Sensory bins, bags and bottles are easy and inexpensive to make. They are an incredibly simple way to incorporate sensory play in your own home or vehicle or classroom. Sensory bins, sensory bottles and sensory bags allow children to explore, discover, imagine, create, and learn while engaging their senses. Often, kids who will only play with a toy for a few seconds or minutes will spend ten or fifteen minutes playing in a sensory bin while their mom or dad stands there, mouth agape, wondering how in the world their active child is staying focused on one activity for so long.
This is because of the sensory component of the play. Your child is not able to tell you when their sensory needs are not being met, but when they encounter an activity that fills that void for them, they know immediately that it is something they need to be doing.
Sensory bottles are often referred to as calm down bottles. When a sensory bottle has items such as glitter in it that move slowly, children and adults are often mesmerized by watching their slow descent and this calms their breathing and helps them regulate themselves and their emotions. I also have created weighted sensory bottles for much the same reason.
They can provide a calm down effect due to the sensory input they provide. Sensory bags are often referred to as squish bags and they also meet sensory needs in a simple way.
When it comes time for me to put them in the freezer, she expresses that she is sad to not be able to play with them anymore, so I whip up a simple sensory bag for her to play with. Two of our children have used sand trays in their therapy. Sand trays are especially appropriate to help children work through past traumas. I believe that my children were more comfortable doing their sand tray work because they were so used to sensory bin play. Those who work with patients with dementia and Alzheimers are finding it helpful to use sensory bags, bottles and bins.
A child who struggles to express himself with language, may touch play snow for the first time and attempt to communicate how it feels. When the materials inside sensory bins are offered to children without an expectation of a finished product, children use their imaginations and creativity to make sense of the materials in their own way. This experience is often referred to as open-ended exploration.
Having a sensory bin in the classroom can support a wide variety of academic skills. Small dustpans and brooms can often be purchased at your local dollar store. Privacy Policy. I'm Vanessa, I help busy Pre-K and Preschool teachers plan effective and engaging lessons, create fun, playful learning centers, and gain confidence in the classroom.
As a Pre-K teacher with more than 20 years of classroom teaching experience, I'm committed to helping you teach better, save time, stress less, and live more. Login Signup. Exploring the benefits of sensory play. Posted by Goodstart 12 March Previous article. Next article. Can fun and education go hand in hand? You bet Using story stones emblazoned with pictures of Creating opportunities for children to take par
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