Dinosaur Sand Stamps

Children love to play with dinosaurs, and there are many ways to provide engaging play with the reptilian creatures. Simply fill a sensory table with kinetic sand and dinosaur sand stamps and watch as the children dig, stamp, and mold their way to feeling like actual paleontologists in this dinosaur sensory bin.

Dinosaur Sensory Bin Supplies

• kinetic sand (an 11 lb box will fill a sensory table)
• dinosaur cookie cutters and skeleton stampers
• small brushes or other excavation-like play tools
• magnifying glasses
• plastic dinosaur skeletons and trees (optional)

Setting up the Dinosaur Sand Stamps Sensory Bin

This activity is easy to set up. Simply pour the sand into the sensory bin and add the dinosaur sand stamps. Or step it up a notch by hiding dinosaur skeletons in the sand for the students to discover. Place paintbrushes or toothbrushes and magnifying glasses at the table, and watch the little paleontologists have fun.

What is Kinetic Sand?

Kinetic sand is a mixture of fine sand and dimethicone. The substance is non-toxic. However, use close supervision due to possible choking hazards. This unique sand feels like wet sand and has a play-dough type consistency. Kinetic sand is soft and crumbly but holds its shape when pressed or squeezed. However, what makes it stand apart is the way it oozes apart once pressure is removed!

Why Sensory Play is Important

Sensory play is essential for preschoolers. Sadly, many only get to experience this at school due to busy schedules, parental hesitation (it IS messy, after all), and lack of knowledge or resources to have sensory play at home. But sensory play:

• builds problem-solving
• creates opportunities for exploring
• develops language skills
• Aids in developing and enhancing memory (whole-body learning)
• provides fine motor opportunities
• builds nerve connections in the brain – leads to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks
• calming/soothing for anxious or frustrated children

Providing a variety of sensory experiences helps develop a more well-rounded child!

Using Kinetic Sand

Kinetic sand is fantastic for all kinds of props. Dinosaur stamps are great for exploring dino shapes, and something as simple as sand letter molds can provide sensory play while building letter familiarity.

Continuing the fun!

While dinosaur sand stamps at the sensory table are just the beginning of the fun for dinosaur activities, two weeks of circle time and center fun are already planned out with this Dinosaur Unit. Additionally, the dramatic play corner of any preschool classroom can be transformed into an archeologist’s digging site using this Dino Dig Dramatic Play center.