Sticky play is so much fun (and a great sensory activity for visually impaired children), but can sometimes be really messy!
Here’s a sticky art project that is actually relatively mess free, but still full of learning and sensory potential…
What You’ll Need
- Cookie sheet or tray
- Packing tape
- Collage objects
Project Prep
Many of the sticky collage projects I’ve seen on Pinterest recommend using contact paper, but we’ve found that contact paper just isn’t sticky enough. What we’re looking for is something that gives a good tacky feedback when touched and holds on to objects placed on its surface.
So we used clear packing tape instead (you can use colored tape for more contrast). I laid the packing tape in layers over a cookie sheet allowing the tape to hang off the edge by a couple inches on both sides then peeled up the tape and laid it sticky side up on the cookie sheet. I wrapped the extra edges behind the cookie sheet and taped it in place. Now we have a good sticky surface to play with that is also portable! You could also attach the tape to a tray or table or even the wall!
We filled up some small bowls with a few different objects to stick to our canvas. Here are some things that were fun for Ivan to play with:
- Q-tips
- Cotton balls
- String
- Cheerios
- Baby powder
- Salt
I think it’s a good idea to always have at least one item that is edible. That way if Ivan decides to try to eat something, I can easily redirect him to the cheerios (much tastier than Q-tips)! This also gives you the chance to have one of those “some things are OK to eat and some things aren’t” conversations.
And yes, the salt can get a bit messy, but the result on the tape felt a little like sand paper and Ivan thought that was really neat!
Once you have all your materials laid out, just let your child go for it! Feel the different textures, feel the tape and talk about how the tape is sticky and what that means. Find out which objects stick better and what happens if you try to move something you’ve already stuck to the canvas. Ivan had a blast and his creation was a masterpiece!