by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener
Being in nature is a perfect way to engage the senses for all ages. Creating a garden sensory tray will help toddlers and young children make positive associations between nature and the senses. Go for a walk in your neighborhood or look around the house to find items for the tray. You can then sit down and talk about what is on the tray, offering prompts to describe each sense. For example, “what do you notice about this rosemary when you put it under your nose?” or “can you tell me how this bark feels on your fingers?” Don’t worry if you don’t know the name of each plant, this activity is based on the five traditional senses: touch, sound, taste, sight, and smell.
Some examples of items include:
- Rosemary or other fragrant herb or flower
- Rough piece of mulch or bark
- Pinecone or other seeds
- Fuzzy leaves or flower petals
- Soft grass
- A piece of fruit or vegetable cut into child size portions
- Brightly colored flower
- Two rocks to tap together
- Citrus peels
Grow a Sensory Garden
Touch: Lamb’s ears, rose campion, snapdragons
Taste: Strawberries, cherry tomatoes, chives or garlic, herbs
Smell: Lavender, mint, jasmine, lemon balm
Sound: Quake grass, bamboo, corn
Sight: Zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos
When the parks open up, you can also visit the Sensory Garden at Lake Merritt Garden in Oakland or the sensory area in the Children’s Garden at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek.