Try making this adorable smart sensory squirrel with your child and let the learning experiences begin!
This activity is perfect for the busy mom, teacher, or therapist who doesn’t have much time to create an elaborate game but still wants to give their child an enriching activity to play. This activity is beneficial for your child in two aspects:
1. It gives your child an opportunity to learn academic concepts such as letters, shapes, or numbers in an exciting, motivating manner
2. It also provides an enriching tactile sensory experience by having them pet or hold the soft fur fabric.
Materials Needed
1 small cylinder can with lid (I used an old baking powder can)
2 Wiggly Eyes (you could also draw them on the lid instead)
Craft glue (large safety pins would also work to secure the fabric as well)
Small foam pieces to make the squirrel food (Paper pieces would work too)
1 small piece of furry fabric (your local fabric store would have some, or else try purchasing on Amazon.com)
How to Construct
1. Cut a small slit in the lid for the squirrel’s mouth
2. Glue on the wiggly eyes
3. Cut the furry fabric into a long strip matching the width of the can
4. Glue the fabric onto the can (you can also use the safety pins to attach the fur on as well)
5. Cut out the foam or paper pieces for squirrel food and add learning concepts (i.e. numbers, letters, shapes, colors)
How to Play
Start by laying out several pieces of “squirrel food” (the foam pieces with the learning concepts written on them) in front of your child.
Have your child pick up the squirrel and feed it a specific food piece (i.e. ask the child to feed the squirrel the food that has the letter “a” on it).
Continue to play until the squirrel has eaten all of the food.
This will be the cutest and smartest rodent you’ll ever want to have in your house- Enjoy!
