When it comes to being a toddler, basically every waking moment is a learning opportunity. From their curious eyes to their tiny fingers exploring the unknown, toddlers are little explorers eager to learn about their world. Sensory bins help toddlers meet their insatiable need to explore through touch, can work to reduce texture sensitivities, and inadvertently aid in boosting cognitive skills and emotional regulation. This blog post will provide you with creative ways you, as parents/caregivers, or a favorite auntie or uncle, can engage toddlers through sensory play.
The Benefits of Sensory Bins for Toddlers
Sensory bins are more than just play; they’re a holistic learning experience that engages a child’s senses, imagination, and cognitive abilities. Let’s uncover the key benefits they offer:
- Sensory Exploration: With sensory bins, toddlers dive into a world of textures, shapes, and colors. The tactile sensations of smooth rice, gritty sand, or dried beans or pasta stimulate their sense of touch, enhancing sensory perception.
- Language Development: As parents guide their toddlers through the sensory adventure, rich language interactions occur. Descriptive words like “soft,” “rough,” “smooth,” and “bumpy” enrich their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
- Fine Motor Skills: Picking up, pouring, and sifting various materials within the bins enhances fine motor skills, fostering hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Just make sure to have plastic cups, spoons, tongs, and other tools for your child to manipulate the contents of the sensory bin.
- Cognitive Growth: Sensory play promotes cognitive development by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and imaginative play. For instance, identifying hidden objects among the textures sharpens their observation skills and helps them develop an understanding of object permanence (the knowledge that an object continues to exist even when not in view). Because sensory bins are so calming and relaxing for both the adult and child, attention span is likely to increase as engagement and joint attention is high.
- Emotional Regulation: The tactile experiences in sensory bins can have a calming effect on toddlers. Engaging with different materials can help them manage emotions and reduce anxiety. Additionally, when toddlers are exposed to varying textures in a safe, controlled play environment with the loving support of a parent/caregiver or other familiar adult, it can help to de-sensitize them to off-putting tactile sensory input. This can help prevent meltdowns and can also carry over to meal-time, making them more likely to tolerate different textured foods that are presented to them.
Engaging Toddler-Parent Playtime with Sensory Bins
- Treasure Hunt in Kinetic Sand: Fill a sensory bin with kinetic sand and bury small toys like cars, animals, or shapes within. Encourage your toddler to dig and search for the treasures while using descriptive language. “Yellow car, where are you?” As they find each item, celebrate with a “peek-a-boo!” If you’re short on time, simply purchase the all-inclusive construction themed sensory bin, dinosaur themed sensory bin, farm themed sensory bin, or garden and critter themed sensory bin instead.
- Underwater Adventure with wicked cool water beads: Use water beads to create an underwater-themed sensory bin. Hide aquatic-themed toys and let your toddler’s imagination swim as they explore. Narrate their underwater discoveries, providing your little one with rich language opportunities. If you’re short on time, simply purchase the adorable ocean themed sensory bin or mermaid themed sensory bin instead.
- Harvesting Fun with Dried Beans and Pasta: Fill a bin with dried beans, pasta, and small play vegetables. Invite your toddler to become a farmer by using their hands to “harvest” the beans and pasta. Discuss the different textures and shapes they encounter. If you’re short on time, purchase this adorable, all-inclusive garden and critter themed sensory bin.
- Texture Exploration with Fabric Scraps: Introduce fabric scraps of varying textures, such as silk, cotton, and felt, into a sensory bin. Encourage your toddler to touch and feel each fabric, describing its characteristics. This activity enhances sensory awareness and introduces new vocabulary.
- Color Sorting Fiesta: Fill the bin with a mixture of colorful objects like building blocks, buttons, and foam shapes. Guide your toddler in sorting the objects by color, promoting color recognition and categorization skills.
Got questions after reading? Contact us for more information!