Sensory Play Ideas
Sensory play builds brains. Texture, temperature, squish and splash all help wire up your baby's understanding of the world — and it's brilliant for the same skills that make weaning easier. The trick is saying yes to the experience without saying goodbye to your carpet.
A few Kiwi-parent favourites:
- Rainbow pasta — cook, cool and colour plain pasta with a drop of food dye, then let them squish. Fully edible, so tasting is fine.
- Oats & cups — dry rolled oats scoop and pour beautifully (and are safe if mouthed).
- Water play — a shallow tub of warm water and a sponge to squeeze. A winner on a cold day.
- Treasure basket — a wooden spoon, a crinkly wrapper and a soft cloth. Free, and endlessly fascinating.
Do the messy ones in the highchair with a coverall bib and a mat underneath, and clean-up is a shake and a wipe rather than a mission. Always supervise closely, especially with anything small enough to mouth.