The Set Up

A low tub or tray works perfectly here. Set it on the floor or a very low table so even the smallest artists can stand at it comfortably, or sit beside it and reach in. Green split peas make the most gorgeous base for this one... they look like little eggs and the colour is perfect for a nest. Pour in enough to cover the bottom of the tray generously.

Scatter in little fluffy chicks (the craft store ones that appear every Easter are adorable and cheap), small nests, mini foam eggs in pastel colours, felt birds, little bunnies, and wooden eggs if you have them. Kmart, Daiso, and the dollar shops are your best friends for stocking a tray like this. We spend maybe $10 to $15 on bits and pieces and it lasts the whole week.

The trick is layering textures: the smooth pour of the split peas, the softness of the felt animals, the weight of the wooden eggs. That mix is what keeps hands coming back. Include scoops, small cups, tongs, and tiny baskets for sorting and collecting. A few real twigs and leaves from the garden tucked around the edges finishes the whole thing off... it makes it feel a bit wild.

Then stand back! Sensory play is the best because it doesn't need direction and it's the kids and the materials that tell the story.