I am always on the hunt for great sensory activities and today the herbs from our garden and the awesome toys my husband makes provided a great one.
My hubby made these toys lovingly with his own hands and the kids play with them all the time. They fit perfectly in their hands and Belle and Bean use them to play everything from cooking to putting on pretend make-up (Belle sometimes mixes up the use of the mortar and Pestle.) On other occasions they have used the mortar and pestle to grind up cereal.
Beanie and Belle love to sample the herbs from the garden. The fact that it is grown in our back yard is a huge novelty to them. We don't last long in the back yard before one or both of them have a mouthful of thyme, oregano, or basil. Picking the herbs is a sensory experience in itself but today we expanded on that idea and brought the herbs inside.
As they played, slicing and grinding the herbs, it released the oils and filled the kitchen with a wonderful aroma. Four of their five senses were engaged as they smelled, tasted, touched, the herbs. We even brought in a cognitive component as they were reminded what the herbs are called and what plants need to grow. The kids had a blast with this. You can use any kid friendly kitchen tools (e.g. rolling pins or a garlic press) but if you are looking for toys that will really enhance the experience then feel free to check out Robin's Etsy shop Fiddlehead Toys.
If you don't have access to a garden, fresh herbs can be bought at most grocery stores in the produce section. Thanks for reading and I hope you and your kiddos have your own SCENTsational experience.
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