23 Cool Tactile Activities
What are the tactile activities?
Tactile activities are the activities which are designed to promote the touch sensation and for the betterment of perception of tactile sensations. These tactile sensory activities are practiced by the children and toddlers for the improvement of their tactile sensory system. The list of some major tactile sensory activities is:
What is the tactile sensory system?
Tactile sensory system is defined as the system which is responsible for the touch sensation. This tactile sensory system makes us able to feel the texture, degree of hotness and coldness of an object. Moreover the sensations of pain and pressure are also felt by this tactile sensory system.
Play dough activity
These tactile sensory activities encourage the kids to play with the homemade dough. Touching and then playing with these scented play doughs has been one of the most commonly used tactile sensory activities for the improvement of tactile senses.
Finger painting activity
Kids are given the water colours and allowed to paint with their hands. This tactile sensory activity greatly enhances the power of tactile perception. This tactile sensory activity is most commonly used in kindergartens and at homes.
Deep pressure application
Pressure is one of the senses which is also interpreted by the tactile sensory system. This tactile sensory activity encourages the kids to roll the balls against the back or sometimes asked to squeeze their hands. Both of these tactile sensory activities increase the pressure application and the enhancement of working of the tactile sensory system.
Stress ball playing
The use of stress balls is one of the emerging tactile sensory activities. The stress balls are made up of foam which is fluffy and can be compressed. The kids are asked to hold these stress balls between the thumb and index finger and apply stress. This stress application is the tactile sensory activity that promotes the sensitization of the tactile sensory system.
Shaving cream painting activity
This tactile sensory activity is performed to improve the tactile desensitization. In this tactile sensory activity, kids are encouraged to paint or to draw the various shapes using the foam shaving cream. This tactile sensory activity is common in use among the kindergartens for the preschoolers.
Mud playing activity
Build the sensory mud bins or the mud kitchens. Let your children play with these mud toys or simply ask them to dirty their clothes in mud. This tactile sensory activity improves the quality of tactile perception because the skin contact with the mud improves the tactile sensory system working.
Slime playing
Playing with the slime is the activity that improves the tactile as well as the olfactory sensations. This tactile sensory activity allows the kids to play with the slime which has the liquid solid like consistency. Slime can also be made by mixing the cornstarch and water. This tactile sensory activity is the stimulator of the tactile sensory system.
Water beads playing
Design the water beads with the different glitters and gels. Ask your kid to close his eyes and touch these water beads. This tactile sensory activity is proved beneficial for the optimum sensory tactile perception.
Kinetic Sand playing
Kinetic sand can be easily made at home or bought from the market. The use of this tactile sensory activity shows the improvement in cognition and tactile sensory perception. The kids suffering from tactile desensitization are encouraged to play with this kinetic sand by making different shapes with hands and then digging the sand. Sometimes, they are asked to paint these sand toys. These tactile sensory activities hone the tactile, pain and pressure perception.
Play dough playing
Play dough is a great tactile sensory activity. The use of Play dough greatly enhances the tactile perception because this tactile sensory activity promotes the kids to use their touch sensation to feel the powdery and moldable texture of Play dough.
Gardening and digging
The use of this tactile sensory activity markedly enhances the touch sensation. This activity requires the kids to plant the small herbs and trees and they are promoted to dig the sand of their backyards. Both of these tactile sensory activities are useful in the improvement of tactile perception.
Sensory Art
What is sensory art?
Sensory art consists of the art activities that are played for the improvement of all the five senses like sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. The use of these sensory art activities lead to the improvement of all the sensory skills and cognition.
What are the sensory art activities?
Sensory art activities are the list of creative activities which are performed by the kids so that they can improve their sensory skills. Here is the list of tactile sensory art activities which can lead to the enhancement of tactile sensory skills.
Foil painting
Painting is one of the finest sensory art activities that can hone the tactile sensory skills. Kids of the learning age are promoted to paint various pictures and scenes on the foil paper. This sensory art can improve their learning and creativity.
Stamp playing
This sensory art encourages the kids to design their own stamps using various household items. This sensory art activity will improve their tactile sensory system and would lead the child to explore the events more curiously.
Mirror painting
Mirror painting is the most commonly used sensory art activity in the homes and kindergartens. The toddlers or the young preschoolers are allowed to paint the shapes and figures on the mirrors and different types of canvas. This sensory art would enhance their tactile sensory skills and their learning ability.
Dancing and painting
This sensory art is the most unique activity performed for kids and toddlers with sensory impairment. In this activity the young ones are asked to dance on the white floor with their feet dipped in the paints of various colours. This tactile sensory art activity will give them the chance to observe and look into different aspects thus improving their cognition skills.
Bubble wrap painting
Bubble wrap painting is the most unique sensory art. This tactile sensory activity is designed to stimulate the sensory system. In this activity, kids are promoted to walk on the bubble wraps while the bottom of their feet is painted with different colours. When such toddlers walk on the wraps different patterns are created. This will lead to the enhancement of the tactile sensory system and cognition.
Sensory bag playing
This sensory art is very creative for the young children and toddlers who are affected with sensory impairment. This sensory art is a household activity for the betterment of tactile sensory skills. A plastic bag with different food colours and water is handed over to kids. Seal the sensory bag and let your child squeeze the bag to form many different shapes. This sensory art will improve tactile sensory impairment.
Spaghetti painting
This sensory art allows the kids to paint the various spaghetti shapes and noodles by using many paints, scoops and brushes. This sensory art will produce a colourful array of different shapes which will enhance the cognition power and the tactile sensory skills.
Walk-away on sticky floor
This sensory art allows the parents to spread the sticky sheet with its sticky end facing upwards. The feet of the kid are covered with many glitters, colours and paper scraps and let them walk on the sticky floor. After they have completed their walk, see the beautiful patterns and things that stick to the floor. This specific sensory art will improve the tactile sensory skills and the learning behaviour.
SENSORY TOYS
What are the sensory toys?
The toy which is designed to stimulate any one of the five senses is called a sensory toy. Such toys work for the betterment of the sensory system of kids as the toys are very appealing to them. These sensory toys work specifically for the tactile sensory system.
List of commonly used sensory toys
Some of the commonly used sensory toys are given below:
Sensory mats
Sensory mats are the sensory toys with different textures, shapes and contours. Children with sensory disabilities are promoted to walk on such sensory toys and play with them by touching them. By the use of these sensory toys many sensory improvements are noted.
Chew toys
The chew sensory toys are usually made up of silicon and are non-toxic. These toys are meant for teeth development commonly but are also used for tactile sensory development. These chewable sensory toys are especially used by the children affected with autism in which they lead to the development of sensory systems.
Slime playing
Slime is one of the most useful sensory toys in the proper development of the tactile sensory system. Children are encouraged to play with its liquid solid nature and such sensory toys markedly enhance the sensitivity of the sensory system.
Pin art playing
Pin art boards are a great sensory toy. These sensory toys have pins with different imprints on them. Kids with autism and other sensory system defects are promoted to play with these pin art boards. The tactile stimulation on touching the pins makes this sensory toy wonderful.
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