Sensory boxes, where do you put them?

[Francine]

I have 2 little boys between the age of 2 1/2 and 3 the rest of my kids are younger. I made up 4 sensory boxes over the weekend in my attempt to find something to keep the bigger boys busy while I am tending to the babies. I only have one of the boys today so I got out one of the boxes and set it on my little tikes picnic table, sat with him for a few minutes to show him the ropes and then left him at it for a bit. Within minutes he dumped the whole thing onto the floor in his attempt to get to the round hole in the center of the picnic table. GRRRRRR seriously???? It's not that he isn't old enough, he just wanted put the things that are in the box down through the hole of the table. Now I guess he is staying busy because he is now picking everything up, every last piece of fall colored pasta, leaves, sticks, pine cones etc.

Where do put your boxes if you use them? I hate to put them on the floor but I might have to, I thought having the little table would be just the ticket. I could tape up the hole but then he would want to pick at the tape

[Meyou]

I keep them up out of the way until someone asks for one. Then I set them up at the table in sight and pay attention to what they're doing! In sight is very important with sensory bins unless you want a huge mess every single time. Even my 9 year old gets rice all over the table. ::

There is a certain level of mess you have to deal with when playing with them. Even the tidiest children make messes with them so I only take them out in the morning. I don't want to deal with a full dining room cleaning after I've already cleaned from morning snack so we stick to the morning.

[MyAngels]

I had my hubby build me a tabletop with raised edges that I can put on the kitchen table to help contain all the little bits and pieces off the floor. They have to be big enough to sit in the big chairs, but it works well for me. It also allows the littles to be in the vicinity without me worrying about them getting into the bin.

[blandino]

I have two 3-drawer organizers that I use. I keep each sensory theme Ina drawer and pull the drawer out and set it on a huge sheet when it's time to use it.

I am also beginning to do the same exact thing only outside, so I am not so picky a out everything staying on the sheet.

[momofsix]

Mine stays on the floor. It's a sterilite tote with wheels so when not in use I keep it under the train table. When it's being used I just roll it on out. It stays on the floor. If it's something messy I use a huge blanket type beach towel underneath it.

I have two 3-drawer organizers that I use. I keep each sensory theme Ina drawer and pull the drawer out and set it on a huge sheet when it's time to use it.

I am also beginning to do the same exact thing only outside, so I am not so picky a out everything staying on the sheet.

So do you find any bugs getting into the drawers when you store them outsider? I was thinking about doing that too but was worried about the critters.

[blandino]

So do you find any bugs getting into the drawers when you store them outsider? I was thinking about doing that too but was worried about the critters.

I am still keeping them inside, just bringing 1 drawer and a sheet outside with us. I WISH I could keep them outside. We just moved back to our house, and lost a great deal of storage and they are the main thing that I just can't seem to find a place for

[Stepping]

I have mine in the same room as our lunch table. It has a lid on, which I take off when it's time to play with them. It took a few weeks but they are pretty good at trying to keep the materials in the box and I have a dust pan and brush hung next to it for them to sweep the floor when they are done.

I also made a bunch of busy bags (got most of my ideas from Pinterest and etsy) which aren't as messy for times when I'm tending to the babies.

[Lil'DinoEggs]

Before I was lucky enough to get my table, I was about to build one. I had a bunch of diminishing bins and I was trying to find a small coffee table to drill holes that are large enough to the put the bins in. This way the shorter children could play and it couldn't be tipped over.

[spud912]

Right now the sensory bin is outside. Lately I have only been filling it with water, but I do change it up depending on the weekly theme and how messy it is. I have another one out there also with sand in it. I used to do the sensory bin inside only but I have to admit, it is sooo nice not having to clean up all the little trinkets that accidentally make their way out of the bin (and my children are generally pretty good about keeping it contained, but there are always casualties ).