Sensory Roundabout: A sensory play to engage toddlers

Hello readers, We have discussed earlier that Play is the work of child. Hence engaging our young children in play becomes very important. Today we are here to share a secret sensory play idea with you. We call this as ‘Sensory Roundabout’. This idea works really well with 2 and 3 years old. It is a simple DIY that educators and parents can make at home. And the secret is once used, this sensory play will engage toddler/s allowing the mothers to complete their chores. Let us see how!

So, you would need a good bunch of material to make this DIY activity for your toddlers. Let’s list them:

1. Cardboard
2. Bubble wrap sheets
3. Aluminium sheets
4. Carrom coins
5. Some pebbles
6. Foam sheets
7. Sponge
8. Glue
9. Two sided tapes/Glue Gun
10. Cellotape
11. Scissors
12. Pencil

These are the materials that we have used to create sensory boards. Some of the alternate materials that you can use are Cotton balls, tissue papers, crepe paper, gift wrapping paper, currency coins, stones, sea shells and much more.

It’s super simple to create these boards. Let us have a look at how we created them.

Isn’t that simple?

Preparation:

1. Take 5-6 cardboards (19 cm x 10 cm) and stick up one material on each in a way exactly shown in the image.
2. For hard materials, like carrom coins or pebbles, it is advisable to use a glue gun so that the material does not fall off the board easily. A two sided tape also works great in case if you do not own a glue gun.
3. Thats it your sensory boards are ready to go.

Method:

1. Now that your sensory boards are ready, place them next to each other on the ground forming a circle.
2. One variation that you may like to add to this sensory roundabout is, adding blank cardboards between each of these so that the circle is big enough and your toddler at the same time is curious to jump on the boards which has the sensory materials.
3. Now, invite your toddler/s to come and move around on the circle path made with the sensory boards.
4. To make it more interesting, you can sing aloud a rhyme.
5. The rhyme will expose your toddler/s to large vocabulary related to sensory materials they feel.
6. You can keep singing this rhyme while you are away in the kitchen or another room completing your other tasks.
7. Once your toddler/s is used to this song, the time you lay the activity on the ground they would start moving around singing on their own.
8. You can simply keep shuffling or changing the boards used in your roundabouts so that your toddler gets a new experience every time he plays.

Round and Round (Tune: Round and Round the garden)

Round and Round the house/class,
Like a teddy bear,
One Step, Two Step,
Feel hard under your legs

Round and Round the house/class,
Like a teddy bear,
One Step, Two Step,
Feel soft under your legs

Round and Round the house/class,
Like a teddy bear,
One Step, Two Step,
Feel rough under your legs

Round and Round the house/class,
Like a teddy bear,
One Step, Two Step,
Feel silky under your legs

We hope this idea works for you and your toddler too. Do try this idea and let us know in the comments section below your experience with this activity.