Polar Bears love to play in the snow so since today is International Polar Bear Day, we thought we’d bring the snow right to your cubs. Even if the sun is shining snow play is possible thanks to the following 11 tactile projects. Read on for the ideas!
1. Build-A-Snowman Factory
An assembly line never looked so good. Not only will little hands get a workout while molding snowmen, your kids will get a chance to use their fine-motor skills when they get busy adding all the extra parts. We love this easy (afternoon time-filler!) activity from Buggy and Buddy. Get the scoop over at Buggy and Buddy.
2. Shivery Snow Rice
Icy cold shiver rice with a dash of peppermint flavoring thrown in? Sounds like a chilly good time! Add in a few winter-themed materials and release your explorers. They’ll dig, swish, smell, and move this super easy concoction. It’s another sensational sensory idea from Crystal over at Growing a Jeweled Rose.
3. Two Step Snow
Snow… all you need is water and really cold weather. Or, you could show Mother Nature a thing or two by making a batch at home. Super easy to create and promising great playtime for kids, all you need is water, (clean) diapers and glitter. Want to know more about making this fluffy stuff? Head over to A Little Pinch of Perfect for the details.
4. Snow Window
The tots can craft their own wintry scene with this clever idea from No Time For Flash Cards. Place contact paper sticky side up on your window, then let them use cotton balls and q-tips to craft snowflakes, snowmen and more.
photo: Asia Citro via Fun at Home with Kids
6. Foaming Snow Dough
Build and melt a snowman faster than you can say Olaf. With just a few household items, whip up a batch of foaming dough, courtesy of Fun at Home with Kids. Snow-dough pro Asia Citro explains why it’s important to have waterproof tidbits for snowman parts, and why a squeeze bottle full of vinegar is the easiest way to create massive amounts of foam.
7. Erupting Snow Powder
This easy sensory project (baking soda and shaving cream are the main ingredients) is perfect for your snow queens and abominable snowmen. Chilly and silky, this concoction is great for molding and will stay cold for several hours. Thinking about taking the extra step to make erupting snow? Crystal of Growing a Jeweled Rose suggests having tons of vinegar on hand.
photo: Sarah McClelland via Little Bins for Little Hands
8. Melting Snowman Slime
We love this slime project. Not only is it cool—in more ways than one—to touch and feel, it’s also a blast to make snowmen and watch as they melt into a soft puddle. We’re also betting any tiny Frozen toys your kids have stashed around the house would make an excellent addition to this activity. For a complete run-down on how to make this oozing goo, skedaddle over to Little Bins for Little Hands.
9. Snowy Sensory Bin
What you put in your Arctic Sensory bin depends on how messy you’re willing to let the kids get! Brigette, savvy sensory blogger over at Parent Savvy, uses all kinds of neat-o materials, including salt, shaving cream( the kiddo-preferred version!) , little polar bears and decorative crystals.
10. Snowy Sensory Bags
You never imagined ivory soap and toilet paper could be used anywhere but the bathroom. Well it just so happens this combo also makes an excellent snow-like molding material. The moms over at Sugar Aunts let their kiddos rip up the paper first(major mess alert!) and then created sensory bags by adding glitter and foamy snowflakes. Grab the entire tutorial from the Sugar Aunts.
11. Snow Puffy Paint
It’s white, it’s puffy, it’s paint. Kids will get a kick out of painting with a whip-cream like batch of snow paint. Add in stars, glitter or anything else sparkly for extra winter glitz. Anna of The Imagination Tree shows how this homemade puff paint makes for great sensory exploration. Get the complete list of ingredients by jumping over to The Imagination Tree.
Editor’s Note: We at Red Tricycle encourage learning. That being said, please provide your kiddos with age-appropriate materials and always supervise sensory playtime!
Want to do more for polar bears? Check out Polar Bear International’s tips for helping to save the bears!
What do you do for snow sensory fun? Share with us in the comments!
— Gabby Cullen & Susie Forseman
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