Dinosaur Swap Sensory Play for a Bit of Summer Fun

Kids universally seem to love to play in water, and a water table or tub of water can be a great alternative to having a pool or sprinkler or larger area of water that kids can play in.

Having themes in the water table is a lot of fun and can draw kids to it. I love this idea of making the water table into a dinosaur swamp, from the Imagination Tree. (Because most kids love dinosaurs, too, right?)

This is actually pretty easy to set up and includes a lot of natural materials in addition to the toy dinosaurs (you could also use other kinds of animals if you prefer). Include some buckets, nets or scoops for collecting and observing.

Throw in a dino-themed story book, and check out some more fun dinosaur activities for kids from Brain Power Boy.

How do your kids play with and learn about dinosaurs?

[Photo: the Imagination Tree.]

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Summer Activity Printables for Kids

Whenever you go to the beach with kids, you’re sure to come home with some seashells and more than a little sand. Let’s use some of those treasures to make fun crafts.

This handprint craft is made with a sand-infused salt dough and some little shells from the beach. It’s a cute way to remember how little your kids were on that beach trip. Find the instructions at From Under a Palm Tree.

Here’s another take on sand dough that was used to make little ornaments and sculptures. Get the details from Pink Stripey Socks.

Moms and Crafters used air dry clay and seashells to make these cute necklaces. She used the storebought clay but you can also make your own air dry clay if you’d rather.

Crafts on Sea used a shell to make a whale, but I’m sure you could take this idea and make lots of different creatures. I love the idea of sea creatures made with shells like fish or a jellyfish or an octopus using the same method. They also have a seashell decoration made with salt dough that’s really cute and would be fun for kids to paint. Poke a hole before it dries for hanging if you want.

Or take a bunch of little shells and decorate a frame like these from Rhythms of Play. They used a handprint instead of a picture but you could also put in a picture from the beach trip.

This is probably one for the mamas to make because it uses epoxy, but I also wanted to share these cute and easy shell hair pins from Thrifty Mama Ramblings, which kids are sure to want for their mermaid pretend play.

Or how about some sensory play straight from the beach? Use store bought sand if you don’t have a beach nearby to make this beach sand slime from The Mama Notes. Thrown in some shells and kids will love playing with this one.

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