Using Tuff Spot trays in your Baby Room

5 Simple Tuff spot activities for your Baby Room

Tuff spot trays are a fantastic resource for nurseries, they are large enough for children to group around and can either be placed on the floor, on a stand or on a table. Many resources/materials can be put in a tuff spot tray for children to explore and develop their senses. Using a tuff spot try in a baby room is ideal for introducing sensory play experiences, filling the tray with a wide range of sensory materials can help develop many areas of babies development. 

Here are a few tuff spot ideas for your baby room

• Creating a farm scene using breakfast cereals, farm animals and other resources such as green fabric- this simple activity will not last long, however, children will enjoy exploring the different textures while learning new words. Activities like this encourage children to be independent, with practitioners nearby, ready to enhance the learning opportunities
• Gloop and sea animals – Mix cornflour, water and a few drops of blue food colouring. Add other resources such as sea animals and let the children take the animals on a journey. As young children may not have the vocabulary yet, it is important that practitioners use language during these activities.
• Sand – hiding insect – Fill your tuff spot with sand and hide some insects in the sand for the children to find. Babies will thoroughly enjoy exploring the texture of the sand; some children may at first be reluctant to touch it, however with support from practitioners they may begin to do so. By adding other resources this can create other learning intentions.

• Cloud dough- Mix baby oil with sand to make cloud dough. This sensory activity is ideal for babies, as it allows them to use their hands to explore the texture of the dough. Babies will enjoy running their fingers through the dough. You could also add some wooden animals to enhance the activity.
• Water play with ducks – Fill your day with water and add some rubber ducks. You can use the props to encourage early maths skills, for example using the ducks to sing five little ducks when swimming one day. 

Tuff spot may be used for pretty much anything, for further ideas visit our Pinterest board