Looking for something fun and easy to do with your kids? Sensory play with shaving cream is a great way to help your child grow. Sensory play aids in the process of building new brain pathways which allows a child to make sense of the world around them.

Grab some shaving cream and small plastic toys and get ready for smiles to abound on your child's face! Place the toys on a cookie sheet or tray. One by one, cover the toys with shaving cream. Ask your child “which one should we hide/cover?” As your child points to the toy, repeat the toy’s name. For example, you could then say “Frog?”, “Hide the frog? “Bye bye frog”.This is a perfect opportunity to encourage your child to ask for more shaving cream. You can then say “Want more?” “More shaving cream?”.

Any attempt at requesting should be validated-- whether it’s a sign, sound, word approximation or word. If your child seems hesitant or unable to express themself, continue to cover the toys with shaving cream.

This should all be fun! Smush your hands in the shaving cream and see if your child will do the same. Play with sounds as you’re spreading the shaving cream. For example, you might say “ooo”, “aah”, ‘Hi frog!”, “Bye frog”. As your child is playing, you may hear them say sounds or words. This is a great time to repeat their sound productions.Your child may love the feeling of the shaving cream as they spread it all around. If your child does not love the texture, think of it as a way to expand your child’s sensory system, which is an important part of their cognitive development.

Here are some other ways that we play with shaving cream during our therapy sessions:

• Add googly/wiggly eyes and paint to shaving cream and create a funny face!
• Write ten sight words on post it notes. Place the post it notes on the tray. After your child reads a sight word cover it up with shaving cream.
• Or for a higher reading challenge, write a sentence on a notecard. Place the notecard on the tray. Have your child read it and then cover it up with shaving cream.

We also recommend this article for more information on how sensory play helps with your child’s development.