PRO TIPS FOR AT HOME SENSORY BIN PLAY
Sensory play can seem intimidating. Is it too messy? How do I set it up? Remember...we've had years of experience hosting sensory play events and we've heard all the things (and done ALL the troubleshooting**).
HOW TO ROCK A SENSORY BIN
1. LAY DOWN A SHEET | This is the easiest but most overlooked tip! A sheet (or other floor covering) means that anything that spills can be quickly scooped up and dumped back in the bin when playtime is done. PRO TIPS: The bigger the better. Bonus points for something that's washable.
HOW TO ROCK A SENSORY BIN
1. LAY DOWN A SHEET | This is the easiest but most overlooked tip! A sheet (or other floor covering) means that anything that spills can be quickly scooped up and dumped back in the bin when playtime is done. PRO TIPS: The bigger the better. Bonus points for something that's washable.
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2. FIND A CONTAINER TO HOLD EVERYTHING | PRO TIPS: The tub should be big and deep enough to accommodate some scooping, dumping, and digging, but small enough that it's easy to move and store. Our favorites are the inexpensive plastic storage bins with lids that are designed to slide under your bed. Also, the bigger it is, the heavier it gets when filled with a sensory medium. A lid is a huge plus. IKEA Trofast bins work for a smaller bin (but has no lid). IKEA now also sells dedicated sensory tables. Water/sand tables work indoors but plan to keep the medium in there for a while, because moving it in and out of the table is a task (and there's no lid so it's hard to put away when playtime's over).
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3. PICK A "SENSORY MEDIUM" | Don't be intimidated by the term. All that means is you need to pick out something to fill the tub with. Our favorites are dried rice (feels great when digging) and dried pinto beans (inexpensive). Other favorites of ours are black beans (more $ but look cool, especially for space or rainbow themes), unpopped popcorn (fun to dig in!), and dried pasta (pick a shape like macaroni that's easy to dig; some irregular shapes lock onto each other and make it harder to scoop). PRO TIPS: Dry + smooth makes for the best indoor play mediums. We've had some big fails like shredded paper (cheap but not fun to scoop and travels ALL OVER YOUR HOUSE), and wood chips (don't scoop well, major fail).
4. CONSIDER SOME MEDIUM BLING | (Help...is "bling" still a cool word? HA.) Dry rice is fun on it's own, but dry rainbow rice is delightful. Dry beans scoop like a dream, but if you toss in some rainbow beans your child's imagination turns them into food for the dinosaurs, patterns, and sorting tools. PRO TIPS: You don't need to make an entire bin full of these add-ins...just a few cups will do. A bit of rainbow rice instantly turns white rice into confetti rice! Other fun add-ins are large sequins, gemstones, small pebbles, etc. |
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5. ADD SOME TOOLS | Simple things you already have in your kitchen are all you need to start. Measuring cups/spoons, funnels, tongs, and whisks all increase the excitement of the bin. PRO TIPS: The bigger the scoop, the bigger the dump. We learned this REAL FAST. If you have a little one that's still learning to keep the medium in the bin, small scoops are the way to go. Play kitchen tools work well as tools. Cups, spoons and saucers = fun tea party, sensory style!
6. ADD THE FUN STUFF | We sell sensory bin QuickKits, and of course we recommend them as an adorable way to take all the work out of "styling" your bin. That said, there are so many things you can toss in your sensory bin to bring the fun! PRO TIPS: perennial favorites are plastic animals or dinosaurs, dolls, play food and dishes, flowers/veggies to plant, etc. You can even scrounge around in the bottom of your toy bin and give some of those lost little toys new life! |
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7. SET EXPECTATIONS | I get it. My kiddos seem ever-bent on destruction. Sensory play was out of the question for a while when they were going through their "throw everything across the room" phase. Whether you relate to that or not, it pays off BIG TIME to spend time, especially the first few sensory play sessions, sitting next to your child and modeling what you expect. PRO TIP BOUNDARIES TO SET: Of course you choose for your family, but the three big sensory play boundaries we have in our house are (1) everything stays inside the bin, (2) gentle scoops and dumps; flinging isn't safe, and (3) we all help clean up and put away. Depending on your child's age/personality, you may need to spend more or less time on these, but it's worth it to be able to bring a new, quality way to play into their lives!
8. SHUT IT DOWN | All good things must come to an end. Because of how engaging it is, sensory play will often hold your child's attention for longer than other kinds of play. That said, watch for signs your child is getting restless and be ready to shut things down before they get out of hand. Because of all the small bits, a handful of hurled sensory bin isn't my favorite thing to clean up. We hope that helps! Our best PRO TIP, honestly, is to just jump in and figure out what works best for your family. Happy playing! ** SO. MUCH. TROUBLESHOOTING. LOL |
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