Posted on

CHRISTMAS SENSORY FUN & FINDS

INFLATABLE SANTA SWITCH FUN

This outdoor inflatable Santa light makes a brilliant Christmas cause-and-effect activity for switch users. Press a switch to watch the Santa Claus light up and slowly inflate. Press the switch again to turn the light off, and watch him deflate for lots of festive fun in a low-lit classroom or sensory room.

WHAT YOU NEED

A Switch Interface (that allows users to control electric devices)

A Switch

An Outdoor Inflatable Santa Claus Christmas Light

You can purchase the inflatable Santa featured in this video from Amazon for £15.99. Other inflatable lights include a Reindeer, Christmas Tree, Snowman and Gnome (prices vary). Click the link below to view the different outdoor Christmas lights on Amazon.

OUTDOOR INFLATABLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AMAZON

FESTIVE POT & PAN SCOURERS

A fabulous festive find in B&M, these pan scourers are only £1.00 for three and are available in three different sponge designs: Christmas Tree, Snowmen, and Stars. They are chunky, so great for griping, and super spongy with a soft and rough face, which makes them great tactile sponges for Christmas art activities printing with paint.

GROW YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE

This idea from the STEM KIDS website is a fabulous activity, which is another excellent way to use the above festive Christmas Tree sponges with your learners.

Explore the shape of the Christmas-shaped sponge with your learners, then place the sponge in a shallow tray.

Next, you will need grass seeds. Explore the scent of freshly picked grass with your learners, and listen to the sound of the grass seeds as they shake around in the packet.

Assist/encourage your learner to shake the seeds over the top of the sponge.

Next, have fun with a water spray bottle; spray it over and above your learners so they can feel the water droplets fall over their skin; water is what the seeds need to grow.

Assist/encourage your learner to use a water spray bottle to spray the seeds with water, then place their sponge Christmas Tree in a window in the classroom or at home so they can water it daily and watch it grow into their own Christmas Tree.

GLOW IN THE DARK SNOW

Add a little magic to Instant Snow to make it glow in the dark under a UV light for Winter sensory in a sensory room.

To make your snow glow, mix the required amount of instant snow with water, then add a good dash of UV-reactive neon powder to your snow and mix in.

You can buy UV-reactive neon powder from Amazon in lots of different colours. Click on the link below to view the powder on Amazon.

UV REACTIVE POWDER AMAZON

Posted on

AUTUMN SENSORY FINDS

CAUSE & EFFECT SENSORY SOUND BOX

Wind Maker is a Sensory Sound Box App theme perfect for Autumn. When you tap the screen, vibrant Autumn leaves materialise, accompanied by the sound of strong winds. Removing your finger makes both the leaves and sounds vanish. This app is fantastic for enhancing a sensory story where the sound of wind is needed, providing an excellent chance for your learners to actively engage in creating wind sounds independently.

Available on Apple & Andriod Devices from the App & Google Play Store.

PEPI TREE

Tree House is a fun, interactive App where learners can explore forest animals and their habits. Learners will meet cute characters like a worm, owl, spider, singing squirrels, hedgehog, and mole while playing games at different levels in the tree house to learn about their food, shelter, and bedtime.

Available on Apple & Andriod Devices from the App & Google Play Store

CALMING SENSORY AUTUMN LEAVES

Calming Sensory Autumn Leaves is a beautiful and soothing video available on YouTube. It is ideal for projecting on a sensory room wall to create an Autumn atmosphere.

B & M BARGAIN FINDS

These adorable mushroom lights are an excellent addition to any sensory light collection. They help create a cosy Autumn woodland or a magical Enchanted Forest atmosphere, ideal for use in sensory or dark rooms.

They are available in B & M now for just £2.99 each.

SQUEAKY HEDGEHOG PET TOYS

I discovered these cute Hedgehog toys in the pet aisle at B&M for £2.99.

They would make excellent props for an Autumn sensory story that features a prickly Hedgehog character.

PUMPKIN LED LANTERN

This LED Pumpkin light is another fantastic B&M find. It is a perfect addition to an Autumn sensory light collection. It can be reused year after year and serves as an excellent substitute for a traditional pumpkin lantern.


When lit, they create a stunning effect in the dark, making them ideal for sensory or dimly lit rooms as part of a Halloween theme.

Available in B&M for £4.00

SQUEAKY MOUSE PET TOY

Are you looking for a mouse prop for a sensory story? I found this little fella in the pet aisle at B&M for £1.99. He comes complete with sound effects.

SUNNY AUTUMN DAY

There’s nothing like going outside to appreciate the magic of the Autumn season. If you want to capture the magic indoors, this video is ideal for creating an immersive sensory experience in a sensory or dark room. Projected onto a wall, this Autumn Day window view video on YouTube would make a perfect backdrop for an Autumn relaxation session or sensory story experience.

Posted on

summer & ocean sensory finds

PEEK A BOO ZOO APP

Peek-A-Boo Zoo is a lovely, simple, interactive app for learning about different Ocean Animals.
Touch the screen makes a series of Ocean Animals appear along with fun sounds.
Available on the App Store

OWLIEBOO GAMES

Owlieboo games are available for FREE online and are switch accessible.
You can also download the Owlieboo App onto an iPhone and iPad to play by touching the screen.
There are many simple cause-and-effect games to choose from. This one is Marine, and there is also a Dolphin one.

https://www.owlieboo.com

CATIT GROOVY FISH – Motion Activated Dancing Fish

This Groovy Fish is a Cat toy but makes a fabulous, fun resource for a Seaside or Ocean theme. It has a sensitive motion sensor, so when touched, it flaps it’s tail, just like a real fish swimming through the sea.


Available from Amazon

OCEAN WAVES PROJECTOR LIGHT

This super cool light projects different-coloured light around the room. When set to blue, it looks like Ocean waves. This amazing sensory light is excellent for helping to create an immersive underwater environment

Available from Amazon

PIRATE TREASURE

Create a Pirate Treasure Trove for your learners to explore using old shiny jewellery, bangles, necklaces, beads, and plastic gold coins. Build anticipation by leaving the box slightly open, then slowly open the box to reveal the WOW factor and the one treasure all the Pirates are searching for: ‘The Ocean Pearl’

Clam Shell light available from Amazon

ALDI – COLOURED PASTA SHELLS

These lovely coloured Pasta shells are a brilliant sensory resource for a Seaside theme. They look like Seashells, are wonderfully tactile, and make super sounds when explored with hands. You can pick them up in Aldi for under £2.00.

BELLY DANCING SILK FAN

This white and blue silk Belly Dancing Fan is a brilliant sensory story prop for a Seaside or Ocean-themed story. If you hold it by the handle and wave it up and down, you can create Ocean waves and a gentle Ocean breeze.

Available from Amazon

FISH & CHIPS SENSORY PROP

Splash salt and vinegar onto a sheet of newspaper, then let the newspaper dry. Heat a wheat bag, then wrap the warm wheat bag in newspaper. The warmth of the wheat bag will release the scent of salt and vinegar from the paper, and when held in hands, it will feel and smell like a warm bag of fish and chips brought at the Seaside. For a taste sensation, Salt & Vinegar Chipsticks are an excellent alternative to real chips for your learners to taste and enjoy.


Posted on

WEATHER & SPRING LEARNING RESOURCES

SENSORY SOUND YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Weather In Your Hands is a wonderful signed song by Sensory Sound, with amazing sensory ideas on how to make the words in the song come alive for your special learners.

SOMETHING SPECIAL – WEATHER

Who doesn’t love Mr. Tumble? It’s a fabulously fun Makaton-signed children’s programme that the special learners I worked with at school loved.

A great way to learn about the weather and teach new Makatons signs.

SOMETHING SPECIAL WEATHER

SENSORY SOUND YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Rainbow Raindrops is another super fun song by Sensory Soud; sign and sing the different colours of the Rainbow and explore the colours squashing and squeezing giant cloured water beads.

KIRA FLOW APP – RAINBOW PARTICLES

A lovely cause-and-effect App with a Rainbow theme. Touch, tap the screen or use your fingers or hands to make swirling patterns in the bright Rainbow coloured particles.

Available for free on the App Store, but 99p to buy the Rainbow Particles theme

SENSORY LIGHT BOX – SENSORY CAUSE AND EFFECT

Sensory Light Box and Sensory Sound Box are two of my favourite apps and were huge favourites of the learners I worked with.

Downpour is a theme within the App; touching the screen creates a downpour of rain in different colours with rain sounds.

Depending on how quickly you move your finger down the screen, you can make the rain fall slowly or fast with heavy or light rain sound effects.

SENSORY SOUND BOX – SENSORY CAUSE AND EFFECT

Brollies is a theme within the Sensory Sound Box App; touch, tap, and move your fingers on and over the screen to make many colured umbrellas appear along with rain, wind and bird sounds.

Two fab apps for complementing a Spring Weather theme.

Posted on

FLO LONGHORN SENSORY BOOKS

Flo Longhorn’s Sensory Books are amazing and were the best resources I discovered early in my career as a teaching professional; they are full of fun, creative and inspiring sensory learning ideas and knowledge, so if you haven’t downloaded them yet, you must.

Flo Longhorn’s books are free to download on her new website, which you can find by following the link below.

https://sites.google.com/…/flolonghornsensorybooks…/home

Posted on

A Little Bit Of Magic

Witches Cabin Ambience – Bubbling Cauldron, Crackling Fire & Magical Potions YouTube Video

This magical video of a witch’s cabin looks fantastic, projected onto a Sensory Room wall, helping to create a magical immersive environment. Perfect for a Magic, Witches & Wizards or Halloween theme.

Relaxing Potion Brewing Ambience YouTube Video

Another magical YouTube video that would make a perfect backdrop in a Sensory Room as part of a Magic, Witches & Wizards or Halloween Theme.

Neon Food Colouring

Make biscuits with your learners in your sensory room, themed as a Witch’s kitchen.

Then, create little potions by mixing neon food colourings with icing sugar and water to decorate your biscuits. The colours pop and look truly magical under a UV light.

MAGIC FLUIDS APP

A fantastic cause & effect app to compliment a magic theme. Touch the screen to make swirling magical colours appear as if stirring a magic cauldron or waving a wand to cast a spell.

Posted on

How to Make Fluorescent Playdough

Fluorescent playdough is a visually brilliant material for sensory play in a sensory room or dark room under UV light, and it is super simple to make.

RECIPE

2 cups of flour

1 cup of salt

2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

2 tablespoons of cooking oil

Up to 1.5 cups of boiling water

Fluorescent Paint

METHOD

Add 2 cups of flour to a bowl.

Add 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to the flour.

Squeeze a good amount of fluorescent paint into the mixture.

Mix all the ingredients.

Slowly add small amounts of boiling water to the dry ingredients stirring them together until it forms a dough.

Take the dough out and knead it with your hands. You will see the colour of your dough begin to come through as you knead it.

If your dough is too sticky, add more flour; if it is too dry, add more water.

Leave your dough to cool down.

Once cool, store it in an airtight container until ready to use.

You will need a UV light and a dark room to see the full effects of your fluorescent playdough.

Amazon has a huge selection of UV lighting to suit all budgets.

Posted on

How To Make A Fluorescent Sensory Bead Rail

WHAT YOU NEED

A free-standing clothes rail

A selection of neon beads – You can buy these from Amazon. Click on the link below.

NEON BEADS AMAZON

Pearl white beads – These glow well under UV light. You can buy them from Amazon by the metre. Click on the link below.

PEARL WHITE BEADS AMAZON

Sharp scissors

Tie Wraps

UV Light

Sensory/dark room

HOW TO MAKE

Make your necklaces into long strands by cutting them once.

Cut your pearl white beads to match the length of your neon beads.

Secure the beads to the top of the rail with a tie wrap. Alternating each colour.

Cut off the end of the tie wraps with a pair of scissors. Make sure there are no sharp bits of plastic left sticking out.

Switch on your UV light!

Posted on

Free Printable Tools For Sensory & Neurodiverse

Thank you to Wendy @ Disabilityhelper.info, who came across the Sensory Soup website and forwarded me a few detailed resources she felt may be valuable to share via the site with persons and parents who may be struggling to deal with sensory issues or to meet sensory needs.

NHS SENSORY PROCESSING HUB

http://www.sensoryprocessinghub.humber.nhs.uk

Here can find a range of resources to view or download on the following topics.

Advice for Smearing

Auditory Processing and Memory Games

Auditory Sensitivity Advice

Bathing and Showering Advice

Bedtime & Sleep

Body awareness and Bottom wiping

Chewing

Dressing

General Mealtimes Principles

Hair Cutting

Interoception Strategies & Resources

Masking

Nail Cutting

Proprioceptive Activities

Sensory Opportunities at the Play Park

Sensory Processing Routine and Predictability

Sensory Therapy Putty Activities

Therapy Ball Measurements

Tooth Brushing

Vestibular Resources

WAYS TO DEAL WITH COMMON SENSORY ISSUES

Helpful Ways to Deal with Sensory Problems- Plus a Free Download

SENSORY ROOM IDEAS

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT SENSORY ROOM FOR YOUR CHILD

https://www.angi.com/articles/sensory-room-ideas.htm

Posted on

Apps & Resources For Space Theme

DRAW WITH STARS

Draw With Stars is a super simple cause & effect app with twinkling sound effects. Touch the screen to make individual stars appear. Touch and hold the screen to make a trail of stars appear. You can change the size and colour of the stars too.

Available from the App Store

ROCKETS & PLANETS FOR BABIES

Rockets & Planets for babies is a fab app for a Space theme. Choose from five different with different rockets.

Tap on the screen to choose your planet, assemble your rocket by moving the top onto the bottom, and watch your rocket launch.

SAGO MINI SPACE EXPLORER

Use your finger to move Harvey, the space explorer, through space. Play among the planets and the stars and discover lots of surprises. Fly around in a flying saucer and make friends with Aliens.

CAUSE & EFFECT SENSORY LIGHTBOX

This is a must-have cause & effect app, and there are many different themes to choose from that are perfect for a Space theme.

INVADERS is perfect for a Space theme. Touch the screen to make Aliens appear with SC-Fi sound effects.

PLASMA – Plasma is another theme choice in the Cause & Effect Sensory Lightbox App. Touch the screen to make cosmic lights appear with celestial deep space sounds.

NEBULA – Touch & hold your finger down on the screen to create sound and make light patterns that look like a shooting star or comet moving through space.

SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT YOUTUBE VIDEO BY THE SENSORY ROOM

Watch stars twinkle and see shooting stars fall through the night sky with this great video by the Sensory Room on YouTube. This video would be perfect for creating an immersive nighttime environment in a sensory room when projected onto a wall. Play with or without the sounds.

SENSORY LIGHTS YOUTUBE VIDEO BY THE SENSORY ROOM

This video looks like a colourful meteor shower which would look amazing projected onto a wall, white tent or a sheet to create a colourful space theme in a sensory or dark room.

SENSORY SPACE YOUTUBE VIDEO BY BLUE FOX

Take a sensory trip through space with this visually stimulating YouTube video from Blue Fox.

SINGING HANDS – A SKY FULL OF STARS

Learn to sign A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay with the fabulous Singing Hands. In this video, they suggest turning the lights down low and joining in with light-up stars, batons and torches.