Amee Carrick, mother, Early Educator and creator of TigerTime gives Kooshy Kids her top recommendations for DIY sensory activities to prepare for travelling with your toddler/s. 

Amee with sons Ned and Ollie

What is TigerTime?

An Instagram account and recently launched website, dedicated to inspiring parents to get creative with sensory play! Providing endless, non-screen based, options for play and learning.

Why do you think sensory play is so important for the development of little people?

Sensory play is important for the development of little people, as it is crucial for brain development and encourages sensory interaction (our five senses). It also allows the child to be the facilitator, which enables them to play, explore, create, discover and investigate using practical life skills.

Children need real-life opportunities to understand face-to-face interactions with adults and other children. Playing with different types of textures, tastes and objects, helps your child to build new ways of talking about the world.

What are your top 4 DIY sensory activities to make in preparation for the travelling toddler?

1. DIY Gruffalo Puzzle

You'll need:

• Icy Pole Sticks
• Print outs of your child's fave storybook
• Glue
• Stanley knife/scissors
• Snap lock bag

Steps:

• Print off your characters
• Place all icy pole sticks tightly together (as pictured)
• Glue your characters to the icy pole sticks
• Using a Stanley knife or scissors carefully cut the gaps between each stick
• Jumble them up
• Store in a snap lock bag ready for the journey! 

2. I Spy Sensory Bottles

You'll need:

• A large plastic water bottle
• Rice
• Food colouring 
• Small plastic toys that they love

Steps:

• Colour some uncooked rice
• Put the rice and toys in the bottle
• Play I spy or use as a sensory shaker

3. Duplo/Lego Printables

You'll need:

• Free printables from Play Dough to Plato
• Colour printer
• Laminator
• Duplo or lego
• Snap lock bag

Steps:

• Print and laminate the printables (click here for the direct link)
• Put matching lego/dupplo to the printables in a snap lock bag 

4. Velcro Sticks

You'll need:

• Coloured icy pole sticks
• Velcro dots
• Scissors
• Snap lock bag

Steps:

• Cut velcro dots into half moons
• Stick on both ends of the icy pole sticks
• Store in snap lock bag

These are such wonderful activities to take on your next trip....or even just when you are out and about. It is definitely worth checking out the TigerTime Instagram page and their new website. Amee has some amazing ideas to keep your toddlers entertained and to help build their fine motor skills. 

Click on the links below to check them out!