Introduce new textures to your child with these quick and simple sensory balloons.

Squeeze, Squash, Squish, Swoosh and squeal with delight as you explore the different textures within your hands. It’s a great way for children to touch and feel new textures without the mess. We found them very therapeutic. Even the eldest child wanted to play with them.

You will need:

• Strong latex balloons
• Cornflour
• Water
• Flour
• Oil
• Cotton wool
• Cooked rice
• Funnel

 

Cornflour

Mix some cornflour with water until you have a gloopy consistency. Using a funnel to pour the mixture into balloon. Tie.

This has a soft gloopy feel, Feels like water when you squash it but when your fingertips meet you can feel a solid.

Cotton wool

Open up the balloon neck by prising it apart with your fingers. Push in the cotton wool until filled. Tie

This has a firmer feeling to it. Not malleable. You can’t really squash it.

Playdough

Mix some flour with water to make a dough, add in some olive oil. Combine together and then spoon into the balloon. Tie

By far the best stress release sensory balloon. You can squash it and squish it. It rolls and stretches.

Cooked rice

Cook some rice. Allow to cool. Prising the balloon neck apart, spoon in the rice until full. Tie

Feels soft and squishy. When squashed you can feel the grain.

There are so many other ingredients that can be used to explore different textures

Lentils, Hair gel, Flour, oats, pasta shapes, beans, mash potato and custard are a few that i can think of.

Why not give it a go and experiment with different textures. What was your favourite?