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10 Salt Trays for Fun Writing Practice

If you’ve been hanging around our blog for any length of time, you have probably heard me talk about multisensory learning and how important it is. When kids learn with all their senses, they are far more likely to remember what they learn.

closeup of child writing a letter in a salt tray

Well, if you’ve never tried using salt trays as a sensory writing exercise for your children, this blog post is for you!

Children of all ages and abilities can benefit from this great kinesthetic activity. Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make your own salt tray!

Salt trays are perfect for practicing these skills:

child practicing sight words with a salt tray

How to Create Your Own Salt Tray

It’s really easy to create a salt tray for your child.

  1. Select a recipe from our download below.
  2. Mix salt, color, and fragrance to create a colorful, scented salt mixture.
  3. Spread the salt mixture in a shallow pan.
  4. Start writing!

Download this free printable to get complete instructions, fun variations, and a full set of uppercase and lowercase alphabet cards.

10 Scented Salt Trays

Our download includes ten fragrant recipes that will increase the sensory impact of your salt trays. Download Make Your Own Salt Tray now and pick your favorite!

  1. Lavender Salt Tray – purple salt and the calming aroma of lavender
  2. Creamsicle Salt Tray – orange salt with the citrusy scent of summer
  3. Candy Cane Salt Tray – red salt with the festive aroma of the holidays
  4. Lemonade Salt Tray – yellow salt with a fresh lemony scent
  5. Pumpkin Spice Salt Tray – orange salt and the scent of autumn
  6. Chocolate Salt Tray – brown salt with the sweet smell of chocolate
  7. Almond Joy Salt Tray – brown salt and a hint of almond and coconut
  8. Strawberry Banana Salt Tray – red salt and the aroma of a fruit smoothie
  9. Root Beer Float Salt Tray – brown salt and a whiff of root beer and ice cream (minus the glass!)
  10. Sugar Cookie Salt Tray – beige salt with the smell of a fresh-baked cookie
Young child writing in a salt tray

Tips for Using Your Salt Tray

  • You can use a baking dish, jelly roll pan, or cafeteria tray to create your salt tray.
  • Having a colored backdrop helps the letters show up better. If your tray isn’t colored, you can tape colored paper in the bottom of the tray for contrast.
letter M and a colored background in a salt tray
  • Put the tray on a towel or tablecloth for easy clean-up.
  • Add a thin layer of salt to the tray. If you use too much salt, it is hard to see the letters.
  • For young children who are just learning the alphabet, place the letter card next to the tray for the child’s reference.
the letter E written in a salt tray
  • Use the pointer finger of the dominant hand to “write” in the salt.
  • Shake the pan gently to “erase” the writing.
child shaking salt tray to erase

More Sensory Tray Ideas

Here are a few more materials you can add to a tray or pan. Food coloring or scents can be added to these materials as well, or they can just be left plain.

  • Sand
  • Flour
  • Shaving Cream
  • Cornmeal

Have you used a salt tray or another sensory writing activity with your child? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

___________________________________
Photo credit: Elaine from Humble Dwelling

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Melissa

says:

Love this activity for multisensory learning!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Melissa!

Dee

says:

Love the idea of this for both my kids! Pumpkin spice & sugar cookie will be a hit

Robin

says: Customer Service

Dee,
My kids enjoyed the sugar cookie, but I personally liked the candy cane (peppermint) one best.

Beth

says:

Shaving cream is great. The kids love playing in it and it acts as a cleaner as well.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Beth! I didn’t think about shaving cream being like a cleaner.

Stephanie

says:

Oh! I never thought about using shaving cream for this. Will have to change it up!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Stephanie,
Shaving cream and such are so much fun! Kids often are happy to keep writing much longer with novel writing materials like shaving cream and colorful salt trays.

Jen

says:

This has been a big help for my daughter.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Great to hear, Jen! Thank you.

Carlos

says:

Our son is an avid reader, but doesn’t like to write. We’ll try this approach instead

Robin

says: Customer Service

Carlos,
I hope you find salt trays helpful. However, you may find the tips and suggestions on our Dysgraphia: How can I help my child? article helpful as well.

Jessica Beard

says:

Thank for you for the printable and idea to use salt trays. I’m going to try this with my daughter’s sight words this week.

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jessica! I hope she enjoys this activity!

Sara

says:

We have utilized salt trays too many times to count. Always a fun time!! My 3rd grade teacher let us practice writing our spelling words in shaving cream on our desks. I loved that! Now, so do my kids. I haven’t tried different colors and scents with salt trays. Thanks for the idea!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Sara,
Writing in fun substances like shaving cream or salt is such a great activity! Glad we would give you an idea for adding color and scent to make it even more fun!

Rebekah

says:

I remember loving to write in shaving cream as a kid. I love the idea of using differntly colored and scented salt.

Megan

says:

I am looking forward to using this for both my 7 year old level 1 speller and for my 3 year old. Both children can learn and do something fun.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Yes, great point, Megan! Salt writing is a great activity for a wide range of ages!

Heather

says:

Such a great idea!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Heather!

Alexa

says:

This is such a fun way to practice letters!

Alex

says:

I haven’t thought of scented salt before! Brilliant!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Alex!

Stefani

says:

My reluctant learner enjoyed writing letters in sand.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Mine too, Stefani! I’ve heard that salt is easier to clean up than sand, but we always did sand writing outside so I never worried about clean up.

Patty

says:

Love this!

Tash

says:

This activity is so good for smaller kids. It gives them the ability to be more hands on and help in letter identification

Robin

says: Customer Service

Tash,
So true, but it’s a good activity for older children too. Spelling review can be more interesting with a nice, scented salt tray.

Alexandra

says:

That looks so fun!

JS

says:

My kids love salt trays, but I get they’d love scented ones even more. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing

Cristina

says:

Looks fun!

Carly

says:

I’ve done this with rice. I bet salt is better for showing the letter shapes. Either way it’s such a fun way to get some practice in!

Becca

says:

It’s been awhile since I’ve done salt trays! Thanks for the reminder and useful tips like coloring the salt or putting colored paper underneath to show up better.

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Becca!

Shawna P.

says:

I’ve used salt trays before but never thought to add scent! What a great idea! Thanks!

Patty Asfour

says:

Love the salt tray idea!

Sarah

says:

Salt trays are great fun to add variety to spelling

Allie G

says:

Such a neat activity idea

Allie

says:

What cute idea

Ruth Smith

says:

Great idea!

Ashley Ramon

says:

I love the idea of a colored backdrop for contrast! Thank you!

Sarah Dixon

says:

Love this! Thanks!

Dawn

says:

This is great! Salt trays have been a hit with my boys. Now we will have to try adding colors and scents!