If you’re looking for a fun indoor activity for your child, a sensory indoor garden box can be an exciting option!
An indoor garden box filled with just chia seeds, water, and toy bugs encourages children to explore, ask questions, and build important observation and early science skills.
While this activity may seem like simple play, these types of crafts, sensory experiences like this help support children’s early learning and development in meaningful ways.
Sensory play focuses on activities that engage a child’s senses while helping build language, motor, and problem-solving skills.
Most of all, this indoor sensory garden bug box offers a fun opportunity to spend quality time together at home.
Through guided discovery and conversation, children can practice describing what they observe, asking questions, and exploring new ideas.
Keep reading on to learn what materials you’ll need, explore the benefits of the activity, and find simple step-by-step instructions, as well as some questions to ask your children while playing.
Materials
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1 cup measuring cup
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Plastic storage tub or large bowl
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1 cup of chia seeds
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Plastic spoon
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Water
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Toy bugs and insects
Benefits
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Encourages curiosity about nature
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Strengthens observational skills
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Develops early classification skills
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Helps children describe their discoveries and build new vocabulary
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Strengthens fine motor skills through scooping, digging, and picking up objects
Step 1
Use the measuring cup to pour the chia seeds into the plastic storage tub or bowl.
Step 2
Pour one or two cups of water into the bin.
Step 3
Mix the chia seeds and water together with the plastic spoon. As the seeds absorb water, the mixture will thicken and become more sensory-friendly for exploration.
Step 4
Place the toy insects in the garden box and invite your child to explore, sort, and play.
More questions to encourage curiosity and conversation
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What do you notice about the chia seeds? -
What happened after we added water?
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What do you see hiding in the garden box?
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How are the toy bugs different from each other?
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What color is this bug?
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Which bug is the biggest? Which is the smallest?
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What words would you use to describe this garden?
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What do you think will happen if we add more water?
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Where do you think this bug would hide in nature?
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Can you find all the bugs with wings?
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Can you group the insects by color?
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Which bugs are alike? Which are different?
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Why do you think insects like gardens?
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What is your favorite insect and why?
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What would you name this bug?
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If this bug could talk, what would it say?
