Sensory dough, often known as playdough, is a versatile and engaging material that offers a wide range of benefits for children's development. Its popularity among parents, educators, and therapists stems from its unique ability to stimulate multiple senses simultaneously.
Sensory dough provides a tactile experience that encourages hands-on exploration. This tactile engagement promotes fine motor skills, helping children strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers. Kneading, squeezing, rolling, and shaping the dough all contribute to improved dexterity and coordination.

Here's an idea for a sensory dough autumn treasure hunt activity:

Materials needed:

1. Sensory dough - get it here.
2. Autumn-themed items like acorns,conkers, pumpkin seeds, pine cones, etc.
3. Blindfolds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Using the sensory dough in different colors, hide small autumn-themed items inside a ball of dough. Make sure to embed the items well so that they are not visible from the outside.

2. Set up a designated play area, either indoors or outdoors, where children can explore and search for the hidden treasures.

3. Explain the rules of the game to the children. You can choose to blindfold them or not, depending on the age and preference of the participants. The blindfold can add an extra challenge to the activity.

4. Takes turns selecting a ball of sensory dough and explore it, feeling for hidden treasures within. Encourage them to describe the textures and shapes they encounter.

5. Once they discovers an item hidden in their sensory dough, talk to them describing the items and discuss why it's related to autumn.

6. Repeat the activity until all the treasures have been found.

7. As an extension, you can encourage creative play by letting the children use the sensory dough and found treasures to build autumn-themed sculptures or scenes.

This activity combines sensory exploration, tactile play, and a fun treasure hunt, making it an engaging and educational autumn-themed activity for children.

Make sure to share your photos of this activity with us by tagging us on Instagram @second.snuggle