I had a friend whose mother often said "Sometimes you have to make sunshine inside!"
So... if you can't go to the beach, bring the beach to your home! These are fantastic sensory activities that will keep kids busy for hours.
Make Colored Sand!
You'll need white rice, food coloring, hand sanitizer, a plastic zippered bag, and a flat pan lined with parchment paper.
- Put 5-6 squirts of hand sanitizer in the plastic zippered bag.
- Add a few drops of food coloring.
- Add rice.
- Seal bag and shake until mixed.
- Lay rice out on a parchment-lined jelly roll pan to dry completely.
- Once dry, pour into a "sand" box and pull out your favorite pails and shovels for digging!
NOTE: This is not edible.
Create the Ocean!
Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water in the bathtub and you will be instantly transformed to the ocean. Your kids will never want to get out.
Make Bath Sand!
You'll need shaving cream, food coloring, and bath crystals. This activity also uses plastic beach toys or any flat container.
While your kids are in the tub, fill the container with shaving cream. Then add the bath crystals. Now they can squeeze and shape their "sand."
Let the kids alternate between the "beach" and the "ocean." Add some seashells and beach toys and they'll feel like they've been on vacation!
