DIY Mushroom Sensory Puzzle

A was 21 months old when I made this DIY mushroom sensory puzzle. She had been loving playing with her wooden mushrooms at the time so I thought I’d make her a puzzle so she could deepen her understanding of the mushroom while enjoying some sensory play.

Around this time we witnessed an explosion of new vocabulary, which was so exciting! She loved to repeat words after us and also imitate certain expressions. It was adorable! 

For this activity, I set aside some red rice for the cap, green lentils for the stem and white beans for the scales.

Sensory play provides so many opportunities for skill development. Here she practiced scooping and spooning, new vocabulary, including mushroom parts and colors, and experienced different sensory stimulation.

Eventually, A decided to mix everything in a bowl, which seemed to be her favorite part.

Cleaning up is part of the learning process, so make sure to encourage your child to tidy up after they finish playing. Model how to do it until your child feels confident enough to initiate the tidying up process independently.

Bringing play to life:

• How about exploring real mushrooms and even cooking a meal with them? Your little one(s) can help wash, break them apart (or cut them if they are older) and help you prepare a tasty meal with these fungi.