7 Materials and Environments for Sensory & Art Play

CHOOSE ONE– Select at least one of the resources below to learn about using food for play in early childhood classrooms.

• Time to Reflect: Using Food in Early Childhood Classrooms by Terri Jo Swim & Ramona Freeman (~10 minute read)
• Should Food be Used in Preschool Sensory Activities? by Rachelle (~ 20 minute read)

CHOOSE ONE– Select at least one of the resources below to learn more about how to support young children’s sensory and art play.

• “What’s the harm if I paint my arm?”: A Toddler’s Guide to Sensory Activities in the Home by Julia Luckenbill (~ 11 minute read)

In this article, Luckenbill provides a list of materials that families can use with toddlers to explore using their senses.

• Sensory Play for Science Learning by Peggy Ashbrook (~ 5 minute read)

In this article from the National Science Teaching Association, Ashbrook highlights several ways that children develop scientific understanding through sensory play.

• It’s Time for Play! Messy Play by Dr. Dawson Nichols (~ 6 minutes)

In this video, Nichols gives insight to why messy play is important and highlights three types of play: outdoor, wet, and dry. He gives many suggestions of how to set up the environment and how families might do this easily at home.