This blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links. Please know I only promote products and companies I use and enjoy! See my full affiliate disclaimer here.

KIDS ACTIVITY

Spark Your Child's Imagination and Creativity With This Valentine's Inspired, “I Heart Dinosaurs” Invitation to Play!

Delight your little one(s) with this fun, colorful box that is sure to spark imaginations and creativity, while encouraging fine motor skills and offering sensory input! Set up this invitation to play in under five minutes so your child can enjoy hours of fun over and over again!

Activity Overview:

Ages 2+ (with supervision)
Set up in under 5 minutes!
Multi-sensory and encourages fine motor skills, focus and independent play
Older children can participate
Items included are inexpensive can be used multiple ways/many times

Pin This! Spark Your Child's Imagination and Creativity With This Holiday-Inspired Invitation to Play using scented Play-Doh, red and green elements, wooden stamps, and more!

So, most of you who have been following me on social media lately, know I LOVE putting together these fun, sensory boxes for my toddler who’s almost 3. These fun boxes are full of different textures, scoopable items and vibrant colors, creating a multi-sensory experience that engages my very active daughter for at least 30 minutes a day. Sometimes we take our box out multiple times a day, and other times, we take it out every few days so it’s new and exciting each time.

Below I’ve linked a list of the items I included in this box, but please know, you can use anything you have in your own home. Think outside the box and use items that may not necessarily have been intended for play (as long as it’s safe, that is!). When selecting items, I try to always include a bowl or two, a scoop or spoon, different textures, different colored items, items that are non-food based (with the exception of the bean base, and items that have multiple functions or stretch, bend, stick, bounce, etc.

Now, if you’re creating a sensory box for a toddler or little one who often puts things in their mouth (that was my daughter until very recently), I would highly recommend creating a box that has really large objects that can’t be put into a child’s mouth and uses a base that is edible like cheerios, beans, Fruit Loops, etc. You can find tons of ideas on Pinterest for “safe” sensory boxes.

I urge you to set up this invitation to play in an area where you can supervise from a close distance when you don’t intend to participate if you have a toddler or preschooler. I usually set our trays on the kitchen table and sit nearby or cook dinner as my 2.5 year old plays. I like to pop over and make sure the items are staying in the general vicinity and I will play and interact with my daughter and her box. When we’re done with it, we simply put everything back in the box and I store it out of reach until she asks for it again or I need a few minutes to get something done.

This box is perfect for developing fine motor skills, offering sensory input and creating focused time that encourages your child’s imagination! Not to mention, this can be used as an excellent way to spend quality time TOGETHER with your child. Also, if you have older children, you may even find they can’t resist the pull of the imagination sparking inside them too! They might enjoy the elements without a base and might like to add in Play-Doh or homemade dough.

What You’ll Need:

The following items are optional and I’ve included a list of alternate items that will work depending on your child’s age and skill level. We often use what we have on hand - household items and items we can use in various other crafts or sensory play boxes.