I always remember thinking when my boys were younger; ‘How can I help them learn and engage without buying a tonne of plastic toys?’ Because we all know that there’s a toy out there for everything. But I wanted to find fun activities that didn’t cost the earth and that didn’t get stuck at the bottom of the toy box. Engaging activities using what I already had in the house and took little effort to set up. But have a massive impact on my boy’s development.
With the development of the internet and social media since my eldest was a tot, I’ve now found a number of favourite play and sensory play based Instagram accounts that give me play and sensory play inspiration that does all of the above.
So Mama’s grab a cuppa and check out these Instagram accounts.
You’re guaranteed to have some happily entertained baby’s and kids!
PIN ME FOR LATER
PlayHooray
https://www.instagram.com/play.hooray/
Five Minute Mum
https://www.instagram.com/fiveminutemum/
Beckys Treasure Baskets
https://www.instagram.com/beckys_treasure_baskets/
Play At Home Mummy
https://www.instagram.com/play_at_home_mummy/
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• BABY’S FIRST DRY SENSORY TRAY • You know I’m a big fan of sensory play 😉 The time has come for Miss 9 months first dry sensory tray 😍🙌🏻 . We started small. This is a baking dish (heavy, so she can’t flip it over! This part is important – she would have tipped the whole thing out if I chose a lightweight dish) filled with some uncooked, coloured pasta (pasta is taste safe so it’s a good choice for babies!). I chose rigatoni (it’s a large, short pasta), because it’s big enough that she can pick it up, but small enough that it’s still a challenge for her little fingers to manipulate the pasta. I coloured this ages ago (I have this stored with all my other sensory bases), but it’s really easy! You just put the pasta in a zip lock bag, put in a few drops of food colouring and a small splash of vinegar, then shake it around till it’s coated, and leave to dry on baking paper. . She absolutely LOVED it 🙌🏻 and the big girls did too, so it’s a good one for any age! . Sensory play is anything that involves the senses – the more, the better! – and it encourages: • Cognitive development – using multiple senses strengthens neural pathways that are being formed, meaning the child understands and processes more about their experience. It also enhances memory. • Fine motor skill development – sensory play exercises the small muscles of the hands and fingers • Gross motor skills development – an activity like this also involves the baby reaching, sitting, crawling, balancing • Language development – sensory play introduces new vocabulary, and stimulates conversation and babbling • Curiosity and problem solving skills – sensory play piques interest and encourages baby to explore and persist in these explorations . Cannot wait for more sensory play as she grows 😍 . **SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES – pasta can be a choking risk . . #everydayplayhacks #playislearning #teachermum #playmatters #reggiokids #invitationtoplay #childhoodunplugged #playbasedlearning #toddleractivitiesathome #learningthroughplay #toddlerplay #preschoolplay #babyplayideas #playathome #stayathomemum #playathomemummy #preparedplay #homeschoolaustralia #montessoriathome
A post shared by E M M A • Baby Play + Beyond (@play_at_home_mummy) on Feb 9, 2020 at 6:31pm PST
Tuff Love And Sensory Play
https://www.instagram.com/tufflove_and_sensoryplay/
Early Years Outdoor
https://www.instagram.com/earlyyearsoutdoor/
Play And Learn Activities
https://www.instagram.com/play.and.learn.activities/
Do You Know Of Anymore Play and Sensory Play Accounts That Could Be Added To The List?
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This is such a good article! Thanks. Lots of lovely sensory play ideas- I especially like the nature links and outdoor play ideas!