2 Fall Sensory Tubs For Thanksgiving
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It’s nearing the end of fall here in Michigan, but I still wanted to keep Evelyn’s sensory tubs fall related for this month. This is the first time I’ve ever posted about a sensory tub on my blog so let’s start with the basics!
What is a sensory bin?
A sensory bin/tub is a large container (typically, we just work with what we have at the house) that is filled with materials and objects. These objects are carefully, and age appropriately, selected to stimulate the senses. A sensory bin can be filled with a large variety of different materials such as shredded paper, dried beans, water, dried noodles, sand, and more.
Why should I make a sensory bin?
If you have read some of my previous posts, then you know that child-directed play and the Montessori methods have quite the influence on my parenting styles. Well, research shows that sensory play helps build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which lead to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction. Talk about a learning experience! The senses are also the main form of how children learn! So we like to let Evelyn explore and use her senses to build her own theories and hypothesis, even at the age of 17 months.
Bin #1
Last month, I made Evelyn Halloween themed sensory tubs, so I wanted to make her one that screamed fall!
So what did I use?
1 Box of Elbow Macaroni
1 Cup of old fashioned oats
A couple of our decorative leaves
A pumpkin she picked herself
A few pinecones
Bin #2
This one is super simple, yet so fun! Evelyn has a love of playing in water, just like I do, so I wanted to make her a water sensory bin for this month. Thankfully the second time I set it up for her, the weather was warm enough to play with it outside. You’ll need a towel for this one, or to play with it in the bathtub!
What did I use?
Cranberries
Water
That’s it! That’s all I used! Fresh cranberries are all on sale right now too, so it was perfect!
Although using her senses are encouraged for these bins, I also like to a few of her other frequently used items. She likes to help cook, so I encourage her to use her cooking utensils during sensory time! This allows her to have full range of these items, discover how to use them without assistance, and possibly find new uses for them. This month we are also using our KiwiCo stacking cups (I’ll be posting a full review post on that soon!) to learn more about volume.
You can pick up a few similar items here:
Those are two of our fall sensory bins for this month! I hope you enjoyed these and I would love to see the ones you make!
xoxo,
Searra Liggett
