Amanda Nachtwey, one of our amazing Brand Ambassadors, agreed to share some of her genius ideas for DIY sensory crafts, and we loved what she had to say! Read on to get inspiration for your own littles:

We are on the brink of brrrr season and with that being said, a lot of us will be spending more time indoors. I know...the thought of your kiddos cooped up inside for the next few months sounds daunting. The house will be a mess...siblings will fight... and what in the world will we do to keep them occupied?

Well my friends, as a mom of three I have found 5 simple sensory filled activities to cycle through this fall season! These ideas are practical, inexpensive, and easy to work with.

Washing Station

What you'll need:

• 2 bowls/bins per kid +soap
• 1 dish brush per kid
• 1 towel per kid and water

How To: Grab 2 big bowls per child. Fill one with water and soap and the other with water. Choose some toys in your house that could use a good scrubbing. We love to wash our toy food and toy dishes.

Beans in a Bowl

(Monitor your child while playing to avoid choking)

What you'll need:

• Any type of hard bean/pea (we use kidney, pinto, and dried peas for each color)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• 2-3 different bowls (to encourage pouring and separationg)
• Cooking funnel (if you have one)

How to:

It is very simple! Pour each of the beans/peas in a different bowl and let your kiddo use their imagination. FYI - it is a simple sweeping clean up!

Sensory Box

What you'll need:

• Craft Box (with organizing walls)
• Pipe Cleaners
• Clothes Pins (or any you have around the house)
• Stickers
• Stamps (hobby lobby) 
• Small pieces of paper 
• Plus Plus Interlock Toys (we found ours in the Target Bullseye section during Christmas)

How to:

Fill the craft box with the various items and let your kiddo explore! Our daughter spends 30 minutes - 1 hour playing with this craft box.

Flour Power

What you'll need:

• 2 bowls per kiddo
• 1 measuring cup per kid
• Flour
• Scraping Tools

How to: 

Let your kiddo play on a hard surface (table/baking sheet) by transferring the flour to multiple bowls, letting them feel the softness of the flour in their hands and using tools to manipulate it. I know, it seems messy, but trust me, all you need is a broom and wash cloth and tada it's clean. :)

Thank you Amanda for sharing all these amazing ideas!

Before you go, make sure to check out our Parker Baby Co. bestsellers - you won't want to embark on the parenting adventure without them!

^^ Every little one deserves a blanket they can snuggle and cherish for years to come. Our Quilts are soft, durable, and oversized! Order your favorite pattern here.

^^ You need a place to store all your DIY sensory craft supplies in, and our Diaper Caddies are just the thing. Choose from our color options here!

^^ On the go parenting just got easier - bring a Belt Bag with you, perfectly sized to hold 1-2 diapers, a travel pack of wipes, and all your on the go essentials. Order here!