Throughout the month of August, our toddlers have been enjoying a variety of sensory experiences that have invited them to explore, investigate, and discover using their senses. From water play and colourful sand to our oil and water experiment and oobleck, the children have shown a growing curiosity about how different materials feel, move, mix, and change.
To continue this sensory exploration, we introduced the toddlers to a new material- slime!
The children were excited to explore the soft, squishy texture of the slime with their hands. They squeezed, poked, pulled, and stretched the slime, noticing how it moved between their fingers. We also provided colourful loose parts for the children to add to their slime. The children carefully picked up the small pieces and placed them into the slime, creating their own unique designs.
As they explored, the toddlers used their fine-motor skills to grasp, pinch, press, and manipulate both the slime and the small materials. They demonstrated concentration as they experimented with where to place the pieces and observed what happened when they pressed them into the slime.
This experience also encourages our toddlers to make connections with the sensory activities they have explored throughout August. Incorporating a variety of different sensory activities encourages the children to develop their curiosity and confidence as young explorers. They are learning that they can investigate materials, make predictions, test their ideas, and discover something new through hands-on play.
Through water exploration and splashes, sand that can be poured and moved, oil and water separate creating interesting patterns, and oobleck changes depending on how we interact with it. With slime, the children discovered another fascinating texture that could be stretched, squeezed, pressed, and reshaped.
We look forward to continuing our sensory journey and providing opportunities for the children to explore new textures, materials, and ways of learning through play!
