Sensory science experiences are excellent ways for young children to develop their critical thinking skills because they already have the most important tools – their five senses. Young children are very curious, and sensory science experiences bring new opportunities to explore in unique ways. Adults should encourage young children to investigate with their senses which are the primary factors in helping to lead them toward their full potential. Creative children tend to exude a joyful approach to living while developing problem-solving skills that will help them cope with the world around them.

Infants: (Touch) Ice Cube Waterplay – In this sensory experience infants play in a shallow pan half filled with lukewarm water to which a dozen ice cubes have been added. While the infants play in the water, the ice cube will start to melt and then disappear. As they are playing in the water, talk about the ice cube melting. When the cubes are completely gone ask them “What happened to the ice cubes?” This can also be done in the wintertime with snowballs.

Toddlers: (Hear/Smell) Fragrant Paints – With this sensory experience, flavor extracts are added to paints. Lemon to yellow, mint to green, vanilla to brown, licorice to black and cherry or strawberry to red. Have two toddlers paint with different colors together. When the children paint, the extracts release their fragrances. This is an exciting way of to enhance the knowledge of colors. Another activity that can extend their senses of both smell and hearing is to put dry spices (nutmegs, cloves, and dried ginger) into a container like a film canisters and having the children shake them to make different sounds.

Preschoolers: (Sight/Taste) Comparing Hard & Soft – These sensory experiences involves comparing things in different ways. Some examples might be making and eating oranges and orange juice, apples and applesauce (place 4 peeled, cored and cut into chunks apples into a blender with 2 tablespoons of apple juice and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon), avocado and guacamole (1 ripe avocado peeled, pitted and mashed with a fork. Add a pinch each of onion and garlic powder, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of store-bought salsa. Mix well and leave the avocado pit in the mixture to keep it from turning brown until you are ready to serve it with tacos chips.), bananas and banana milkshake (1banana, 1cup milk, or yogurt, or ice cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1/2 cup of crushed ice cubes. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve very cold.) The fun in these sensory experiences is not only being able to compare the hard and soft aspects of these science processes but in eating them too!

The Wonder of it All: Sensory science experiences provide real satisfaction and builds self-esteem in young children, by mastering simple and eventually more complex tasks. This helps young children to see themselves as capable individuals and able to develop confidence in their new skills. These skills are not only intended to develop creative thinking, but to also allow them to see the changes taking place thru their senses, and enjoy the wonder of it all.

No one can be wise on an empty stomach.