When preparing to provide sensory and/ or natural play as an activity for children, staff should consider the following:

• Children must be screened for new symptoms and if symptoms identified, the child should not participate in sensory and/or natural play
• Staff and children must wash their hands before and after participating in sensory, natural play or arts and crafts activities.
• Staff and children must not eat or drink while participating in activity.
• Sensory/natural play bins must be cleaned and disinfected between emptying and refilling.
• Always read product labels and warnings to ensure play material is age appropriate and safe for use by children.
• Avoid use of water with any dried food products (e.g. pasta).
• Ensure natural items from outside are visually clean.
• Avoid items such as sand and soil from outdoor locations; meat trays, used egg cartons, shaving cream or toilet paper rolls; manure or other products containing possible fecal matter; or chemicals.
• During an outbreak in the child care centre, all group sensory/natural play must be paused until the outbreak is over. Sensory play items that were in use prior to the outbreak (e.g., play dough) must be discarded. Natural play items may need to be discarded or removed from programming for a period of time.