Welcome back for another day of simple sensory play with Ice! So far we have shared a tactile ice bin and vestibular ice toss. Today we will share olfactory (scented) play ideas you can try today! Sensory play is such an important part of early childhood. Not only can it be vital in speech, language, and cognitive development, it also plays a key role in helping children organize their world and allows them to integrate the input to develop a healthy sensory system. That is why I am excited to part of the Sensory Play Blog Hop, hosted by my new favorite blog, Sensory Activities for Kids. My goal is to bring you simple sensory play by using the same material throughout the whole series. One material for 7 activities engaging 7 sensory systems.
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Sensory System:
Olfactory (Smell)
Benefits of Olfactory Sensory Play:
The olfactory system is responsible for a child’s sense of smell. Did you know that our nose receives olfactory input (smells) and sends the message directly to the most primal part of the brain? It is responsible for moods, feelings, and emotions.
Olfactory play can provide opportunities for a child to explore scents that are either alerting or calming to their nervous system. Many children have specific aversions to certain scents and this simple sensory play can help them build their tolerance to a variety of input they are susceptible to in their environment. Scented therapy can be beneficial in calming a child during a sensory overload or alerting them when they are seeming low tone or need of arousal. Olfactory sensory play restores emotional balance as it soothes, relaxes and increases concentration.
Materials Needed for this Simple Sensory Play
Ice
Bowls
Variety of Spices (we used dry and liquid)
* Lemon Juice, Vanilla, Vinegar
* Cinnamon, Salt, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper
Optional Materials
Syringes
Scoops
Instructions for this Simple Olfactory Sensory Play
Setup for this play idea is simple and easy. In small bowls prepare a variety of spices and scented liquids. We got ours at the dollar store because spices can get very expensive. Place a large bowl of ice in the middle of the table.
This simple sensory play is perfect for a HOT summer day and is a great Summer Science Experiment!
At first, I had the boys test each piece of ice separately to really discover what each spice did to a piece of ice. Not only did they smell, they observed the changes, the reactions and compared the variations in the experiments.
We reviewed how to “waft” since some of the scents were very strong. I like to teach them how to correctly carry out science activities.
They noticed some really cool things! Did you know that cinnamon and cayenne pepper will stick to ice and coat it. It also takes the longest to melt. It was also fun to see how the boys used both their tactile senses as well as their olfactory sense.
We have experimented with ice and salt before, but doing this experiment with more than one spice really expanded the boys’ vocabulary and their understanding of the way liquids and solids react with each other.
Next, the boys couldn’t wait to do the experiment with ALL of the materials together. This was when they got completely engrossed in the sensory play with all of their senses, especially their olfactory sense.
They squeezed and sprinkled, mixed and experimented. They were occupied and entertained for over an hour with this sensory play! What an awesome summer boredom buster!
As I have mentioned before, you will need to monitor your child to determine what scent is arousing or calming. All children are different and react to different sensory input differently. For Legoman, he could not stop smelling the Vanilla (calming) yet Bones LOVED the Lemon Juice (alerting).
In the end, it turned out to look more like an art project than anything else. Both boys were so proud of their scented art that they demanded that I take a picture before the ice melted!
Did you know sensory play could be so easy and so beneficial? It doesn’t have to take expensive materials and complex plans to make it work.
Click more to read other posts from our Simple Sensory Play | Ice Series! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more icy sensory play.
More Resources for Olfactory Sensory Play
Sensory Diet Activities | Sensory Smarts
Olfactory Dysfunction | Child Behavior Guide
Bedtime Sensory Tub | Nurturestore
Follow Dayna :: Lemon Lime Adventures’s board Sensory Play on Pinterest.
Today more than 5 other bloggers are sharing their ideas for vestibular sensory play that you won’t want to miss! Be sure to hop over to Sensory Activities for Kids to read all about them.
Scented Lemon Rice | Smelling Bottles | 15 SCENT-sational Sensory Activities | Scented Chalk Paint | Orange Ginger Playdough
What is your favorite tactile sensory play idea? I would love to hear! Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribe by email. I can’t wait to hear your ideas.
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