The Sensory Umbrella - A Fun Activity for Babies

One of the infant activities I'm focusing on right now is the sensory umbrella, and that's for many reasons. For one, it's very easy to make and easy to use. It's also very engaging and fun, and a good way to bond with your baby. Here's what you need to know about the sensory umbrella, how to create one, and how to use it with your baby. 

Why it's useful:

• It stimulates different senses, but mainly allows the child to see and touch, point and tell, and thus experiment with different colors and textures and learn new words.
• It's suitable for babies and toddlers alike.
• It's perfect before nap or bedtime.
• It's pretty engaging for the baby and a fun way to distract him.
• It's easy to make (and also cheap).
• It's feasible and can be changed easily.
• It can have many uses.
• It's a good way to bond with your baby. 

You will need:

• A rainbow umbrella (this can be found at 1$ stores)
• Items from around the house that can be attached easily (ribbons, masks, recycled CDs, confetti, small toys...).
• Scotch tape or pieces of thread or any material that can tie objects but can be easily removed. Avoid glue.

N.B. I started with simple items I found around the house, such as teethers, ribbons, confetti, a mask, and small toy objects like a toy duck. You can easily remove one object and replace it with another when your child gets bored of the current items.

How to use it:

Once you find items at home that your infant likes or you think might be interesting for your infant to play with, attach the objects with scotch tape or thread to the ribs or stretcher of the umbrella. Set up a play area using quilts and pillows, or simply use your child's playpen and hold the umbrella securely over that area. Then, you can use the sensory umbrella in different ways and contexts. 

• Point to colors and name them.
• Point to objects and name them.
• Let your infant reach out for and experiment with different textures of ribbons and other objects, and to discover things for him or herself under the umbrella (for example, if he touches the CD it will spin).
• Read stories under the sensory umbrella. 
• Have a snack together under the umbrella. 
• Relate to real life (for example, show your infant that the color blue in the umbrella is the same as the color blue in the story book).
• Have a nap together under the sensory umbrella. 

There are different ways you can use the sensory umbrella, and different ways to create it. You can start with basic items and then progress on to more advanced items as your infant grows a bit, but most importantly, make it creative, fun, and all about your baby.