Crafts are a wonderful way to engage children's creativity and provide a soothing, hands-on activity. However, for sensory-sensitive children, it's important to choose materials and projects that are calming and engaging without overwhelming their senses. Below are several craft ideas that are sensory-friendly and tailored for children who might be more sensitive to textures, sounds, or visual stimuli.

Check out this Autism Parenting Magazine article to learn more about the benefits of sensory art for children diagnosed with Autism.  

1. Sensory-Friendly Playdough Creations

Materials Needed:

• Playdough of choice

• Cookie cutters, safe rolling pins, and plastic utensils

• Optional: Glitter or beads for a little visual interest  

Instructions:

1. Roll out the playdough on a clean surface using a soft rolling pin.

2. Let your child use cookie cutters to create shapes or cut out their own designs.

3. Encourage your child to explore the soft texture of the dough by pressing, squishing, and molding it into different forms.

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Why It's Sensory-Friendly:

Playdough is squishy and smooth, providing a tactile experience that is gentle and satisfying. If you use unscented playdough, it won't overwhelm sensitive noses. The texture can be calming, and children can control how soft or firm the playdough feels by applying more pressure.

2. Feather Painting

Materials Needed:

• Soft feathers of various colors and sizes  

• Watercolors or washable paint using primary colors (red, yellow, and blue)

• Paper, poster board, or an old box

• Paper plates for mixing paint

Instructions:

1. Dip the soft feathers into the paint  

2. Use the feathers as brushes to gently paint

3. Experiment with different colors by mixing primary colors

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Why It's Sensory-Friendly:

Feathers are gentle to touch and provide a soothing, light brushing sensation. This craft is quiet and visually calm, which makes it ideal for children sensitive to loud noises or bright colors. The act of painting with feathers also adds an element of lightness and fun.

3. Fuzzy Felt Collage

Materials Needed:

• Felt sheets in various colors and textures

• Child-safe scissors

• Cardboard to cover table

• Glue stick

Instructions:

1. Cut the felt into simple shapes promoting independence

2. Let the child arrange the shapes  

3. Glue the felt pieces in place

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Why It's Sensory-Friendly:

Felt is a soft and gentle material, and it’s a fantastic way to introduce children to crafting without overwhelming them. The textures are non-irritating, and the lack of intense color or scent makes this activity less likely to cause sensory overload.

4. Cotton Ball Art

Materials Needed:

• Cotton balls

• Paper

• Non-toxic glue (a glue stick is ideal for less mess)

• Optional: Markers, crayons, or paint

Instructions:

1. Let your child dip the cotton balls into the glue and place them on the paper to create textured artwork. They can form patterns, shapes, or simply scatter them for an abstract piece.

2. Optionally, after the glue has dried, add markers, crayons, or paint to enhance the design.

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Why It's Sensory-Friendly:

Cotton balls are soft and fluffy, making them a calming tactile material. The activity is relatively mess-free, and children can control how much or how little they use. This simple craft encourages sensory exploration without sensory overload.

5. Tactile Texture Rubbing

Materials Needed:

• Various textured objects (leaves, fabric, lace, bubble wrap, textured paper, etc.)

• Crayons with the paper peeled off

• Paper

Instructions:

1. Lay different textured objects under the piece of paper

2. Have the child rub a crayon over the paper to reveal the textures underneath

3. Encourage them to explore how different textures create unique patterns and designs

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Why It's Sensory-Friendly:

This activity focuses on both touch and sight, providing a very tactile experience without introducing loud noises or overwhelming visuals. The child can engage at their own pace and enjoy discovering new textures without feeling rushed or overstimulated.

These craft ideas help children engage their senses gently while fostering creativity and fun. By choosing soothing textures, soft colors, and calming experiences, you can provide a fulfilling and sensory-friendly crafting experience. A few tips for calming creativity are avoid bright/flashing lights, minimize loud noises, provide a level of comfort in the environment, use non-toxic materials, provide supervision with sharp or messy supplies, and allow for flexibility/creativity! Art is a chance to explore the world through your imagination!

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If you complete any of these crafts, we would love to highlight them on our social media! Reach out to admin@sunshineabatherapy.com