Peppermint is one of my favorite holiday scents. One whiff and I’m back in the land of Santa, Rudolph and snow.
So when it was time to practice writing, we made a peppermint sensory writing tray. Sensory trays make tricky work like letters and sight words so much more fun.
How to Make a Peppermint Writing Tray
Christmas Writing and Drawing Prompts
Get the printableA shallow tray
Table salt
Red food coloring
A few drops of peppermint extract
A paintbrush or candy cane for writing
Add salt
Fill the tray with a generous layer of salt.
Color it
Add a couple drops of red food coloring and mix until the salt is pink. Add more for a deeper color.
Add scent
Stir in a few drops of peppermint extract.
Write
Kids write letters, words or numbers with a paintbrush or a candy cane, then shake to erase.
Safety note
Salt isn’t for eating in large amounts, so this is for kids past the mouthing stage. We use peppermint extract instead of essential oil, since peppermint oil isn’t recommended for young children.
Ways to Use a Writing Tray
- Letters: Hold up a card and have kids copy it.
- Sight words: Write one, shake, repeat.
- Math: Write numbers or simple equations.
- Pre-writing: Practice lines, circles and zigzags.
Love sensory writing? Try our kinetic sand writing next.
More letter activities
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Practice holiday fine motor skills with our Christmas playdough task cards.
The writing prompts include
- Christmas writing and drawing prompts
- Picture support for early writers
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Writing centers
- Preschool through 2nd grade
- December lessons
Sensory Writing Tray FAQ
A tray filled with salt, sand or another material that kids write in with a finger or tool.
Mix in a few drops of food coloring until it’s even.
A finger, paintbrush, craft stick or candy cane.
Keep the salt in a sealed bag or container to reuse.
More Christmas Activities
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From families like yours
Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
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