Ocean-Themed Transient Art on Kinetic Sand​

My daughter loves kinetic sand and I find it is a great option for sensory play, especially in the summertime. I observed her pressing shells into it one time so I set up this simple ocean-themed transient art tray so she could explore this further.

I provided different types of seashells, a few ocean-themed cookie cutters so she could create images, and a few tools. I left the set on her activity table as an invitation to play. When she saw it, she went straight to it.

I love transient art because:

• It is open-ended and process-driven. There is no final product to be achieved or any set of expectations on the child. It’s just about the joy of creating and being in the moment.
• It enables the child to explore and express their creativity freely.
• It makes for a rich sensory experience. They can manipulate, explore and experiment with the materials, different textures, colors, shapes, etc.
• Loose parts also provide endless opportunities for extended learning: sorting, pattern making, exploring shapes, learning about symmetry, and so much more.

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.