Kinetic sand is always fun to play with!
In my preschool classroom and at home, we love adding other toys to kinetic sand while playing. Simple items like counting bears, colored coins, pipe cleaners, or popsicle sticks can be added for additional fine motor play or just a fun way to create with kinetic sand!
POSITIONAL WORD POTATO HEADS
When we play with kinetic sand, we use trays or cookie sheets {with taller sides} to keep the kinetic sand from falling on the floor. Simply dump and play! Add all the pieces from a Mr. Potato Head set except the actual potato body on the tray too.
When playing with the potato head pieces in the kinetic sand, my preschooler created SO MANY different creations! There were kinetic sand potatoes with lots of eyes, hands coming out of the top of heads, and of course, potatoes dressed with the classic-style look.
During the play, there are lots questions to ask and directions to give to help practice positional words with toddlers and preschoolers.
“Put the eyes under the hat.”
“Add ears above the arms.”
“One arm can go on the left and one arm can go on the right of the body.”
“Stick the hat on top.”
“Where are the shoes?”
“Would you hang the earrings on the top or bottom of the ears?”
“Is the mouth above or below the nose?”
The positional word conversation doesn’t need to feel like a test when talking with your little one. Make it more of a game where your child can even feel like she is teaching you!
Here is a list of preschool-friendly positional words/phrases to use while playing:
- above, below, in, out, in the middle, next to, under, over, beside, in-between, off, on, across, around, through, in front, behind, beginning, middle, end, near, far, upside down
The more practice and exposure that young children are given with skills like positional words, the more likely they are to recognize and even begin to master them!
What I absolutely love about this activity is the list of provided for age appropriate prepositions, and we can use any material as a substitute, such as clay, cornstarch, and even mud. My kids enjoyed learning just as much as being silly and having fun. Thank you!