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Freeze Dance
Music on, dance. Music off, freeze. That is the whole game.
🦶
Barefoot Texture Walk
Grass, then paving, then a towel. Shoes off, eyes closed.
A short sensory activity for the garden that is unexpectedly calming for an overwhelmed toddler.
What you need
- towels
- a tray of grass or leaves
- a tray of sand or soil
How to do it
- Lay out three or four different surfaces in a line: a towel, grass, smooth paving, a tray of sand.
- Take shoes and socks off.
- Walk slowly along the line and stop on each surface.
- Ask what each one feels like and give them the words: rough, cold, prickly, soft.
- Do it again with eyes closed and guess each surface.
Why this is good for them
Deep sensory input through the feet is regulating for children who are overstimulated, and it works faster than asking them to calm down. Naming the textures also gives them precise descriptive vocabulary they rarely encounter otherwise.
Adapting by age
18 months to 2 yearsTwo surfaces, holding your hand throughout.
6 to 8 yearsBlindfold them and make it a guessing competition.
Keep it safe
Check the ground for glass, thorns and stones first. Avoid on very hot paving.
Cleanup tip
A bowl of warm water by the back door.
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