ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: 20 FUN WAYS TO EXPLORE THE SENSE OF SMELL

Over the past year, we’ve been writing about all of the different sensory systems.  We’ve written about sensory processing, what it means, why it’s such an important part of child development, and how you can promote healthy development of the sensory systems in your child.

Up next is the sense of smell – or the olfactory system!  

What is the Olfactory Sense?

The sensory receptors in the nose pick up information about the odors around us and pass that information along a channel of nerves where it eventually reaches the brain.  The olfactory system can discriminate between thousands of different odors.

The olfactory system does more than just process smells.  It is also related to our limbic system, which is a part of our nervous system that is responsible for emotions and memory.  The olfactory system is also associated with the sense of taste, helping to create the flavors that we taste in food.  This is why nothing seems to taste quite right when you have a bad cold.

Today, we’ve rounded up 20 great activities for kids that will put those little sniffers right to work!

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: 20 FUN WAYS TO EXPLORE THE SENSE OF SMELL

Scented Doughs

Rainbow Scented Cloud Dough from Lemon Lime Adventures

Scented Cloud Dough from Learn Play Imagine

Calming Lavender Playdough Recipe from The Art Kit Blog

Homemade Herb and Spice Play Dough from Craftulate

No Cook Apple Play Dough from The Imagination Tree

Scented Sensory Bins

Pumpkin Scented Rice Sensory Bin from Hands on : as we grow

Summer Lemon Scented Rice Sensory Bin from Little Bins for Little Hands

Scented Water Sensory Bin for Spring from Fun-A-Day

Smelling Bottles

DIY Sensory Smelling Bottles from Carrots are Orange

Smelling Sensory Bottles from Things to Share & Remember

Sense of smell: Fun with smelling bottles from Gift of Curiosity

DIY Smelling Bottles from Counting Coconuts

Other Olfactory Fun

Scratch-N-Sniff Watercolor Paint from Learn Create Love

Sensory Cooking from Meaningful Mama

Scented Ice Lab from Lemon Lime Adventures

Scented Chalk Paint from Munchkin and Bean

Sense of smell Mr. Sketch marker work! from Montessori Design

Scented Color Mixing Activity from Fun A Day

Sense of Smell Game from Learn Play Imagine

Sensory Smell Cards from The Chaos and the Clutter

So what are you waiting for?  Round up the kids and start exploring the sense of smell!  Be sure to sign up to receive our newsletter, a weekly roundup of our favorite posts delivered right to your inbox!  Simply enter your email address in the box in the sidebar and click “Subscribe”!