Make A Tactile Sensory Board For Your Preschooler
If you would like to provide your preschooler with a tactile learning tool, make a sensory board by completing the following steps. A sensory board will provide your child with a hands on approach to learning and can be used at home or while on the go.
Materials
- plywood
- sandpaper
- hand sander
- tack cloth
- lead-free paint
- mixing stick
- newspaper sheets
- plastic sheeting
- paintbrush
- measuring tape
- cordless drill
- screws
- staple gun
- staples
- scissors
- belt
- latches
- chains
- fabric
- carpet square
- artificial turf
- measuring tape
- easel
Sand And Paint A Piece Of Plywood
Purchase a piece of plywood that is rectangle or square-shaped from a building center. Secure a piece of medium grit sandpaper to a hand sander and move the sander back and forth over both sides of the plywood and its edges to eliminate rough spots. Wipe both sides of the board with a tack cloth to remove fine particles of wood that remain after sanding.
Open a can of lead-free paint and stir its contents until they are well-blended. Place the plywood on a flat surface that has been covered with newspaper sheets or plastic sheeting. Use a paintbrush to apply an even coat of paint to one side of the board. After the paint dries, flip the board over and apply a coat of paint to the opposite side.
Secure Items To The Wood
Choose items to secure to the board. Consider using a buckle, chains, fabric, carpet, artificial turf, and similar materials. Determine if items will need to be reduced in size before adding them to the board. For instance, if you want to add a belt buckle to the board, use a pair of scissors to cut the desired length. If you are going to add chains to the board, select a length for each one before purchasing them from a hardware shop or home improvement center.
After you have prepared all of the items that will be added to the board, use a power drill or staple gun to secure them to the plywood. Use a measuring tape to help you line the items up evenly across the board.
Use The Board With Your Child
Lean the board on an easel or hold it on your lap while sitting down with your child. Allow your child to explore the items that are secured to the board and ask them to describe the way that each one looks and feels. Discuss what each item is and provide information about its characteristics to your child. By exploring the board on a regular basis, your preschooler will retain information that has been presented to them. For more information about how a tactile learning board could help your child, talk with a preschool teacher.