Do you have a beginner writer (or a resistant writer)?! Salt trays are a multi-sensory approach to learning that are simple, fun & engaging!
They were a weekly center in my classroom & now a staple with my own kiddos.
They are a fun, simple & a low-stress way to work on letters, numbers, shapes or words! Just playing with it, without an academic expectation in mind, is also so beneficial for kiddos.
They’ll be working on fine motor skills, language & vocabulary...all while taking in the sensory benefits.
Do you need to dye the salt? NOPE!
Can you? YES!
Here's how:
Pour 1 cup of salt in a ziplock bag or container with a lid.
Add 4-5 drops of food coloring & mix well.
Let dry for 30 minutes or so & it’s good to go!
Sensory salt lasts FOREVER. Keep it dry & you can reuse it for years & years of learning, playing & creating!
They offer a multi-sensory approach to learning.
They strengthen fine motor skills.
They offer a low-stress approach to writing. Make a mistake? Just wipe it away!
They improve hand-eye coordination.
They are easy to make, create & differentiate.
They can be used for learning, for creating or just for playing!
Add some scoops & bowls & let them explore! As they scoop & dig & dump & pour they will be strengthening SO many skills, all while they play!
Did I mention how calming activities like this are? They can be so helpful in calming big emotions & assisting in self-regulation.
You can hide objects in the sand & use tongs to search, find & pick them up! Here we used shapes but you can use gems, legos, small erasers, pom poms, etc. Adding in tongs to any activity is fun, engaging & excellent for those finger & hand muscles!
Do you need a phonics lesson? Grab some salt & a tray & you are ready to go! Work on letter formation, beginning sounds or even consonant-vowel-consonant words (cat, dog, pin).
No matter how you use them, they are beneficial, they are fun & they are a great way to incorporate sensory play into your day!