Sensory Table

[busymommy0420]

I really want to do a sensory table indoors. I have one outside that I put water or sand in in the spring/summer. I have a ton of rice I purchased and want to make one indoors with a storage bin. What does everyone use in their sensory bin? I would love some ideas. My ages are 2, 2, 2, 3, 5 and two school age boys ages 10 and 11 who wouldn't use the bin much. Thanks!!!

[SunshineMama]

Look on Pinterest!!!

I just made a sensory bin with rice and dried beans (kidney, split peas, and lentils).

I added some small, painted seashells (a HUGE hit), scoops, containers to scoop in, some sparkly little pom poms, zoo animals and a zookeeper, and some popcicle sticks. The kids make "fences" for the animals out of the sticks, and love to sort the different colored beans and seashells.

I put the bin on the floor over a large sheet. Be warned- it can get messy! Most of the time the children try very hard to play over the bin, and it will keep the 3+ age group occupied for a very long time. I even can sit and drink a cup of coffee peacefully when I only have the older kids. happyface

Check out Pinterest- I found a ton of awesome sensory bin ideas and themes there. A snow theme with cotton balls and styrofoam balls and accessories to build your own snowman, dinosaur excavation themes- you name it!

[Ariana]

I go to the dollar store and get all kinds of stuff! I use rice, beans, chickpeas, orzo pasta as the base filler and then I get dollar store stuff like beads, rocks, heart shaped pieces of foam...really anything that catches my eye! I divide stuff into ziploc bags and depending on the theme I bring it out and add to the filler. I have Halloween stuff (skulls, spiders, skeletons and eyeball bouncy balls) and Valentines (fake diamonds, foam hearts and red rocks) and fall (gourds, fake leaves and orange beads) etc. The dollar store craft section is my friend

I also have spoons, old baby bottles, cups and tongs for them to play with....

[SunshineMama]

I go to the dollar store and get all kinds of stuff! I use rice, beans, chickpeas, orzo pasta as the base filler and then I get dollar store stuff like beads, rocks, heart shaped pieces of foam...really anything that catches my eye! I divide stuff into ziploc bags and depending on the theme I bring it out and add to the filler. I have Halloween stuff (skulls, spiders, skeletons and eyeball bouncy balls) and Valentines (fake diamonds, foam hearts and red rocks) and fall (gourds, fake leaves and orange beads) etc. The dollar store craft section is my friend

Obsessed with the Dollar store! This makes me want to go today!

[spud912]

I change my sensory bin based on the season/holidays. I will be prepping my March bin this weekend (I will use green-colored rice, gold coins from Oriental Trading, black "gold" pots from Oriental Trading, charms from Oriental Trading, green pom poms, and I want to search for some cheap and small ceramic leprechauns). I usually also use seasonal erasers and cups from the dollar store and always have scoops and measuring cups on hand. I save the contents of the bins for the following year.

[melskids]

You'd be surprised about the SA boys. I have 3, all 8 and 9 yrs old,and 1 SA girl who is 8. They love the sensory bin and sand table and will sit there and just dig their hands around in it. I think they find it relaxing after a long school day.

[Ariana]

I totally have to go and get some stuff for my Easter/Spring sensory bin!! so exciting!!

[Blackcat31]

I just made a sensory bin with rice and dried beans (kidney, split peas, and lentils).

Dry red kidney beans are toxic!

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2010/01/valentines-sensory-tub-2.html

[Unregistered]

Just curious

Could you tell me how long the rice is good to stay in the sensory tables? Also what is better and/or cheapest to use rice, beans any other suggestions? What is the best way to color the rice? I have never done a sensory table indoors and think my group of almost 3 year olds would LOVE this. Thanks for any help/hints you can offer.

[lovelife]

I have been wanting to do this to. Can anyone post a picture?

[busymommy0420]

Ok...I put 4 bags of brown rice, lots of toy spoons, cups, bowls and medicine droppers in the bin. I also put all the zoo animals in there. The three girls all age 2 played for an hour straight. I was able to organize my craft cupboard WITHOUT interruption. They didn't even want to stop for snack!!! Thanks for some new ideas. I think I might do actual snow for a limited time one day and I love the theme ideas some posters had. What a hit!!!! happyfacehappyfacehappyface

[bice99]

AHHHH - kidney beans are toxic! What in the world! I'll have to clean them out of my sensory tub. I have every type of bean/lentil/pea in there. The kids "cook" with pots/pans/recycled containers from my kitchen. The best is the sieve that lets the rice fall through but keeps everything else in the top. We can play for hours. I just keep a card table sized table cloth in the tub and we put it underneath. Then most of the spills can be contained and poured back into the tub when we're done playing.

[busymommy0420]

Here is a picture from today.

[SD DaycareMOM]

You'd be surprised about the SA boys. I have 3, all 8 and 9 yrs old,and 1 SA girl who is 8. They love the sensory bin and sand table and will sit there and just dig their hands around in it. I think they find it relaxing after a long school day.

I was going to say the same thing. Heck, even I like to sit there with the kids and run my fingers through it sometimes!

I have pictures and instructions for making colored rice here.

[snbauser]

Besides those listed already we also have a spring/easter bin that has the paper grass, plastic eggs, pompom chicks, etc in them and one that is spring/gardening that is dirt, rubber worms from the fishing section in walmart, aprons, gardening gloves, little shovels, small pots, and fake flowers for them to plant with. Another favorite is a flour and cinnamon mixture along with "baking" items although we usually do this one outside.