Exploring Smelling Jars: A Fun Sensory Activity for 6-Year-Olds

What are Smelling Jars?

Smelling jars are simple containers that hold different items to smell. This activity helps children explore their sense of smell and learn to identify different scents.

What You'll Need

• Small jars or containers with lids (like baby food jars or small glass jars)
• Diverse items to smell (e.g., spices like cinnamon and vanilla, fruits like orange and lemon peels, flowers, etc.)
• Labels or paper to write the names of what’s inside

How to Make Smelling Jars

1. Gather Materials: First, find your small jars and a variety of items with different scents.
2. Fill the Jars: Place one scented item in each jar and secure the lid tightly.
3. Label the Jars: Write the name of each scent on a piece of paper and stick it on the jar, or have the jar unlabelled for guessing games.

How to Play with Smelling Jars

1. Guess the Smell: Have your child smell each jar and try to guess what scent it is!
2. Sort by Smell: Ask them to group similar scents together, like fruits or spices.
3. Draw and Describe: After smelling each jar, encourage them to draw what they think the item looks like and describe the smell in words.

Why is This Important?

This smelling jars activity is not just fun, it's also educational! It enhances kids' sensory skills, helps them express their thoughts, and encourages curiosity about the world around them.