Create Craft
20 Natural Materials for Children’s Creative and Sensory Play
A child’s play should include lots of natural materials. A child’s early experiences are benefited by loose objects like twigs, leaves, shells, and sand because they foster creativity and imagination. Natural resources are readily available and motivate kids to study the environment.
Natural materials are excellent for sensory play since they have a variety of textures, scents, sizes, colours, and sounds. Natural materials are flexible components that can be combined, moved, lined up, disassembled, and reassembled.
Children are inspired by natural resources to pay closer attention and engage all of their senses. Natural materials are versatile since they can be utilised alone or in combination with other items. They inspire outdoor play and exploration and can also be found in natural surroundings.
- advantages of organic and flexible materials.
- Playing in nature to find natural resources.
- 20 natural materials for use both inside and outside.
Natural play and exposure to nature
Natural-play spaces, which inspire kids to explore the bush and get in touch with nature, are associated with natural materials. For young children, the discovery of objects in nature inspires awe and wonder where they can explore and gather natural materials.
Children who are exposed to nature have more possibilities to take risks, learn about and explore new things, solve issues, use their creativity, and cultivate a feeling of wonder.
Children have opportunity to exercise decision-making and problem-solving skills when playing with natural materials. Children learn to innovate, design, explore, create, and collaborate as they build, sort, manipulate, arrange, and stack the materials in a number of ways.
Many of the natural items we’ve included below are readily available in natural settings just waiting for you and your child to explore.
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20 natural materials to add to your child’s sensory play
Although you might want to keep some of the components in a bucket or tub for sensory and messy play, you can bring natural objects indoors to use for play. For art and craft projects, combine natural elements with unrestricted supplies and recycled materials.
When gathering natural items outside, set the example. It’s a great chance to explain to kids what they can touch, what they shouldn’t touch, and why. There are several advantages to having your child play outside, even though it’s vital to let them take certain risks.
Children can find natural resources in your backyard:
1. Twigs.
2. Leaf.
3. Blooms.
4. Green or dry grass, long or short.
5. Weeds.
6. Water.
Depending on the conditions outside, you might also discover:
7. Stones.
8. Bark.
9. Logs or branches. (You can reduce the size of them.)
10. Clay or dirt. You could transform this into mud if you were clean.
11. Fruits and vegetables.
12. Seeds and nuts.
If your family has a cat or other cats that share the environment with your family, be cautious when picking up items off the ground.
Similar objects like rocks and leaves to those in your backyard may be found on a trip through a park or nature reserve, albeit they may have different textures, hues, forms, and fragrances. You might also learn:
13. Feathers.
14. Pine cones.
15. Broken nests of birds.
Beaches are a great outdoor space for collecting natural materials. On a beach, you might find:
16. Sand which is cleanable.
17. Shells and grit from shells.
18. Woody debris.
19.Cuttlefish bone
20.Seaweed
Using natural resources for kids, safely and responsibly
Make sure you chose pieces of natural materials that are not too small to pose a choking risk while gathering them for your child’s sensory play. Always choose the items you bring home with caution. Ask the following questions to determine the health and safety of natural materials:
- What is the item’s function?
- How old are the child(ren) who will use it, if any?
- Can the object be sanitised and cleaned?
Checking for broken pieces, dirtiness, and obvious wear and tear should be part of routine health and safety assessments of natural materials. Put it back if it doesn’t pass your safety inspection. The next time you engage in natural play, you can always gather more natural resources.
Additionally, kids should wash their hands frequently after gathering and playing with natural objects. Children often wash their hands after both indoor and outdoor activities at Petit Early Learning Journey.
Nature art and craft for kids
Natural materials can be used in a variety of ways for learning activities, crafts, and art. Toddlers and preschoolers adore fusing art and craft with nature:
Make an indoor rock world out of natural materials with a variety of species and their habitats.
For smaller children, make a sensory prize tray so they may start exploring their senses while honing their motor abilities.
Create a fairy garden where kids may use their imaginations and natural materials, either outside or inside.
Use fruit, veggies, and flower petals as paintbrushes.
Explore more natural materials with Petit Early Learning Journey
In order to inspire curiosity and encourage ongoing learning, Petit ELJ continues to place a strong emphasis on natural materials and open-ended loose pieces. These practises assist your child’s future.
With Petit ELJ and our comprehensive play-based learning environment, make the early years of your child’s life count. Indoor and outdoor play areas at our centres encourage learning and experiences driven by children. Talk to us about your child’s educational journey when you schedule a tour.