The Best Ways for Exploring Senses in Nature
Isn’t nature amazing! Seriously just getting outside automatically makes you feel better. If it’s raining you can touch it, dance in it, jump in puddles. If it’s sunny you can have a picnic, read outdoors, take walks, and play. So honestly exploring senses in nature is a totally natural thing.
Today I’m going to share a few easy ways for you and your children to enjoy natural materials while focusing on your senses. These activities are also really wonderful if you have children with special needs too.
Exploring Senses in Nature with Montessori Sensory Activities
A DIY Mystery Bag is a wonderful activity and the perfect thing for children to use their tactile sense. You really can fill a bag up using anything that has different textures. For our sensory experience we like to use a variety of natural materials.
Touch (Tactile) means: to come in contact or feel something.
Notice how Bells has her eyes closed in the picture above… it is an added bonus if your child will wear a blindfold or close their eyes while feeling around for something in the bag. We like to close our eyes and then get a surprise.
Your child can spend time touching and looking at the item. They might tell you it’s smooth or bumpy, sharp or soft, blue or green. You can ask questions about what they are feeling. This is not only a way to use your sense of touch but also great for language development.
Nature Sensory Activities
At the end you have an amazing nature tray to enjoy
Mystery bags can be changed up all of the time. You can do this activity every season with different materials or switch it up with your themed learning.
A few ideas for natural materials to explore:
Shells, Sea Glass, Rocks, Coral, Sticks, Seeds, Flowers
Acorns, Pine Cones, Mini Pumpkins, Leaves, Tree Bark
Whether you are a nature loving, crunchy, tree hugging family like us or not 😉 your children will benefit from being in nature.
Smell the flowers, feel the wind, listen to the waves, dance like the butterfly floating by. It’s magical
Sensory Activities
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