Tag Archives: sensory activities

Banana Nut Bars: Therapro’s Free Activity of the Month

Activities, Sensory, , ,

Looking for a fun and functional sensory experience? Try the Banana Nut Bars activity—a delicious way to engage children in tactile exploration and olfactory stimulation right in your own kitchen. As therapists, we know that sensory-rich activities support development, and baking is a fantastic opportunity for hands-on learning. This parent-child recipe builds motor skills, encourages following directions, and fits seamlessly into any daily sensory routine.

Prepare for the activity

Make sure you have a stool for your child to use so that he can reach the counter. You can also move the activity to the kitchen table for a more accessible location, and this way the child can sit on a cushion while they help with the baking.

Have your child help gather the ingredients and the necessary tools for baking. Tell them what they are, how they are used, and encourage them to smell and taste the ingredients.

Banana Nut Bars (If you or your child is allergic to nuts, you can substitute chocolate chips)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 overripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup oatmeal
  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup trail mix

Banana Nut Bars activity ingredients display

Directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Grease a 13 x 9 pan and set aside.
    3. Have your child place the bananas in a resalable plastic bag and mash them using a rolling pin. A great way to provide proprioceptive feedback and bilateral integration.

Bananas in a bag for the banana Nut Bars activityRolling the bananas for the banana bread

    1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.
    2. Your child can stir in the mashed bananas and egg and vanilla.
    3. Mix well.
    4. Have your child add the rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Wet incidents in a bowl

    1. Mix until thoroughly combined.
    2. Have your child stir in the trail mix.
    3. Have your child place the mixture in the greased pan.

Banana bread in a pan ready to cook

    1. Bake just until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
    2. Let cool, cut into squares and enjoy!

Finished banana bread

For more engaging, therapist-designed sensory activities like the Banana Nut Bars activity, explore Sensational Fun—a comprehensive collection of creative ideas that support sensory diets at home, in school, or in therapy sessions. Visit Therapro’s Sensational Fun to discover over 100 fun, functional ways to build sensory skills through play.

Therapro’s Free Activity of the Month: Sock Snowman

Activities, Sensory, , ,

Looking for a cozy, winter-themed craft that doubles as fine motor practice? Therapro’s Sock Snowman Activity Idea guides you step-by-step through creating adorable snowmen from recycled socks.

The Snock Snowman Activity is from the Pre-Writing Curriculum Enrichment Series, written and illustrated by Peggy Hundley Spitz, OTR. The books are split into 5 sections, and each section is packed with seasonal activities to enhance your classroom or therapy session. The sections are as follows: Trace & Draw, Crafts and Costumes, Cooking, Stories to Color and Read, and Games.

This month’s activity comes from the Crafts and Costumes section of Winter Activities: Snowflakes Snowflakes Everywhere.

Materials:

  • 1 White tube sock
  • Rubber band
  • Polyester stuffing
  • Fabric paints
  • Felt Strips, 1” x 12” or Ribbon
  • Colorful yarn scraps
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Fill sock with polyester stuffing. Leave 2” at the top unstuffed.
  2. Wrap rubber band around the top of the sock to close the end.
  3. Tie a felt strip or ribbon firmly around the sock where the neck and the scarf of the snowman should be. This will divide the sock into “head” and “body”.
  4. Tie some colorful scraps of yarn around the rubber band,
  5. Use fabric paints to add features and buttons to your snowman.
  6. Allow paint to dry completely.
  7. Enjoy!

Activities:

  1. Explore and encourage tactile awareness by discussing the variety of textures- stuffing, sock, felt, paint, yarn and rubber band.
  2. Add uncooked beans or uncooked rice instead of polyester stuffing to make a weighted snowman.
  3. Add lavender scented sachet to the inside of the snowman for a relaxing friend.
  4. Encourage each child to make their snowman unique and name them.
  5. Use light colored socks such as light blue or pink and shorter socks, see how different they look.

Make it a sensory activity:

After you complete your snowmen enjoy our recipe for Winter Fruit Salad. The recipe is in the cooking section of Winter Activities: Snowflakes Snowflakes Everywhere.

Winter Fruit Salad

Food Needed:

  • 1 red delicious apple, cored and sliced
  • 1 granny smith apple, cored and sliced
  • 1 winter pear, cored and sliced
  • 1 8oz can mandarin orange slices
  • ½ cup seedless grapes
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • Miniature marshmallows
  • 8-10 maraschino cherries

Equipment Needed:

  • Large Bowl
  • Plastic knives
  • Mixing spoon
  • Can opener
  • Serving bowls

Directions:

  1. Wash & dry hands.
  2. Cut apple and pear slices into cubes. Place in a large bowl.
  3. Wash grapes. Add to bowl.
  4. Open can of orange slices and drain. Add to bowl.
  5. Add some marshmallows and ½ cup of shredded coconut. Stir in until all the fruit is covered with coconut.
  6. Spoon into serving bowls. Sprinkle with more coconut and top with a cherry.

Three examples of the Sock Snowman from the Snowman Activity Idea