I LOVE sensory boxes. When working in pre-schools I used to LOVE coming up with all kinds of exciting things to stick into the big sensory boxes they had.
Teeny little frogs? With little fish nets? Snag one. Stare it down. Let it loose again.
(Okay. True confession time. We started with eight teeny frogs. Ended with six. DON’T tell PETA, k?)
Snow?
Long pieces of paper with Matchbox cars and painted wheels to ‘drive’?
Cotton balls?
TEN boxes of industrial sized jello mixed with Knox Blox?
Fill up the table with vinegar and then let the kids sprinkle all kinds of colored baking soda in it?
Okay. Maybe that one was a better idea than actual plan.
ahem.
Our sensory boxes here really aren’t boxes. They are big bucket things I bought at a yard sale.
Remember, I am nothing if not cheap. And quite frankly a wee bit PMS-Y today.
I filled this sensory bucket with things that represent Fall.
Leaves from the Dollar Store (These kinda off-gassed some. They smelled Funky. So I let them air out for a few days outside.)
I would have used real leaves. But I read this article about spores on real leaves and kids with weak immune systems that put everything in their mouths.
That article scarred me for life I tell ya.
Real pine cones from a local golf course. I stuck these in a plastic bag and stuck that in the freezer for a few days.
Bugs are also a part of my Weird.
Deal with it.
You’ll notice that I have THREE pine cones. Because we are counting to THREE.
Always thinking. That’s me. heh.
Pieces of ribbon in orange and brown…….our colors of the week.
Let me let you in on a HUGE secret.
Sensory tables are just about the sensory.
It’s about the learning that goes on while your kid is making a
huge mess.
uh….being creative. That’s what I meant. Being creative.
There’s sorting to be done!
And matching!
Add a pair of tongs or a set of measuring cups or chop sticks or a little butterfly net……whatever your amazing little brain comes up with and your sensory experience turns into an OT experience.
“OT Without Tears”
It’s the title of a book I’m planning on writing. Perhaps it will earn enough money to buy Parker a new vent. Cause the way a certain Legislative Representative is going it won’t be long until Parker’s is ripped right off of him.
Move over Voldemort, there’s a new He Who Shall Not Be Named here at the Hodson House.
I can’t do as exotic of activities with a trached kid. And I can just see Parker trying to sneak one of those frogs in his mouth.
ugh.
BUT, that doesn’t make sensory tables any less of a incredible learning tool.
And I soooo plan on filling ours with green and red jello this year.
WHAT?! Not enough ideas here for things to fill a sensory table with?
You guys are a hard bunch to please.
But, I’m nothing if not prepared. And a wee bit PMS-Y.
But I think I mentioned that already.
MORE IDEAS FOR SENSORY TABLES:
colored noodles
colored rice
orange lentils and black beans (think Halloween here!)
plastic figures
pieces of wrapping paper and bows
potato flakes
oatmeal
oatmeal and glitter
easter grass
crushed ice
ice cubes
colored ice cubes
ice cubes with little figures frozen in them
pom poms of all sizes
marshmallows
foam fish water and strainers
colored water and turkey basters
a mixture of corn starch and water
So, whadda YOU gonna put in YOUR sensory tables?
**The CYA Disclaimer: It is important to match what you put into your sensory table with the age and cognitive ability of your child. Most of the above ideas wouldn’t work with Parker for a variety of reasons. Your kids’ reasons may be different. But still consider them.
Hi Tammy,
I’ve chosen you to be one of the recipients of the Sunshine Award: http://gotdownsyndrome.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-for-21-sunshine-award_06.html
Girl, you’ve just made my day. Thanks, Sweetie.
This is a great post about sensory bins. I hear you on the Leaves. My middle son has severe Mold allergy. For the logest time we did not know that. When we find out (it was fall), his allergist told me not to be raking up big piles of leaves for him to jump in. That’s when I found out they are covered in mold spores, and are aweful for children with low immune systems (wich he also has).
Twitter: MommaHopeful
Oct 6, 10
Tammy,
We use a plastic shoebox. It’s filled with salt. I like to hide all sorts of little things in the salt for him to dig around and try to get at. Most of the time, he avoids it, but we’re making progress!
Here, here Tammy!
I recently started a blog and its mostly inspired by my prince and our sensory boxes and experiences!
I have a dozen or so entries but here was my inspiration: http://wp.me/p14ISw-a
I teach a class to low income home mothers inside a public housing complex and I bring my sensory boxes kits with me (and they are JUST like what you say…sensory boxes, bins, buckets, filled with anything)!
We have to continue to champion for all moms to be empowered and in the moment, we have to share with them what to TEACH and how to do it (play and multisensory), and that it CAN be done with just about anything!
Thanks for the post!
Oh, let him have a frog. One good lick and he’ll spit it out. lol
If you write a book about OT without tears I would SO buy it! Everyday is a struggle with my stubborn one *sigh*
Love the fall sensory and how you incorporated counting, colors, and matching. Brill!