Ten Thanksgiving Sensory & Therapy Toys - Part 2 - More Sensory Toys (Sands, Paints, Bottles, Bags, & Bins)

By Anna Hazard

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Part 1 - Sensory Doughs

Introduction

The next part of our Thanksgiving themed therapy toys series focuses on other DIY sensory options besides the various doughs. This includes sensory sand, paints, as well as a variety of self contained alternatives such as bottles, bags, and bins.

​Similar to the doughs previously covered in the first part, these items are easy & inexpensive to craft from a variety of common items and can be used as therapy and stress relief for a wide range of ages. 

Sensory Sand

Sensory Sand, also often called kinetic sand, moon sand, or magic sand depending upon its exact composition, is a crumbly sand-like sensory toy that can be molded into different shapes when compressed.

Commercial variations tend to be comprised of coated sand while do-it-yourself home varieties often use other granular ingredients (such as flour or cornstarch) in order to mimic the sand-like texture.

As non-compressed and non-molded parts of sensory sand naturally fall into separate pieces, this is one of the more messier forms of sensory play. Due to their similar reactions to being compressed, sensory sand can be used as a quick substitution for putty or oobleck for a different tactile experience during hand therapy.
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• Pumpkin Moon Sand | Apple Moon Sand | Peppermint Chocolate Moon Sand

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Sensory Paints

Unlike the various doughs which are often primarily used for hand therapy, sensory paints are most often used to stimulate the visual and olfactory senses while painting or otherwise creating arts & crafts.

Fingerpaints can be used in order to provide exercise for the fingers and hands (and can be particularly helpful for those who may not be able to hold a normal paint brush due to various hand dexterity or strength issues).

Like other sensory toys, most ingredients and supplies are inexpensive, easy-to-find, and often all natural with some sensory paints being outright edible.
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• Thanksgiving Paint Recipe | Apple Pie Edible Finger Paint | Cinnamon Finger Paint

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Sensory Bottles

Another of the most common and popular of all the sensory toys are sensory bottles which are more contained than the various doughs as well as being easier to take on the go for convenient stress relief and sensory input.

Unlike the various doughs which are primarily focused on tactile, olfactory, and visual senses with hand therapy as a main goal, bottles are more focused on stimulating the visual and auditory senses as well as influencing moods & emotions through stress relief.  

Commercial variations of sensory bottles are also widely available ranging from lava lamps to ooze tubes to fanciful waterwheels and liquid timers. Due to its wide range use as a mindfulness or stress relief tool, sensory bottles have a target audience that encompassed young kids up to geriatric adults.
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• Thanksgiving Cranberry Sensory Bottle | Liquid-free Thanksgiving Sensory Bottle | Thanksgiving Turkey Sensory Bottle [1, 2, 3]

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Sensory Bags

Sensory Bags are one of the more common DIY therapy and stress relief toys that are taken on the go as they have little bulk compared to bins or bottles and don't pose a potential mess problem like many of the freely handled doughs.

Unlike sensory bottles, these bags are mostly meant for tactile sensory input with additional visual, therapy, and stress relief benefits.

​Sensory Bags in particular tend to be more popular amongst children as well as Alzheimer's and dementia patients, although their near cousins stress relief balls & squishies are popular amongst a wide age group from kids to seniors.

• Indian Corn Squish Bag | Turkey Sensory Bags | Pumpkin Sensory Bag

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Sensory Bins & Tubs

Sensory Bins & Tubs are the least mobile variation of sensory toy and thus are usually only set up in advance for extended play sessions (which will require repeated assembling and clean-up afterwards).

The main focus of bins tends to be on improving fine motor ability in the fingers & hands, although depending upon the set-up, bins can often include visual, audio, and olfactory sensory input along with its main tactile application.

Bins tend to be mostly used by younger children or those with hand dexterity and strength issues.
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• Thanksgiving Sensory Bin [1, 2, 3] | Thanksgiving Harvest Sensory Bin | Thanksgiving Sensory Tub [1, 2]