Sensory Overload! DIY Sensory Activities for Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HugtheMess #cbias #CollectiveBias

One of the things my daughter loves most about our Mommy and Me class is the sensory table. Every week we walk into class and she makes a beeline towards it to see what new and interesting sensory exploration awaits her. The Mommy and Me instructors are always great about varying the textures and now that our class is over I thought I would try out some of the sensory activities on our own.

I’m always on the lookout for fun and easy activities to fill our time up (you moms know, the days can get very loooooong). At first, I was hesitant about doing something so messy at home, where I’m the one that would have to clean up, but I bought a few packs of Huggies One and Done and Huggies Simply Clean in the personal care aisle at Walmart and was prepared for the mess! Now I just had to decide what I was going to make. I decided on three things: colored spaghetti, moon sand, and shaving cream. Each one has a very different texture and I wanted Olivia to be able to try them all.

The colored spaghetti was the clear winner, followed by the moon sand, but I’ll spare you the picture of her crying when I put shaving cream on her hands. She did not like it one bit! And by the way, if you’ve ever wondered if baby toes are still adorable while covered in food coloring and spaghetti, the answer is YES! 😉

The funniest part about the whole activity was that she seriously enjoyed pulling the wipes out of the pack more than she enjoyed getting messy. She probably would have pulled out all the wipes if I had let her. Cleaning up with Huggies wipes was such a breeze and we were able to get all the food coloring off our hands and pick up all the moon sand. And the cucumber/green tea scent of Huggies One and Done smells soooo good and fresh!

Putting this activity together was so easy and budget friendly! Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• spaghetti
• food coloring
• gallon ziplock bags
• vinegar
• flour
• baby oil
• shaving cream
• 3 plastic tubs
• a plastic tablecloth
• toys to place in the sensory material
• Huggies One and Done Wipes/Huggies Simply Clean

To Make the Colored Spaghetti:

1. Start by cooking the spaghetti as you normally would and when the spaghetti is done, drain it and rinse under cold water.
2. Divide the spaghetti into large Ziplock bags. (However many colors you plan on making, divide the spaghetti into that many bags.)
3. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar and food coloring. I started with about 15 drops and then added more to get the color that I wanted. Then shake the bags until the spaghetti is evenly coated in color.

For the moon sand, all you have to do is mix together 5 cups of flour and 1 cup of baby oil. I added a little more oil to get the consistency I wanted, so you can definitely play around with the amounts. And the shaving cream is pretty obvious, just spray into the plastic bin and have fun!

Now that you’re all set to make messes, don’t forget to download this coupon for $.50 off any Huggies wipes at Walmart. The best part is that it’s a rolling coupon that will be available throughout the summer months, so stop back here every time you need to buy more wipes!

What are some of the fun sensory activities you do with your little ones? Or do your kids get into messes all on their own? 😉 Share your activities below!

XO,

L

*Please use your best judgment when introducing your child to sensory activities. While these activities are non toxic, they are not edible. This activity requires adult supervision at all times. If you’re uncertain whether this activity is appropriate for the child(ren) in your care, please see a pediatrician.