Creative Activities Using The Mitten for Inclusive Preschool Classrooms

Engaging preschool children with autism can be challenging, especially when trying to find activities that hold their attention and support their development. One effective tool is The Mitten, a classic story by Jan Brett that offers rich opportunities for creative learning. This blog post explores how educators and caregivers can use The Mitten to create meaningful, sensory-friendly activities that encourage communication, social skills, and sensory exploration in preschoolers with autism.

Why Use The Mitten by Jan Brett in Autism Preschool Settings

The Mitten tells a simple, repetitive story about animals squeezing into a lost mitten. Its predictable structure and vivid illustrations make it ideal for children who benefit from routine and visual supports. The story’s rhythm and repetition help build language skills, while the tactile theme invites sensory play.

Using The Mitten in autism preschool settings supports:

• Language development through repetitive phrases and animal names

• Social interaction by encouraging turn-taking and group participation

• Sensory integration with hands-on activities that mimic the story’s textures and shapes

• Fine motor skills through crafts and manipulative play

  
  

Next, we’ll look at specific activities that bring The Mitten to life in ways that resonate with children on the autism spectrum.

Sensory Storytime with Textured Mittens

Start by creating a sensory-rich storytime experience. Use a large mitten prop made from different fabrics such as fleece, cotton, and felt. As you read the story aloud, pass the mitten around so children can touch and feel the textures. This tactile input helps children connect with the story and stay engaged.

How to do it:

• Prepare a mitten with patches of various textures sewn or glued on

• Encourage children to describe how each patch feels (soft, rough, smooth)

• Use animal puppets or pictures to represent the characters entering the mitten

• Pause to ask simple questions like “Who do you think will fit next?”

  
  

This activity supports sensory processing and language comprehension while making storytime interactive.

Animal Movement and Role Play

Children with autism often benefit from movement and role play to understand social cues and emotions. After reading The Mitten, invite children to act out the animals squeezing into the mitten. Assign each child an animal and encourage them to mimic its movements and sounds.

Examples:

• Hop like a frog

• Crawl like a mouse

• Waddle like a hedgehog

  
  

This playful approach helps children practice motor skills and social interaction. It also reinforces the story’s sequence and vocabulary.

Mitten Matching and Sorting Games

Use animal figures or pictures from the story to create matching and sorting games. These activities promote cognitive skills such as categorization and memory.

Activity ideas:

• Match animal cards to pictures of their footprints

• Sort animals by size or habitat

• Place animal figures inside a large mitten-shaped container

  
  

These games can be adapted to different skill levels and encourage turn-taking and cooperative play.

Crafting Personalized Mittens

Craft projects allow children to express creativity while practicing fine motor skills. Provide paper mitten templates and various art supplies like cotton balls, glitter, and fabric scraps. Children can decorate their mittens inspired by the story.

Tips for success:

• Use glue sticks instead of liquid glue to reduce mess

• Offer pre-cut shapes for easier handling

• Encourage children to name the animals or textures they add

  
  

Displaying the finished mittens in the classroom creates a sense of pride and belonging.

Sensory Bin with Mitten-Themed Items

Create a sensory bin filled with materials related to the story. Include items like fake snow, small animal toys, cotton balls, and mitten-shaped objects. Children can explore the bin freely or follow guided activities.

Guided ideas:

• Find and name animals hidden in the snow

• Sort items by texture or color

• Practice scooping and pouring with small containers

  
  

Sensory bins provide calming input and support exploratory learning.

Using Visual Schedules and Social Stories

Visual supports help children with autism understand routines and expectations. Create a visual schedule for the Mitten activities, showing each step with pictures. Additionally, develop a simple social story that explains the story’s theme of sharing space and being patient.

Benefits:

• Reduces anxiety by clarifying what will happen next

• Reinforces social skills like waiting and sharing

• Supports language comprehension through clear visuals

  
  

These tools make the activities more accessible and enjoyable.

Encouraging Communication Through Choice and Interaction

Throughout all activities, encourage children to make choices and communicate preferences. Use simple questions, picture cards, or communication devices to support expression.

Examples:

• “Which animal do you want to be?”

• “Do you want to use the blue or red mitten?”

• “Can you show me the soft patch?”

  
  

This approach fosters independence and language use in a supportive environment.

Summary

Using The Mitten in autism preschool settings offers a variety of creative, sensory-friendly activities that engage children and support their development. From sensory story time and role play to matching games and crafts, these ideas help build language, social skills, and fine motor abilities. Visual supports and communication encouragement make the experience accessible and enjoyable for every child.

If you need to grab a copy of The Mitten please consider using my Amazon Affiliate Link:

Board Book: https://amzn.to/44L2iKH

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4sefORb

Oversized Lap Book: https://amzn.to/3Lgdg49