We're going to the seaside!

A sensory adventure box

• What you will need:
• A box
• suncream
• sunglasses and sunhat
• Digestive biscuits and a box or tray to crumble them into
• Sandwich bags
• Chips and some vinegar
• A bottle half full of water and a few drops of washing up liquid (if you also have blue food colouring add a few drops of that, also a bit of glitter would be lovely)
• A tray or bowl of warm water and a towel to finish

Here's what to do!

• Play the Summer holiday video, put on your sun hat and sunglasses and take out all the objects from the box one at a time so your child can watch what you're doing, you could briefly show your child each one as you take it out.  Take your time! when you're done switch to the beach video
• Begin by massaging your child with suncream, really use this as a sensory massage and stretch time; interlace your fingers with theirs and massage their hands and fingers, stretch their arms out and massage up and down, same with the legs and feet
• Explore the sunglasses and hats, use as many as you like
• If you haven't prepared the washing up liquid already let your child watch you.  Only a few drops of washing up liquid, you're aiming to create an ocean wave in a bottle.  Bring it really close to your child's face so they can watch the wave moving inside the bottle
• Make your own sand, crumble the digestive biscuits into a tray or bowl, let your child get involved (this is the only time it's acceptable to eat sand!!) make it really fine so it looks like sand.  When you're done you can put it into a sandwich bag and seal it, it's a great sensory toy you can use again and a great fine motor toy for your child's tray or on a table.
• Time for chips! if your child is unable to eat the chips you can still add the vinegar to the warm chips and allow your child to smell it, it's a great smell and very strong! they could taste a bit of the vinegar.
• To finish the activity you could have a bowl/tray/tub of warm water to wash their hands and have a paddle with their feet.  Not only does this replicate a paddle/splash in the sea but it also helps with the clean up!
• Have fun!