foam dough {12 months of sensory dough}

Foam dough is so fun, so easy, and so messy.  My son was beyond thrilled when I started taping a Tt onto the kitchen floor.  “What are we going to do?!”  (It is Tt week around here…)  “Well, T is for Truck, so we’ll bring the trucks out and drive them on the T!”  I got out a big bowl and filled it with some very fun (non-edible, so this was during baby’s naptime!!) ingredients.

Sensory play can enhance literacy and language skills!

Speaking: I ask him what he likes about it, what he feels, what he thinks.  When I hear his responses, I can repeat and expand what he says by using more complex speech.  “It’s goo-ey!” “Yes, it feels goo-ey in your hands.”  This shows him sentence structures and teaches a broader vocabulary.  You could add more to the conversation, “What color is it? Where are you driving your truck?”

Listening: Listening to what they have to say about the experience.  This may be inaudible in younger children.  Sensory play may bring out new sounds or words in their vocabulary — words and noises that come with the play time!  Encourage this language building time by sitting down and simply hearing them.

Viewing: Let your child play without interference.  You can be there without jumping in.  Allow them to experience the senses they are experiencing around them.  (Of course, always use caution when choosing materials that are age-appropriate and ability-appropriate for your child.  If they are still “mouthing,” don’t give them inedible sensory items!)

Reading: Set them up for literacy learning with various tools.

• Here, I wrote the letter on the floor and provided and object that corresponds with the sound of that letter.
• You could also put out some small plastic letters, uppercase or lowercase letters — whichever your child is successful with {See my Early Literacy Stages for an idea on where to start.}. Or you could use both upper and lower of 1 to 5 letters to help them match in the dough.

Writing: The child could write with a finger or tool  using the sensory play.  For traditional play doughs, this could involve creating letters (or words) with “snakes” or words as well as stamping with various materials.

He got to stirring and knew just what to do — make a goopy mess on the T, drive the construction trucks (these are his favorite!) on the T, and just have fun!He loved mixing the foam dough, as well as feeling it with his hands.Foam dough is made of two simple ingredients — one 16oz box of corn starch and one can of shaving cream.  It can be made into fluffy balls if you have the right consistency.  BUT there is no right or wrong.  I tend to like a little more shaving cream so it is not powder-y, but foam-y instead :) This feels so good in little ones’ hands. The trucks were very busy, “moving all this mess.” Driving on the little t.  

When I told him it was time to clean up (his sister was waking up), I thought he would not be happy and it might be a battle.  But he surprised me and had just as much fun using the broom and dust pan as playing with the dough!  When children have the tools to work on their own, to do it themselves, they will have a sense of pride in their independence and be eager to do housework!  I was so excited that our sensory play extended itself into practical life work.  He literally cleaned all of the dough off the floor.  Afterwards, he got to mop the floor too!  He was so proud of himself.

This post is a part of the Best of the Best Sensory Doughs: 12 Months of Sensory Dough!  Every month, on the 12th of the month, we will be sharing a post on a different sensory dough.  

Here are the wonderful co-hosts:

Lemon Lime Adventures, Delightful Learning, Glittering Muffins, I Heart Crafty Things, Little Bins for Little Hands, Look! We’re Learning!, Natural Beach Living , Powerful Mothering, Still Playing School, The Eyes of a Boy

Do you have a post on Foam Dough that you’d like to share? Please link below!  Please read the following guidelines before linking up:

• Share family-friendly posts related to the month’s theme. Feel free to link old or new posts that highlight your favorite recipes for sensory dough. Failures and unsuccessful attempts are welcome.

• We ask that no posts are linked with copy/paste recipes from other sources. If you use a recipe from another source, please link back to the original recipe.

• By linking up, you give permission to share your post and one photograph in future posts and through social media channels.

• The linky will remain open for two weeks. On the 12th of each month, all co-hosts will post a new dough with their spin, highlighting at least one post from the month before and pin each post to the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Board.