Sensory Bin & 12-18mos Olds - Am I Nuts?

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Do you know anything about food useage in sensory tables? As far as rules for ratings and assessments go....

In one of my courses, we were told that we couldn't use things such as rice or bean or macaroni in our sensory tables as it is disrespectful to use food items for play.

Besides dry kidney beans being toxic for the kids, they are saying that "playing" with food is not culturally appropriate and disrespectful to those who may be experiencing hunger.

Wondering what you know about this and/or your thoughts.

Yes, in the ratings food as a play item is a big no. No food for art either. (so if your being evaluted - hide it)

I understand where they are coming from but, I do use some. Especially when doing a food theme. My little ones love breaking spaghetti. If you make homemade play dough you are also using food. I think unless if your using organic in your sensory play that it is not really food

My littlest ones love the little pool filled with strips of tissue paper. Big sensory bin I usually plop the sensory bin on my kitchen floor when I am getting lunch or late afternoon. They can play but I can keep an eye on them!

[lovemykidstoo]

I remember when I was a kid in elementary school we made those boxes called shadow boxes with the divided areas with the glass front. Anyone remember those? We would put colored beans in them, macaroni etc. Also we used to make macaroni necklaces too.

[Heidi]

Yes, in the ratings food as a play item is a big no. No food for art either. (so if your being evaluted - hide it)

I understand where they are coming from but, I do use some. Especially when doing a food theme. My little ones love breaking spaghetti. If you make homemade play dough you are also using food. I think unless if your using organic in your sensory play that it is not really food

My littlest ones love the little pool filled with strips of tissue paper. Big sensory bin I usually plop the sensory bin on my kitchen floor when I am getting lunch or late afternoon. They can play but I can keep an eye on them!

yeah, I got the same thing about rating from my technical consultant, and the same answer "just don't do it during an observation".

I have a problem with that....if it's "wrong" its "wrong" all the time...not just when no one is watching. Personally, I wouldn't do pudding painting, etc, but I would be ok with grains in the sensory bin. Maybe because it's not so obviously "food" to the kiddos.

If you are using a grain over and over, then when it "wears out" repurposing for...bird food maybe? or can it go in compost? then are you really "wasting" it?

[Lyss]

For my state I have heard nothing on this.

I don't know if a child would think oh, they are uisng food in here and that is so wrong! Also, alot of the things I put in (birdseed for one) is something a kid wouldn't eat anyway! I guess the birds can be upset with me-

My food items right now consist of pinto beans, white beans, macaroni and birdseed. I don't even think my kiddos think of them as food items because they are in the sensory bin-not on a plate.

I think its silly if its a problem to take $5-$10 dollars to do a sensory bin with dried foods that alot of people even if they are hungry probably wouldn't think of eating.

Regulation wise I have heard nothing on this as well. I always check with parents about allergies (even family history in the past) and religious food restrictions before introducing foods, even in the sensory bins. A lot of my sensory foods (beans, corn, macaroni) all come from parent donations.

We use pinto and white beans as well if we use beans. I don't always use food but when I first start with the little ones I do start with things that are edible (like the rice krispies) because I know it will end up in the mouth at some point. I try to quickly move onto and find things that they won't particularly like and things that don't look like food we normally eat so they don't develop a habit of eating the sensory bin. Now at 10 months my 2 infants are really good about just "splashing" around in whatever is in the bins and not eating it so now we do other things like bird seed, shaving cream, sand and so on. I completely understand the theory behind it but I feel like if I start looking at things in terms of "not everyone has this so I can't use it" then I'm pretty sure the DCKs would be sitting in a blank room with nothing and we certainly wouldn't be able to use the water table.

[Lyss]

If you are using a grain over and over, then when it "wears out" repurposing for...bird food maybe? or can it go in compost? then are you really "wasting" it?

All our food items go into the compost pile, which we use for our garden.

[My3cents]

yeah, I got the same thing about rating from my technical consultant, and the same answer "just don't do it during an observation".

I have a problem with that....if it's "wrong" its "wrong" all the time...not just when no one is watching. Personally, I wouldn't do pudding painting, etc, but I would be ok with grains in the sensory bin. Maybe because it's not so obviously "food" to the kiddos.

If you are using a grain over and over, then when it "wears out" repurposing for...bird food maybe? or can it go in compost? then are you really "wasting" it?

Who made this rule?

Kids have been using food items to manipulate for as long as I can remember.

This subject always comes up when we talk about sensory bins. It takes away from my creativity and makes me irritable. ok just kidding, but is seriously irritates me and for all the reasons above that others have posted.

You can't let the little's paint with pudding? Fooey to that-

A bunch of uncreative pencil pushers sitting around a table making up these nonsense rules. Common sense. I pass gas I could offend someone but it is a perfectly natural body function.

What irritates me the most is for a person in power above you to tell you just don't do it when I am not around. These rules are making people be sneaky and they are encouraging you to be sneaky. No- Someone should stand up to some of these bizarre Californian(or wherever these are from) rules and say no more... we work with kids every day and this doesn't work-

Not everyone is on the same scale in life. Fact. If we were then we could all have Mercedes to drive around in and steak and wine. I think at that point then I would say ok to that rule.

If anything it would be an open conversation to older kids about children that do not have food all the time in this world and how we can help. If it were not for exploration the population of our world would be lower because people would die from lack of medicines and surgeries. I am creating little future doctors, surgeons, world gardeners that will teach other countries how to grow food. Hog Wash to the nay Sayers on the sensory tables.

stepping off-

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

yeah, I got the same thing about rating from my technical consultant, and the same answer "just don't do it during an observation".

I have a problem with that....if it's "wrong" its "wrong" all the time...not just when no one is watching. Personally, I wouldn't do pudding painting, etc, but I would be ok with grains in the sensory bin. Maybe because it's not so obviously "food" to the kiddos.

If you are using a grain over and over, then when it "wears out" repurposing for...bird food maybe? or can it go in compost? then are you really "wasting" it?

Well, technically for licensing it is not wrong here in ohio and ohio does not certify type B's using the scale. We were introduced to it to increase our awareness.
Since it tends to be a cultural issue, I can see in some areas that this would be avoided. Here that is not an issue. The reasoning for this area doesn't hold up, so I will continue using items. If at some point though I would be evaluted I don't know if I would take the 0 on that area and explain to the parents why or do away with that type of play.
At this point though, there would be a lot of other things I would need to address first. I only keep board books down and available so my others don't get torn up so I know there is not the number and varience in those required. Art supplies, although used often are stored up. I have too many little ones to not protect them and my house
So, if you want to be totally politically correct- don't use any food items. Personnally, with little ones I stay away from foam items unless i can really supervise because of the choke hazzards and teeth marks left in/ on them! However, I think then your missing out on some great sensory play.

[Blackcat31]

Found the answer to my own question.

According to the NAEYC:

In general, the rationale for avoiding food as learning materials was supported by three main premises

• 1) First, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to eat play materials and play with food.
• 2) Second, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to waste limited resources
• 3) Third, using food as learning materials violates many premises of multicultural education, or teaching children about diverse groups.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=613

[Heidi]

Well, technically for licensing it is not wrong here in ohio and ohio does not certify type B's using the scale. We were introduced to it to increase our awareness.
Since it tends to be a cultural issue, I can see in some areas that this would be avoided. Here that is not an issue. The reasoning for this area doesn't hold up, so I will continue using items. If at some point though I would be evaluted I don't know if I would take the 0 on that area and explain to the parents why or do away with that type of play.
At this point though, there would be a lot of other things I would need to address first. I only keep board books down and available so my others don't get torn up so I know there is not the number and varience in those required. Art supplies, although used often are stored up. I have too many little ones to not protect them and my house
So, if you want to be totally politically correct- don't use any food items. Personnally, with little ones I stay away from foam items unless i can really supervise because of the choke hazzards and teeth marks left in/ on them! However, I think then your missing out on some great sensory play.

Here it not against licensing standards, either. Unless, it says "keep out of reach of children" on....which btw, so does most hand soap...

Our state uses FCCER's as part of their Youngstar quality improvement initiative. If you want to a 4 star program, you cannot score lower than a 4 or 5 (don't feel like looking that up just now, so going by memory) in any area.

[My3cents]

Found the answer to my own question.

According to the NAEYC:

In general, the rationale for avoiding food as learning materials was supported by three main premises

• 1) First, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to eat play materials and play with food.
• 2) Second, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to waste limited resources
• 3) Third, using food as learning materials violates many premises of multicultural education, or teaching children about diverse groups.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/ea...?ArticleID=613

I don't agree with this. What about play food? Playdough?

its not being wasted. It is being reused and it is not limited.

being creative and sensory play is a diverse group in itself. How about a little respect for that Respect that I am in the making of a little that will want to explore enough to who knows what when they are adults. Doctors, Cooks, Cancer curers and other diseases, Astronauts, artist, farmers etc...

Pencil pushers. Ugh!

[lovemykidstoo]

Found the answer to my own question.

According to the NAEYC:

In general, the rationale for avoiding food as learning materials was supported by three main premises

• 1) First, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to eat play materials and play with food.
• 2) Second, using food as learning materials teaches young children that it is acceptable to waste limited resources
• 3) Third, using food as learning materials violates many premises of multicultural education, or teaching children about diverse groups.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/ea...?ArticleID=613

Oh brother Beaurocrats.

[Happy Hearts]

I guess we'll have to use plastic Jack-o-lanterns, then? Can't waste any pumpkins... who knows, there may be a world-wide pumpkin pie shortage.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I guess we'll have to use plastic Jack-o-lanterns, then? Can't waste any pumpkins... who knows, there may be a world-wide pumpkin pie shortage.

Was it last year that there was a pumpkin shortage? But, the ones we use are for decoration only anyone. But plastic uses petroleum! isn't that worse? Just sayin::

[Happy Hearts]

Was it last year that there was a pumpkin shortage? But, the ones we use are for decoration only anyone. But plastic uses petroleum! isn't that worse? Just sayin::

I guess my sarcasm didn't come through!?!? I would never deprive a child from carving a real pumpkin.... regulations be dam&ed!

[Blackcat31]

I guess my sarcasm didn't come through!?!? I would never deprive a child from carving a real pumpkin.... regulations be dam&ed!

Pumpkin carving probably wouldn't be part of a politically correct early childhood program since carving pumpkins is associated with Halloween and Halloween isn't celebrated in ECE classrooms.

It is Fall or Harvest celebrations instead.