10 Affordable Activities To Make At Home For Under AED 100!

10 Amazing Play Ideas to Make at Home! (all for under AED 100)

with Samina Khanyari, General Manager at Jumeirah International Nurseries

Meet Samina Khanyari a General Manager from Jumeirah International Nurseries (JINS) who is passionate about early childhood development. We asked her to share her favourite budget-friendly DIY play ideas so keep reading to find out how you can create fun and enriching activities for your children, all for under AED 100.

Have you ever noticed that while children like receiving brand-new toys, they always seem very intrigued when they find general household products, such as containers, shoe boxes and empty tissue rolls to play with? They love painting at the kitchen table or having the freedom to get creative and messy, especially if it’s with the full attention of a loved one. It can be an exciting pastime for children and a budget-friendly way to keep them entertained at home, so read on, we’ve got the perfect list of DIY toys for you.

Firstly, Let’s Look at The Role of Sensory Play in Children’s Development

Sensory play is centered around activities that stimulate a child’s senses – touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. This form of play is crucial because it directly impacts the sensory processing system, which is foundational in acquiring all other skills. From squishing soft clay to listening to the rustle of leaves, sensory experiences provide raw data for brain development. These activities refine motor skills, enhance cognitive processes, and bolster problem-solving abilities. More importantly, they lay down the neural pathways that are essential for complex learning and behaviour in the future.

The Experience for Parent and Child

Sensory activities offer a rich tapestry of tactile and visual learning opportunities, stimulating creativity and cognitive development. Play-based learning allows children to explore, experiment, and discover the world at their own pace, providing a firm foundation for all future learning. As they manipulate objects, interact with others, and use their senses to gather information, they are doing more than just playing – they are preparing themselves for the complex world that awaits them.

For parents looking to enrich their children’s early experiences, incorporating sensory and interactive play at home is a powerful, accessible approach. It does not require extensive resources, just a willingness to engage and explore alongside their children. This approach not only amplifies developmental outcomes but also deepens the bonds between children and parents, crafting a joyful journey of growth and discovery together.

A Peek inside the JINS Family Club Parent Workshop

A JINS Family Club workshop was recently held at the JINS Sunmarke branch in JVT. It was an interactive, hands-on experience where mums and dads learnt how to make these 10 amazing play resources themselves. It was fun, practical, and left parents feeling inspired and eager to try out these resources at home with their children.

The 10 Amazing Play Resources

The 10 Amazing Play Resources list from this workshop and the download link to the instructions for each can be found below. The activities are quick, cheap, and easy to make:

• Playdough
• Sensory Bottles
• Oobleck
• Edible Paint
• Kinetic Sand
• Flubber
• A Collection Jar
• Moon Sand
• A Sensory Sniffing Jar
• Bubble Solution

Download JINS Play Ideas Now 

JINS Family Club 

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