At Kids Oasis we often utilise natural materials in children’s art works, dramatic play and sensory experiences. We find that natural materials stimulate children’s imagination and creativity as they can be utilised in many ways. It is also proven to reduce stress and encourage wonder and curiosity! We often find ourselves going on nature walks and collecting natural materials alongside the children as they actively investigate scientific concepts and find new and exciting materials to include in their art and play!
Below are some great ways we have included nature in our art and play!
Examples as shown in photos..
Natural resources used alongside glue and paper for craft.
Free exploration of different natural materials allow the children to touch, feel, smell ad listen to the materials. If the children are too young assist them in vocalising their findings.
Play dough and natural materials - Play dough is so much fun and an easy to make sensory experience which children love! Incorporating natural materials can take play dough play to a new level. Allow the children to explore their imagination and creativity and see what wonderful things they can create!
We have a wonderful sensory panel which our educators put together with a variety of fun to touch natural resources and you can do the same at home! Grab some shells, bark, sticks, lavender, flowers, pebbles, leaves and a multitude of other fun natural resources and stick them onto a piece of paper for the children to touch and explore.
Stamping and painting using natural materials (rather than paintbrushes) - a fun and inventive way to paint which the children loved!
Explore a community garden! Have your children visit one of our local council's community gardens, get them to use their 5 senses to explore and see what their findings are! They may even find some fun creepy crawlies they want to play with or look after! Click here to find some wonderful gardens within the George's River Council.
Sensory tub nature experiences- we often mix some wonderful natural materials with our sensory tub experiences, for example - water, sand, orbeez, goop, ice, play rice, slime ad much more.
Natural salt dough displays - creating salt dough and using this to display wonderful natural materials on a hanging mobile or wall or simply for the children to touch and play with.
We would love for you to share some inspiring ideas with us also! Email us at kidsoasis05@gmail.com with your fun ideas!
Comentários