12 Creative Sensory Play Scenarios Inspired by Nature, to Awe and Captivate
In a delightful fusion of art and nature, a new sensory playground has recently opened in our local park, offering children an immersive and educational experience that connects them with the great outdoors.
The playground, designed with a focus on sensory exploration, features a variety of interactive stations that engage children's senses and promote cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
One of the highlights is the snow painting station, where children can create beautiful masterpieces using natural dyes from berries and spices. Nearby, guided sensory walks through the park's herb garden have been designed, complete with specific touch points to stimulate the sense of touch.
The playground also includes a Nature's building blocks collection, filled with river stones, pinecones, bark pieces, seed pods, and driftwood in different sizes, providing endless possibilities for creative construction.
Ice sculpture gardens, made by freezing natural items like pinecones, leaves, and berries in water moulds, add a touch of winter magic. Herb-rubbing stations, where children can safely touch and release plant aromatics, also feature prominently.
To maximise accessibility, plants are positioned at different heights using garden boxes, tiered containers, and vertical planters. Natural sorting bowls made from coconut shells are included to help children categorise their findings.
Exploration tools like wooden scoops, nature identification cards, and child-safe measuring sticks have been added to enhance the forest-themed play experience. Washable fabric canopies have been added to extend playtime during light rain and provide natural mud pit boundaries using fallen logs or stone circles.
Sensory interest is created by incorporating dried mushrooms, smooth pebbles, and bits of tree bark. Scented elements like pine sprigs or cedar chips are added to engage the sense of smell.
A natural pigment station is set up, allowing children to mix their own paints using materials like turmeric roots, beet juice, and spinach leaves. Natural paintbrushes made from pine needles and feathers are kept in bamboo holders for creative exploration.
A mud kitchen zone has been created, complete with natural mixing tools like wooden spoons, bamboo scoops, and rock grinding stones. A discovery box mimics forest ground cover with soft fallen leaves, pine needles, and small branches.
The playground also encourages open-ended exploration and creative problem-solving through movable natural materials, known as natural loose parts play. Discovery baskets are set up with harvested herbs for close examination and scent identification games.
Blindfolded exploration exercises using different textured leaves and stems are also available, adding an extra layer of sensory engagement. Each natural pigment source is labelled with wooden markers for easy identification.
A sensory bin transforms into a forest floor treasure trove with varying sizes of pine cones, acorns, and seed pods. The playground also includes snow measurement tools like wooden rulers and collection jars for tracking accumulation.
Rain collection stations, using large leaves, bamboo gutters, and clear containers, are set up to observe water flow patterns. Snow investigation areas with magnifying glasses for crystal observation and dark fabric squares for catching snowflakes are also available.
Nature-based sensory play offers significant benefits across cognitive, physical, and emotional development in children. The playground's comprehensive features contribute to well-rounded child development by integrating sensory input, physical activity, cognitive challenges, and emotional support through natural environments.
Sources: 1. Louv, R. (2008). Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books. 2. Kuo, F. E., & Taylor, A. F. (2004). A potential natural treatment for attention deficits: Evidence from a national study. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(10), 2893-2900. 3. Welles, R. M., & Evans, G. W. (2006). The role of nature in human cognition and affect: A review of research and its implications for human-environment interaction. Landscape and Urban Planning, 77(3), 179-195. 4. White, P. (2012). The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age. Algonquin Books. 5. Smith, P. K., & Thear, J. (2000). The effects of outdoor learning on children's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Early Child Development and Care, 158(4), 375-386.
- The new playground, in addition to its nature-based activities, also includes a section dedicated to fostering creativity in children, with a natural pigment station where children can mix their own paints using materials like turmeric roots, beet juice, and spinach leaves.
- To encourage learning and exploration in the realm of fashion-and-beauty, herb-rubbing stations have been set up, where children can safely touch and release plant aromatics, stimulating their sense of smell and connecting them to the natural world.
- Furthermore, the playground offers educational opportunities in the realm of food-and-drink, with a mud kitchen zone complete with natural mixing tools and a discovery box mimicking forest ground cover, providing an interactive way for children to learn about various materials found in nature.
