentally appropriate space/materials to help them develop and refine their cognitive, SEL, physical (fine/gross motor skills), creative, and linguistic skill sets all through the power of play.
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