Gardening with kids can be fun, educational and refreshing; but did you know that it is also full of sensory benefits. Whether your child has difficulty with sensory processing or not; all children can benefit from sensory play. From birth, children learn about their world using their senses. As children grow and develop, sensory experiences help them make connections and make sense of the world around them.
As part of the Hands-on Play Party, I am excited to share how gardening with kids can encourage sensory connections.
Carrying, Lifting and Pushing Encourages Proprioceptive Sensory Input
“Heavy work” is a common part of gardening. Did you know that just by carrying that bag of dirt with you, your child is getting a sensory benefit? Of course, you want to watch and monitor your children carefully and only give them weight they can handle, but the possibilities are endless.
Ways to encourage Proprioceptive Input:
Help push the wheelbarrow
Help carry away large sticks
Carry pots and bags of dirt from one garden bed to another
Shoveling
Pulling a trash can
Digging in deep holes
Textures from the Plants, Dirt and Sand Encourage Tactile Sensory Input
The garden has endless opportunities for hands-on experiences to foster learning and encourage children to process their world through touching, feeling, comparing, and observing.
Ways to Encourage Tactile Input:
Feeling and rubbing a variety of plant parts
Seed sorting
Scooping and pouring dirt
Planting seeds to encourage fine motor development
Squeezing, sifting and rubbing dirt
Creating mud with dirt and water
Writing in the dirt with their fingers
Harvesting vegetables and fruit
Picking the flowers
Want more ideas about Sensory and Gardening with Kids?
Garden Sensory Bins from Fantastic Fun and Learning
Indoor Garden for Kids from Life at the Zoo
Garden Sensory Play from The Chaos and the Clutter
Garden Sensory Bin in a Pail from The Chaos and the Clutter
Worms: A Guide For all Things Wiggly from Lemon Lime Adventures
100 Sensory Activities for Home or School from Lemon Lime Adventures
What is Sensory Processing? from Lemon Lime Adventures
Now it’s time for the Hands On Play party!
My Favorite Hands-On Sensory Activity From Last Week
I love this post of 10 Sensational Stick Activities from An Idea on Tuesday. This is a great follow-up activity after a day in the garden with the kids. It is great for fine motor development and tactile sensory input.
It’s your turn to show us your Hands-on Play ideas.
Pom Pom Races from P is for Preschooler
Dr. Seus Activities from Little Bins for Little Hands
5 St. Patrick’s Day Themed Activities from Making Time For Mommy
Please share your great ideas with us!
What is your Favorite Hands-on Activity? Be sure to link up below or comment on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram . Don’t miss a thing, subscribe by email . (I only send one email a week)
Dirt: the ultimate natural sensory experience! My grandmother was always the one to take care of gardening, but this year I guess me and my daughter will be taking over. She’ll be happy with any reason to get digging in the dirt! 🙂
Dirt is pretty amazing. Once it turns spring here, you can find me it in all spring and summer long. My hands may even turn a different color 🙂
Thanks so much for featuring my stick activities. Love your blog.
You are very welcome! I really enjoyed it, I hope you come back to link up more and connect on facebook 🙂
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We love to garden with our children. If children are not getting dirty outside, then they have not learned enough! Thanks for sharing!!
We love being outside too! So glad you liked it!
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Fab post! Scheduling for sharing next week.
Thank you so much!
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GREAT post! We love getting outside and playing in the dirt. We’re excited to get started on our garden this year! Thanks for linking up to the All Things Kids Spring sensory link up. I’m off to pin!
xoxo~ Colleen
GREAT post! We’re excited to get started on our garden this year. Thanks for linking up at the All Things Kids Sensory activities link up! Pinning 🙂
xoxo~ Colleen
Thank you So much!
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Great Post! We are so ready to get out and get GARDENING again!! Pinned:-)
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