Picnic-Themed Sensory Play Setup for Toddlers

Picnic-Themed Sensory Play Setup for Toddlers

Transform your sensory play space into a fun and educational picnic adventure! This picnic-themed sensory play setup is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, combining creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play. With hands-on activities like kite-making, felt food picnics, and bug sorting, your child will enjoy hours of meaningful learning through play.

List of Materials Needed

• Printable picnic-themed sensory play kit from GoodnightFox

• Felt food (sandwiches, fruits, desserts)

• Printables for kite-making (or construction or craft paper)

• Picnic blanket

• Kid-safe scissors, markers, and string for kite activity

• Sorting tray or small containers for bug activity

• Play bugs: ladybugs, ants, butterflies, snails (printables included)

• Place settings (plates, utensils, napkins)

Overview of Learning Objectives by Age Group

• Age 0-6mo: Sensory exposure with textures and colors on the picnic blanket.

• Age 6mo-12mo: Encouraging grasping and sensory exploration with felt food.

• Age 12mo-2yr: Developing fine motor skills by handling felt food and sorting bugs.

• Age 3yr-4yr: Imaginative play with kite flying and picnic setups.

• Age 4yr-6yr: Practicing counting, sorting, and problem-solving with bug activity.

Decor Setup

This sensory play setup mimics a sunny day picnic! Spread a cheerful picnic blanket on the floor or table and arrange colorful felt food, plates, and utensils. Add paper kites for an imaginative twist, and bring in the printable bug sorting page for a fun, themed educational activity.

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Activity 1: Make a Cut-Out Kite & Pretend to Fly It

Materials List:

• Printable Kite

• Scissors

• String or yarn

• Markers or crayons (optional)

Activity Instructions:

1. Provide your child with colorful paper and help them cut out a kite shape.

2. Decorate the kite with markers, stickers, or crayons.

3. Attach string or yarn to the kite for a handle.

4. Encourage your child to “fly” their kite around the sensory play area, pretending it’s a windy day!

Learning Objectives:

• Strengthening fine motor skills with cutting and drawing.

• Encouraging imaginative play and storytelling.

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Activity 2: Felt Food Pretend Picnic

Materials List:

• Felt food (or play food alternatives)

• Plates, cups, napkins, utensils

• Picnic blanket

Activity Instructions:

1. Show your child how to set the picnic place settings.

2. Let them arrange felt food items on the plates.

3. Encourage pretend play as they serve food to “guests” or stuffed animals.

Learning Objectives:

• Developing spatial awareness while setting the table.

• Boosting social-emotional skills through pretend play.

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Sensory Bin 3: Count and Sort the Picnic Bugs

Materials List:

• Printable bug sorting page from GoodnightFox

• Play bugs (ladybugs, ants, butterflies, snails)

• Sorting tray or containers

Activity Instructions:

1. Lay out the printable sorting page with labeled sections for each type of bug.

2. Have your child count and sort the bugs into categories.

3. Discuss bug characteristics (color, shape, etc.) for added educational value.

Learning Objectives:

• Strengthening counting and sorting skills.

• Introducing early science concepts about insects.

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Benefits of Sensory Play

Sensory play setups like this picnic theme foster creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor development. It also encourages independent play, helping toddlers stay busy and engaged. Through sorting and imaginative activities, children develop cognitive and social-emotional skills crucial for early childhood learning.

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Week-Long Picnic Themed Lesson Plan

Saturday & Sunday:

• Engage with the full picnic-themed sensory play setup.

Monday:
• Make and decorate a paper picnic basket craft.
• Create picnic-themed coloring pages.
• Practice counting with felt food items.

Tuesday:
• Build a bug house using recycled materials.
• Explore nature (real or pretend) to find bugs.
• Pretend to pack a picnic basket for an outdoor adventure.

Wednesday:
• Play a memory game with felt food pieces.
• Use the kite to act out a storytelling game about a picnic day.
• Engage in a scavenger hunt for picnic items around the house.

Thursday:
• Practice simple addition and subtraction with felt food.
• Sing songs about bugs and picnics.
• Sort picnic items by color or size.

Friday:
• Host a “picnic party” with stuffed animals or friends.
• Create a bug habitat diorama.
• Write a simple story about a picnic adventure.

25 Picnic-Themed Vocabulary Words

1. Picnic

2. Blanket

3. Basket

4. Kite

5. Ant

6. Butterfly

7. Ladybug

8. Snail

9. Felt

10. Plate

11. Cup

12. Napkin

13. Sandwich

14. Apple

15. Cookie

16. Pretend

17. Sort

18. Count

19. Fly

20. Summer

21. Grass

22. Trees

23. Table

24. Fun

25. Friends

Bring this picnic-themed sensory play setup to life with your little ones and create lasting memories through imaginative and educational activities!