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How do you do these indoors without the mess being out of control? I wouldn't have such an issue but we rent and the whole house except the tiny kitchen is carpet. Even both bathrooms and the dining room. I HATE carpet and if I owned the house wouldn't have it. But since I do I want to find a way around it.
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I have a small sensory table and allow only 3 children to play there at the same time (partly because it's not big and partly to control the mess). My playroom is completely carpeted, so I put a vinyl tablecloth that I cut to fit under the sensory table. It has a nice flannel-type backing on it, so it stays in place really well on the carpet and it only costs $5 at walmart.
ETA: I do the same thing under my art table (that we paint at and do tons of messy stuff at), but am considering buying a couple of large melamine boards for under the art table to make clean up easier. -
Thanks. I am thinking mine won't stay out but be done in tubs. I have sensory rice that I did that with, but it was my two school agers so the mess was more controlled. Unless I find a small table to use. I really want to find some cool toys to go with the stuff.Comment
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I just bought a sensory table off of amazon in January for $50, best investment ever!! So far we've had water beads, kinetic sand, popcorn seeds and right now easter items!! The kids love it, esp my 2 yr old boy, he plays all his tractor in all of it. When they use the table i usually sit right there and remind them to play over the table, they make a little mess, but not as bad as i thought it would be. Usually it's the school age that make the most mess, because i don't sit right there reminding them
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#1. I don't do water. We do water outside all the time so they get it then.
#2. I put a big sheet under the table before they play in it, then gather it up after. It's a little awkward, but not too hard to dump everything back into the sensory bin.
#3. I get out the vacuum right after they're done. It's our regular routine so they know to back off and give me room.
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Oh those are all good ideas! One of those 'why didn't I think of that' moments! My dcks love the sensory table but right now it's in my basement because using it and cleaning up after it was a big pain for me. Plus the dcks like to jump on/off it.
I'll have to check out tablecloths and/or sheets this weekend to help contain the mess.
I did try using my smaller sensory bin on the kitchen floor this week, colored rice and plastic easter eggs. That became a big mess.
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I put a shower curtain under ours. And before we start playing I remind them of the rules. 1. No throwing 2. Keep it on the shower curtain.
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Put your rice, sand and/or water tables in a child sized pool.
Use a blow up type if you don't have room for the plastic ones.
All the mess is contained and the clean up is EASY!
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Love this idea! My 13 and 15 month dcks are needing more activities now, and this sensory table stuff fits the bill. Outdoors I also have a sand box, wading pool, climber, water table. But it's the indoor sensory ideas I needed... was unsure because of the mess involved. Thanks everyone!
"Be careful what you teach. It might interfere with what they are learning."
-Magda GerberComment
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