Thursday, May 16, 2013

Gruffalo Inspired Sensory Board

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As I have mentioned before, J is obsessed with "The Gruffalo" lately. While brainstorming some book extension activities, I thought it would be fun to create a Gruffalo inspired sensory board.

This sensory board cost me approximately $5 to make and made use of some recycling.

Gruffalo inspired sensory board for kids made for $5 from And Next Comes L

To Make the Gruffalo's Features

Orange eyes - two LED push lights ($1.50 each at the dollar store), painted with orange and black acrylic paints. However, I would opt for better quality push lights than I purchased. You'll see why later on.
Poisonous wart - green balloon filled with rice
Terrible teeth - part of an egg carton
Terrible tusks - two bubble wands that were in the boys' Easter baskets. I cut off the wand and hot glued the wand end to create a tight seal.
Gruffalo fur - brown chenille sock cut up ($1 for the pair of socks at the dollar store, but I only used half of one sock)
Knobbly knees - three milk jug lids
Purple prickles - purple hair brush ($1 at the dollar store). I just snapped off the handle with my hands.

I found the board in my garage as part of the "take to the dump" pile. It was a shelf from our old entertainment center. Yeah, upcycling! Then I simply hot glued all of the materials onto the board.

Now for the close up. Brown Gruffalo fur, purple prickles made from a hair brush, and knobbly "milk lid" knees.

Parts of a Gruffalo inspired sensory board for kids from And Next Comes L

Orange eyes that really glow, a large green poisonous wart, terrible teeth, and terrible tusks...

The eyes do light up, as you can barely see in the photo below. We were playing in the sunroom where it's too bright to see the glowing orange eyes.

Glowing eyes on a Gruffalo sensory board for kids from And Next Comes L

Then it was time for the boys to check it out.

Checking out the Gruffalo inspired sensory board for kids from And Next Comes L

K deciding what to touch from And Next Comes L

K reached for the Gruffalo's orange eyes first, where he quickly figured out how to remove the eyes. They twisted off way too easily, which is why I suggest buying better quality push lights.

Oops! One eyed Gruffalo from And Next Comes L

After breaking one of the eyes, K made sure to check out all of the other different textures.

Touching the Gruffalo's purple prickles from And Next Comes L

Gruffalo fur on a Gruffalo inspired sensory board for kids from And Next Comes L

However, the poisonous wart was the boys' favorite thing to play with. It was perfect for squishing.

J squishing the Gruffalo's wart from And Next Comes L

Then K decided to try exploring with his mouth, where he discovered he could pull and stretch the Gruffalo's wart. I love this picture below. It makes me smile!