When I was teaching, I absolutely loved incorporating the sensory table into our daily activities. We could use it for so many things, from fishing for letters to creating 'small world' habitats during our animal study units. Sensory experiences really resonate with children because it is essentially learning through play...which is one of the best (and most fun!) ways to learn!
Curls has been having sensory bin experiences since he was old enough to sit up on his own. He has a sensory table that sees a ton of action out in our front patio, but a lot of times, I will just pour something into a large cake pan and set it in front of him, sometimes with a few tools to manipulate, sometimes without. You really don't need to spend a bunch of money on a sensory table, a plastic container or cake pan work just as well! The point is the experience of playing with something; using your hands to explore the sensation and texture of new things.
You also don't need to spend a ton of extra money on filler for your sensory bin experiences. Here are just two of the many toddler (safe to eat) options that I've used with Curls! (Stay tuned for more great sensory bin ideas!)
Instant Potato Flakes
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| Super simple set-up sensory play! (say that 5 times fast) |
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| Curls starts by just pushing the stuff around. |
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| Then he starts using the tools |
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| Finally eating it too! |
Cooked Spaghetti Noodles
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| Curls loves the way the pasta feels sticky! |
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| Dirty D is always up for a fun sensory bin |
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| Simple, yet so much fun! |
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| Of course, some always ends up in his mouth! |
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