Just for fun: A list of items you can put in your sensory table or bin

     I am taking a break from social and emotional supports, just for the day.  Today's post is just a fun post on fun and creative things for the sensory table.    Enjoy!

Sensory Table and Tool Idea List

1. Sand

2. Water - plain or lightly colored

3. Water with liquid soap or bars of soap

4. Rice - which can be colored with food coloring if desired

5. clean mud (mix 1 roll white toilet paper (shredded), 1 bar grated Dove soap (use a cheese grater), and warm water (make the water warm enough to melt the soap), only mix enough water to make it the consistency of thick cool whip. This can be saved in airtight containers for later use

6. Snow

7. Fake snow

8. Hay

9. Soil - add live worms if you're brave

10. Sod

11. Homemade silly putty

12. Acorns

13. Sponges (natural or man made)

14. Shells

15. Leaves, twigs, pine cones

16. Easter grass

17. Shaving cream - can be colored with food coloring

18. Ice cubes or crushed ice, or a large block of ice.  For extra fun, freeze things in the ice.

19. Shredded documents - from a regular or cross-cut shredder

20. Birdseed

21. Seaweed

22. Grain - or pellets used for animal feed

23. Fabric samples with varying textures

24. Fish tank gravel (For 4's and up who do NOT mouth objects)

25.  Themed sensory tubs (Search Pinterest for the best ideas)

26.  Make your own moon sand: 4 cups sand + 2 cups cornflour + 1 cup of water

27. Packing peanuts

28. Cedar chips - check your local pet store (Be mindful of allergies)

29. Hamster bedding

30. Marbles and cardboard tubes (Not for under three)

31. Feathers (Fake)

32. Zoo Animals/Mini Sensory balls

33. Cotton balls

34. Strips of bubble wrap - you can buy it, save it from packages, ask parents to save it

35. Plastic "jewels"

36. Beads and string

37. Bubble solution (you can make your own) and bubble wands

38. Curling ribbon

39. Homemade play dough

40. Yarn and string

41. Confetti

42. Pebbles, gravel, rocks

43. Hair gel

44. "Oobleck" - equal parts cornstarch and water

45. Finger paint

46. Wallpaper scraps

47. Homemade slime

48. Magnets and small metal objects, like paper clips

49. Sponges and soapy water

50. Stretchy/squishy toy worms/insects

51. Poker chips

52. Tinsel

53. Smell bottles

54. Natural clay

55. Real or fake flowers

56. Pom-poms

57. Crepe paper streamers

58. Polymer crystals (AKA: Water gems)- they are used to provide water to plants; they absorb it and turn into a gel

59. Jingle bells

60. Wood scraps and sandpaper

61. Papier mache - soak strips of newspaper and put in blender with flour and water

62. Toilet paper - add a little water if you like

63. Doll or pillow stuffing

64. Used coffee grinds

65. Buttons

66. Insides of a cleaned-out pumpkin - or whole gourds/mini pumpkins/decorative corn

Tools and Accessories

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cooking and serving utensils: Spoons, tongs, mashers, whisks, etc.
• Eye droppers or pipettes
• Turkey basters
• Small containers and lids
• Bowls
• Strainers/colanders
• Scissors (Child safety or playdough)
• Popsicle sticks
• Clothespins
• Dowels
• Cookie cutters
• Fishnets
• Small buckets and shovels
• Toy people, boats and vehicles
• Plastic animals and insects
• Magnifying glasses
• Bubble wands
• Funnels
• Spray bottles
• Lengths of plastic pipes and flexible tubing (hardware stores carry different diameters)
• Straws
• Magnet wands
• Toothbrushes
• Plastic fruits and vegetables

Success at the sensory table

     Now that I am running my own program, I get a lot of hands on experience trouble shooting in a preschool program. Over the years, early childhood educators have expressed to me how challenging the sensory table can be. (Think splashing, sand/rice tossing, etc.) and I didn't really understand how challenging it could be with a mixed age preschool group until I had to start implementing my own suggestions.

    Based on my experience this week, some of the strategies work well, and others were not great.  Here is what worked for me:

1.) Know your group.

For example, I had a bubble table this week.  My kids were two and a half, three, and four.  My three and four year old can play independently at the bubble table; the two and a half year old cannot.  Knowing who needs supervision and teaching throughout the activity  (eg: you blow on the bubble wand) goes a long way in preventing problems.

2.) There is no such thing as too much preparation.

I set up the bubbles, put in lots of wands and other toys, and ensured appropriate supervision. Then . . . somebody rubbed bubbles on their face. Guess who didn't have a towel?  Monday I am bringing out a towel and child safety goggles.

3.) Kids at the sensory table.

I have set up the environment so that 3 can comfortably play at the sensory table, and this is the rule I enforce.  In practice, I have found that for dry activities, up to 4 works out. (Depending on the age of your group) For wet sensory activities, I limit the number of children to no more than 3.

4.)  Ample toys in the sensory bin.

Rule of thumb: At least two per child and 2-3 of the favorite toy. Having enough toys in the sensory bin does two things: prevents conflict (not all conflict, their preschoolers) and it encourages them to engage in appropriate play.  Ideally, you want them blowing bubbles with wants not splashing bubbles at each other.

5.) Figuring out why some kids don't participate in sensory activities.

I have one little boy in my class who does not like to get dirty. Today, we explored shaving cream on the outdoor easel and he did not want to participate. I offered him a paintbrush and smock, but he declined and said he just wanted to be able to clean his hands. We solved the problem by taking a water bowl outside. He dipped his hands in every time he wanted to get the shaving cream off. (See photos) It wasn't the solution I would have thought of but it allowed him to participate happily.

So what is the strategy? If a little one if talking, ask how you can help.  If not, think about what you know about the child.  In this case, I knew he didn't like to get messy and would offer ways to allow him to participate and stay as shaving cream free as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to post a comment  below. :-)