Exciting Ideas For A Super Silly Santa Sensory Story Time
#thebigone was never much of a ‘sensory seeking’ child. He’s always been more easy going and adaptable than his younger brother is. It took me some time to realize that my youngest needs more sensory input than his brother did at this age. A weighted lap pad, back rubs, and even things as simple as keeping touch-and-feel books in the house can make a huge difference for #thelittleone. Check out these fun options for a Santa sensory story time with your family!
Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way.
A SUPER SILLY SANTA SENSORY STORY TIME
Our Inspiration for Santa Sensory Story Times
I spotted Have Yourself a Hairy Little Christmas on a recent Target run. The adorable illustrations of a hipster-esque Santa caught my eye. When I saw all the touch-and-feel panels built in, I knew my boys would love it. Even though it’s technically very young for my oldest, even he loves reading it with his younger brother and feeling the textures throughout. Dawn Machell created the illustrations throughout the book. Have Yourself a Hairy Little Christmas was published by Make Believe Ideas Ltd. The book is filled with bright, graphic images of Santa searching for the perfect beard style. Every other page features a fun sensory experience, from knit to glitter to fur and more.
Santa Sensory Story Time Crafts + Ideas
I created 2 bright, bold printables inspired by Have Yourself a Hairy Little Christmas. There’s a variety of fun ways to use both. Before beginning, be sure to check your home for supplies you may already have on hand! I’ve included photos of some of what we chose, as well as a larger list of what you might like to use.
Santa Sensory Material Ideas:
- Sequins
- Rhinestones
- Stickers
- Beads
- Craft foam
- Puff paint
- Pom poms
- Cotton balls
- Yarn
- Ribbon
- Ric-rac
- Felt
- Feathers
- Faux fur
- Chenille stems
- Textured paper
- Wrapping paper
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic cling wrap
- Shredded paper
- Beard ‘texture’ drawn on with white crayon, and covered with water color paints
- THE IDEAS ARE ENDLESS!
Kids love creating a variety of sensory Santa beards on the printable with the smaller Santas. They can use tape or glue to attach the variety of materials in whatever way seems right to them- the sillier the better! Or your child may want to focus on just one Santa using the other printable. Either presents a great option for creating a fun, festive project.
Looking To Get A Little Messier?
By pairing the Santa printables with laminating sleeves, you can easily create a reusable mat for slightly messier sensory Santa play! I find the bigger printable with just one Santa is ideal for this, but the smaller version works as well. Pair the laminated pages with any of the messier ideas below. For the most part, they’ll wipe clean to be reused later!
MESSIER Santa Sensory Material Ideas:
- Slime
- Play-doh
- Clay
- Floam
- Shaving cream
- Dry erase markers
>>> SINGLE Santa Sensory Printable <<<
>>> MULTIPLE Santa Sensory Printable <<<
Do you have kiddos that also love sensory fun?! How do you incorporate it into story time? Let me know in the comments below!