Tactile crafts, also referred to as sensory art, include any type of physical interaction with art through the sense of touch. It’s often used to teach young kids or the visually impaired more about the world around them. Check out these fall tactile crafts to do with your kids.
September Sensory Tub
Fall is a favorite season for many, as they look forward to apple picking, cider doughnuts, crisp air, and colorful leaves. If you’re looking for a tactile craft or activity to do with your little one that teaches them about the senses and of September joys, try making an autumn-themed sensory tub.
You will need:
- Real and fake acorns and pinecones
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fake leaves in a range of colors
- Broken pieces of raw spaghetti to mimic hay on a farm
- Fake gourds
- Magnet letters that spell out “A-P-P-L-E”
- Farm figures
- Scoop
- Pair of tongs
Have fun going through the tub of items and discussing each one as you touch and see it. This is a teachable moment to tell your child about the fall season and what’s so fun about it. Hopefully this will get them excited about participating in all the fun activities of the upcoming season, from hayrides to picking apples.
Corn on the Cob Painting
Sensory painting activities are the perfect way to incorporate fall sensory fun in the classroom or at home. Pick up some corn on the cob, holders (if you want), paint in a variety of colors, and paper.
The best part about this activity is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Have your kids roll out paint on a large piece of paper using the cob as their paintbrush. Once they have created a colorful poster, you can help them draw their name over the top. Let it dry and hang with pride.
Shaving Cream Table
This one can get messy, but dress your kids in old clothes and let them have at it. They can always take a bath later. Spray little mounds of shaving foam onto a table or large tray, and add liquid watercolors to make pretty colors and swirls. Use giant cotton reels, plastic pipettes, and spoons to play with the foam. Their hands work just as well, and provide that added sensory experience.
Red Apple Slime
Slime is a great chemistry demonstration, and kids can learn while having fun. This fall apple theme slime makes a great afternoon activity to show off the bright colors of the season.
You will need:
- 1/2 cup clear glue
- 1 tbsp. saline solution containing sodium borate and boric acid
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- Food coloring and glitter
Directions:
- Add 1/2 cup of glue to a bowl and mix with 1/2 cup water.
- Add glitter and red food coloring, and stir.
- Add 1/2 tsp. baking soda (this helps to firm up the slime).
- Mix in one tbsp. saline solution, stirring until the slime forms, pulling away easily from the sides.
- Note: Be sure to knead your slime well after mixing to improve its consistency. Squirt a few drops of saline solution on your hands before handling the slime.
Book a Tour of Country Home Learning Center Today
You’ll always see us doing some kind of tactile craft or activity here in the toddler rooms at Country Home Learning Center. Check out a class in action when you book a tour of our facilities in Austin or San Antonio. Contact us today!
