Sensory Play // St Patricks Day Sensory Play Idea

Needing some St Patricks Day Sensory Play ideas! I made up this awesome little sensory play set up for the kids in the playgroup that I run, and of course Effie has enjoyed playing with it at home since.

We are big fans of sensory play and tuff tray set ups in the Two Hearts household, they are great for improving motor skills, verbal skills, hand eye coordination and lots of other early development in toddlers. Plus they foster independent play in little ones. I will happily set Effie up with her Flisat Table and leave her to just explore, make mess and have fun for as long as she wants. Also means I can get some time to potter around in the kitchen or do some tidying up while she is occupied. Even Elian still enjoys some sensory play fun and will happily join in with her when they are both home together.

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I keep a huge selection of sensory bases and bits and pieces in one of my cupboards, so its often just a case of picking up a few seasonal themed bits and pulling everything together. I love how well this one came together as it is really inviting and gives Effie lots of different options for play.

THE BENEFITS OF SENSORY TRAYS

It helps to build nerve connections in the brain.
It encourages the development of fine motor skills and pincer grip which is hugely important for toddlers and babies
It supports language development
It encourages ‘scientific thinking’ and problem solving
It can develop colour and shape recognition, spacial awareness and lots of other key developmental skills

What you will need for this St Patricks Day Sensory Play Set-Up

Dyed Green Rice – See my easy method for dying sensory bases
Dyed Golden Chickpeas
Foam Shamrocks – I cut my own from foam sheets or you can purchase these
Little buckets – These are from The Range Easter Section
Gold Coins – I had mine in The Range but these are the same
Pipe-cleaners
Selection of scoops and tweezers – this set is our go to for sensory set ups
Peg Dolls – Ours are from Fawn and Fall which is now closed but we have others from Maggie Makes

How Toddlers can play with this Sensory Play Set Up

Due to the different components in this set up there are lots of different ways it can be played with. Here are just a few ideas which I can think of, but believe me when children are left to play and explore independently they will find lots of other ways to play with sensory set ups.

The rice and scoops allow for scooping and pouring into the buckets
Coins can be picked up using the tweezers to practice fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and spacial awareness. They can be collected in the buckets
Coins/shamrocks can be counted in and out of the 2 buckets
For older children, picking up the chickpeas/pipe-cleaners using the tweezers would be a great challenge
Hiding and finding the coins or shamrocks under the rice
The peg dolls allow for small world set up and imagination (Effie asked for her fairy house, wooden trees and Grimms rainbow to be added to extend the small world idea further)
Coins can be hidden under some of the shamrocks and a game can be made to see who can find the most by taking it in turns to lift a shamrock

Check out some of our other sensory play posts:

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