Sea Life Sensory Bin

Sensory bins have always been a favorite activity for me to put together. B has always had a propensity of putting inappropriate things in his mouth, so it has been a while since I made one. As he gets older and has more tools to help (thank goodness for chewelry) I thought I have another go-around with sensory bins. 

Now I know we are quickly approaching Easter. I had all these creative ideas flowing of an Easter theme, Holy Week theme, or other Spring ideas. However, B just kept going back to the shark toy. I am trying to fight my natural instincts to take over and instead have more kid-directed play/craft time, so a sea life sensory bin it is.

We started out with little brown rocks that go into fish tanks. We added shells, agate type rocks, green play tree that look sorta like seaweed (well at least to me), and whatever sea animals I had on hand. Don't forget the sharks!!!

I also found a boat with  little guy (in case we want to play JAWS), a fishing pole game found at the $3 bin at Target, and  a whale sponge. Wringing out soaked sponges is not only fun sensory play but helps strength hands and forearms which promotes fine motor skills.

Next I added water dyed with blue food coloring. Another day B wanted me to try green water. Do a mixture if you want. Then just let them play. He has played with this numerous days for at least 20 min. each.

This isn't the only beach theme sensory bin I have done. To see a more traditional sand sensory bin without water go here. Also if your family loves sharks I have a great game to work on learning ABCs or sight words here. Lastly, for your budding scientists out there we did a closer look and activity with shells here.

Apple Pie Sensory Bin

Starting Monday we will be rowing our first Five In A Row book: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. We have a week chocked full of apple fun, science experiments, math, continents, and more. I can hardly wait to begin our first full week of homeschooling. This past week we introduced some routines and I assessed him in reading, writing, and math.

If you haven't heard of Five in a Row you should check it out (even if you don't homeschool). FIAR is curriculum where they chose some quality picture books that you row for a week. What is rowing? Well, you read the same book each day and focus on a different core subject for each day. One day you focus on literacy, another math, science, social studies, and art. You can do the days in whatever order and the books have excellent suggestions of what to do for each book.  I am kind of bitter that I didn't write this curriculum because I pretty much have been doing this exact same thing with my boys for years. When researching what other bloggers do with FIAR I came across some amazing gurus. My two favorites are Aussie Pumpkin Patch and Delightful Learning. Delightful learning has a blog roll for each book so there is amazing resources available.

Delightful Learning had a great idea of making a sensory bin to accompany How to Make an Apple Pie. You know me-I'll take any excuse to make a sensory bin. Her's is truly great and she did some great social studies activities with the bin that we will be doing next week. Here is my take on the sensory bin to go with the book.

What is included:

Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (for filler)

Chicken & an toy food egg

Cow & toy food milk

Sugar, Allspice, Salt, and Cinnamon

Toy apples

Apple block from Alphabet train

Apple tiles from Zingo game

Apple and Tree from Guidecraft Feel & Find

Felt Apple Tree

John Deere tractor and combine

Farmer

Vermont state card (where she gets apple in the book)

plant from my backyard to mimic wheat (don't have any up in Anchorage)

Measuring cups & spoons

Sensational Spaghetti

As I am trying to come to terms with "B's" Sensory Processing Disorder diagnosis I am trying to find ways to get his sensory fix and be safe at the same time. He is still sticks everything in his mouth and due to the diagnosis I don't think this will change any time soon. His therapist recommended edible play dough, finger paints, and painting with pudding to name a few (look forward to posts about these fun things later). When they listed some of the options dyed spaghetti came to mind (after all noodles are one thing he actually likes to eat).Here is "B's" spaghetti sensory bin:

Boil the noodles, drain, and oil & food dye, play! 

And this is why I made noodles

Hide the banana ;0)

Spaghetti sensory noodles aren't just for kiddos with SPD either. All kiddos love messy play. Also if you are a parent to a tot and want to do sensory bins, but are afraid they will put little things in their mouth- there are other options out there. Happy sensory play everyone!

Black & White Sensory Bin

We bought some beanbag chairs recently and I took some of the filling out to make them a little more comfy. Instance lightbulb moment: beanbag filling would be a great sensory bin filler. I didn't have an idea in mind to begin with but  just stared at it hoping ideas would flow. I think it would make great snow and first thought snowmen (have some really cute ones pinned) but winter is OVER in my book. Then I thought Arctic since we just moved to Anchorage, but I don't have enough goodies yet. Trying to find things around the house I decided to go with a black and white theme.Here is the finished product:

What is included:

Measuring cups and spoons

Black Poms (very large to small)

PVC pipe cut to make a tunnel

Buttons

Police Car & wooden train engine

Animals: lamb, zebra, dalmation dog, cow, orca

White knobbily sensory  ball

Pipecleaners

Dupblo Blocks

Googly Eyes

BeanBag Filler

"B" actually played with it successfully without putting any in his month (SHOCKING)! He doesn't "play" very much---something that concerns me greatly. I was more than elated to see him playing with the sensory bin for over 20mins and having a hot fit when I put it away finally. 

Big Brother had to get in on the action.

 

I am so proud of his scooping abilities.

Black Snowman---it works (sort of)

Babies First Sensory Bin

This past summer I was busy making sensory bins for my five year old and sensory baskets for my baby. The baskets were designed towards larger items for safety sake. Some previous tot sensory baskets were: color theme, letter theme, shape theme, and nature theme. To see all the previous tot baskets click here. Sensory bins on the other hand were filled with more miniature items and fillers. Sensory bins for my oldest ranged from back to school, construction, beach, holidays, and more. You can see those here. I have gotten away from making them lately because I am in the midst of a huge move. I am eagerly anticipating making sensory bins and baskets later this Spring.

As I was busy making a craft with my 5 year old I realized I needed to keep my 15 month old occupied. He is too young for many craft supplies and I had no sensory baskets on hand. What I did have was beans, poms, two cups, heart containers from the Dollar Tree, a heart ice-cube tray, and a casserole dish to put everything in. Yes, it did end up with a Valentine's Day theme, but it was unintentional. Honestly, I was frantically throwing things in for him to stay quiet. It took me about three minutes to put it together. I was sweating bullets handing it to my little monster. He loves to shove everything in his mouth or throw items across the floor. Suprisingly, he used it just like a sensory bin is intended to be used. He got busy pouring and transporting, he even put beans in the containers to make shakers! I was blown away. Now about 8 minutes later it did end up on the floor, but I take my successes when I can get them.

Brother had to get in on the action and show him how it is done.

I am looking forward to trusting him with smaller items, but I think the majority of his sensory experiences will still be similar to baskets I have put together in the past. Look for more ideas of sensory play in the next few months.

Thanksgiving Sensory Bin

I have seen some really cute harvest sensory bins but I wanted to focus more on the upcoming holiday. I had all these ideas of finding adorable turkeys, pilgrims, Native Americans, and other decorations I was sorely mistaken. The clerk told me at the store that people don't really decorate for Thanksgiving so they only carry Christmas items. Huh? Um OK! So I had to find some more natural elements. I chose corn for the filler and I found actual Indian corn kernels to add more color. I also included small Indian corn cobs, seed pods, plastic gourds, fall leaves, rocks from "A's" collection that fit the color scheme, a piece of drift wood to act as a scoop, and other elements. I have also started to add cups and scoops for "A", since that is his favorite way to play with it. I also put scarecrows, Native American dolls,  a toy horse, and Scrabble tiles that spell "THANKS". I want "A" to focus on that simple word all month! We will see if his sensory bin will help with this endeavor.

Halloween Sensory Bin

Well now that it is finally October I can start with the Halloween festivities. I love Halloween! It is so frivolous and fun. It's all about suspending belief and being a kiddo again. It has been awhile since I made a sensory bin for my 5 year old, and knew he would love this one. I used black beans and yellow lentils for the filler and then just found some stuff around the house and at Dollar Tree. Turned out pretty cute!

School Sensory Bin

When I was searching for ideas for sensory bins I though I had a brilliant and original idea: a back to school theme. I scoured and couldn't find any examples. I saw a lot of cute harvest/apple themes for the upcoming month but was sure I was onto something big. Lo and behold before I could run out and get everything a blogger I follow (Counting Coconuts) made one! Not to mention her filler is shredded paper-absolutely brilliant. Boo-my idea is no longer original. Oh well, I went ahead and am loving it all the same!!!

Here is what I added:

• filler: red shredded paper used for gift bags
• a green apple made from foam (at Dollar Tree)
• a die-cast metal school bus
• magnetic letters and numbers
• unsharpened pencils and a sharpener (he gets to sharpen them when found)
• tape, glue stick, crayons, markers, kid scissors, stamps
• a bookmark I made with "A's" name on it
• a really cool puzzle eraser that makes a car (to see a pic of the odd blue stuff put together look below)

Found at Dollar Tree

Construction Sensory Bin

Like most boys "A" loves transportation, especially the big stuff: trucks, tractors, trains, etc. Construction fits the bill and I knew he would have fun playing with his construction toys. Luckily, I had a lot of things on hand like vehicles, play boulders, construction men, signs, cones and barrels. I think one of the funnest things about making a sensory bin is going on a scavenger hunt to find what could go in it. Since we had toys I had to figure out what to do with the filler. In a perfect world I would love to purchase the the recycled tire rubber pieces you sometimes find in playgrounds. I love that stuff and how cool would it be in a transportation sensory bin! Alas, I do not have the funds for something that extravagant so beans it is. Beans are great for sensory bins because they are cheap, easily found, light weight, and really do feel cool to run your hands through. This is by far "A's" favorite sensory bin thus far!!!

Beach Sensory Bin

This week in summer challenge is water /ocean week. I would love to go to the beach and the aquarium this week, but I don't think it will be in the cards and for us. This has me trying to find creative ways to bring the ocean to us. To get the ball rolling I decided to make a beach theme sensory bin. This is a plastic storage bin with lid that I put different items for the little ones to run there hands through, dig, play and set up little play lands. I took some play sand and filled the bin up about 1/3 of the way. Then "A" and I went on a search of beach items to put in. Luckily, we have lots of shells and rocks from our collections. We also found some palm trees, sea animal figurines/bath toys, foam sea animal shapes, a treasure chest, and pirate cut-outs from a book "A" has. It turned out so awesome I almost don't feel so sad about not being able to go to the real beach-ALMOST!