Here are some fun props to add to your seaside stories along with the buckets and spades, shells and sun lotion! These props would be useful for many sensory stories set at the beach.
1) Squishy seal
A nice plump seal to hug! How lovely!
2) Spaghetti seaweed
Why not try dying some spaghetti or tagliatelle with green food colouring to create seaweed. (There are lots of instructions for how to dye spaghetti online.)
3) Lobster Claw Oven Mitts
Turn yourself into a huge lobster with these fun mitts!
4) Handwarmers re-create the heat of the sun
I use the disposable kind of handwarmers – they are a little wasteful but very easy to use. I simply pop them into a little drawstring bag and knot the bag up tight and then tell the children to ‘feel the sunshine’. You can find handwarmers like these all year round online, or stock up from outdoor/sports shops in the winter.
5) A stretchy octopus
Nice and tactile! Jellyfish are also available in the same range.
Bonus Ideas!
Here are three bonus ideas for your seaside sensory stories…
To convey the idea of sea creatures that stick to rocks you could try using something with suction cups and sticking it to wheelchair trays or tables. These starfish look fun!
I find that children are often fascinated by things that collapse or fold-up…try including a folding beach bucket like this one:
And last but not least – don’t forget a wave drum!
For more ideas about sensory story props have a look at our blog post The Wonders of Sensory Storytelling Part 1. To come together with others who love sensory stories and get inspired come to our Accessible Book and Story Festival, September 2024.
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.