Help your preschooler learn about colors, textures, and shapes by creating a sensory board by completing the project below. The sensory board will keep your child entertained while playing alone and can also provide you with a valuable teaching tool when you would like to sit down with your child and discuss the items on that are displayed across the board.

Materials

• plywood
• sandpaper
• hand sander
• tack cloth
• newspaper sheets
• bright-colored paint
• paintbrush
• craft glue
• carpet squares (various colors and types)
• utility knife
• metal hooks
• power drill
• yarn
• rope
• scissors
• foam shapes
• stencils
• stickers

Sand And Paint The Plywood

Purchase a piece of plywood that is square or rectangle-shaped. Remove rough edges from the wood by sanding it with a piece of sandpaper that is secured to a hand sander. Wipe off any dust that remains on the wooden surface with a tack cloth. Lay the plywood on top of a flat surface that is covered with a couple sheets of newspaper. Use a paintbrush to apply a coat of bright-colored paint to one side of the wood. Once the paint dries, flip the plywood over and coat the other side with paint.

Secure Carpet Squares, Yarn, And Rope To The Board

Use a utility knife to cut several carpet squares that are made from different types of carpeting that are a wide range of colors. Apply a coat of craft glue to the back of each square before securing them all to one side of the board. Use a power drill to create small holes in the board to secure metal hooks to. Once the hooks are attached, tie pieces of rope and yarn that are various thicknesses to them. 

Attach Foam Shapes And Stickers

Secure foam shapes to the board with craft glue. If you don't have any shapes on hand, trace stencils across a couple large pieces of foam. Cut the shapes out with scissors before attaching them all to the board. Finish decorating the board with stickers. Choose stickers that have a sparkly or holographic appearance or ones that contain bold lettering.

Once the craft glue that was used to secure items has had plenty of time to dry, allow your child to explore the board and touch the items that you have added to it. Explain the different colors, shapes, and textures to your child. As your child spends more time playing with the board, they will begin to retain the information that you are attempting to teach them. For more fun child education tips, contact a company like Rainbow School, Inc.