Three Inexpensive Fall Sensory Activities

Our family loves Fall, especially our 11-year-old daughter, Bethany Grace. She enjoys making crafts and decorating with her older brother. We work to find activities that all of us can have fun doing together. We’ve discovered some new activities and ways to adapt projects to her cognitive and physical abilities.

Here are three of our favorites. I’ve actually found all of these supplies at Dollar Tree with the exception of the essential oils and zip ties!

1. Scented Rice Sensory Bin & Weighted Scented Heat Wraps

Allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice—ah, the wonderful scents of Autumn.

This fun project is actually two activities in one.

What you will need:

• 1 to 2 plastics bins or large bowls
• Two 2 lb. bags of rice
• Essential Autumn oil (s) of your choice (You can find on Amazon)

Directions:

1. Pour the bags of rice into the bin (or one bag per bin to use two different oils).
2. Add 1-3 drops of your preferred essential oil (s) to your desired strength of smell. *Be aware of nut or other allergy ingredients in the oils.

Let your child have fun mixing the oil into the rice with their hands.

Making the Wraps

What you will need (makes two wraps):

• Two pairs of soft tube socks
• 4 lb. of the scented rice
• ½ cup measuring cup
• 4 zip ties

You and your child can enjoy the soothing smell in a warm weighted wrap around your shoulders.

Directions:

1. Scoop half of the scented rice into one sock. To do this, hold the sock over the bin of rice. Scoop the rice into the measuring cup. Place the measuring cup down in the sock and pour out.
2. Repeat this until just a little end of the sock remains.
3. Secure one of the zip ties around the end leaving a little bit of sock on the end.
4. Put the wrap down into the second sock.
5. Use another zip tie to secure the outside sock.
6. Repeat this process with the second pair of socks and remaining rice.

To Warm: Place the wrap on a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warm. *Do not overheat. Be sure to check the temperature before applying to skin.

2. Dazzling Pumpkins

As it is not safe for Bethany Grace to participate in carving a pumpkin, we plan other exciting ways for her to decorate her gourd.

What you will need:

• Pumpkins of any size (one for each family member)
• Washable acrylic paint
• Tacky glue
• Sequins
• Plastic gems
• Pom poms
• Glitter
• Paint brush (if your child avoids sticky)
• Plastic separated trays or bowls

Your child’s imagination has no limits!

Directions:

1. Put out tacky glue, different paint colors, gems, sequins, and pom poms in the different sections.
2. If your child enjoys getting their hands messy, turn it into a finger glue and paint project.
3. If they avoid sticky, provide a paint brush.
4. I suggest placing the pumpkin on a tray or in a container and assisting with the glitter after the glue is spread.
5. Have fun decorating your own along with your child!

3. Autumn Hanging Lights

It’s easy to make beautiful fall lights to hang in your child’s bedroom or family room.

What you will need:

• 2 Strands of fairy lights or 1 strand of white Christmas tree lights
• 1 roll of twine
• 2 bags of satin fall leaves
• Glitter or tacky glue
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut a six-foot strand of twine and lay out on a covered surface.
2. Help your child put dabs of glue down the strand two inches apart.
3. Attach a leaf at each spot.
4. When the strand is dry, interweave the leaf strand with the string of lights and hang.

What’s one of your child’s favorite Fall sensory activities?

Share your ideas in the comments.

Blessings,

Kristin

*Make sure to heat the wrap safely. This is just a suggestion based on personal experience and has not been professionally tested.

Kristin Faith Evans, MA, MS, LMSW

Kristin is an author, a speaker, a mental health therapist, and a special needs mom. Her greatest passion is walking with others on their journey to deeper faith and emotional healing. As a Licensed Masters Social Worker and with her Masters in Christian Education, she has served in youth, camping, and retreat ministries and is experienced in Christian counseling, couples and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, and crisis counseling. Kristin lives with her husband, Todd, and their two children in the Nashville, TN area. When she is not enjoying life with her family, writing or working with clients, you can find Kristin training for triathlons, reading, or simply being out in nature. Visit her author website at www.KristinFaithEvans.com.