In this BLOG post I will teach you the importance of sensory play and how to make these beautiful bins.
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XO Gina
Sensory play offers endless learning opportunities for kids (and adults!) of all ages. It is fun, engaging and hands-on.
Sensory play
Sensory Play encourages learning through curiosity, creativity, and free exploration of materials.
It can be a safe way to release big energy or emotions!
It is also an AMAZINGGGG way to work on strengthening your fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are the ones responsible for self-help skills such as feeding yourself, zippering your coat or tying your shoes. They are also responsible for things like holding a pencil and writing your name!
The earlier we can strengthen those skills, the better!!
Sensory play also supports language and vocabulary development. Think of all of the incredible things you can talk about:
What does the sensory bin feel like?
What does it sound like?
Which one is softest? Which one is the most rough?
This one feels bumpy, it has ridges!
This one is round on one side and flat on the other.
Not to mention the problem-solving skills!!
I want to fill up my cup but it keeps tipping over, what should I do?
I am scooping up the pasta but it keeps falling out of my shovel. I wonder how to make it stay inside?
If you are exploring sensory bins with a sibling or friend, it also presents opportunities to work on important social skills such as:
Sharing
Turn taking
Sharing space
Using manners
Patience
Problem solving
Conflict resolution
Sensory play also offers amazing learning opportunities. You can practice:
Counting
Sorting
Patterning
Shapes
Letters/Numbers
1:1 correspondence
Hand-eye coordination
Also, any type of sensory play can be extremely calming and support self-regulation skills.
A huge part of sensory play is exploring textures. These monochromatic bins provide the perfect opportunity to focus on just that!
Each pasta is different and has its one unique characteristic. They are all the same because they are all green. They are all also different because they have varied shapes and sizes.
The BEST part, all you need in ONE ingredient to make these adorable bins look so vibrant: Metallic paint!
It really is that simple!!
Pour your dried pasta into a Ziploc bag or plastic container. It is important to note that the paint may adhere to whatever container you use, so keep that in mind! I like to use recycled take-out containers for this.
Squeeze enough paint into the bowl or bag to fully cover all of the pasta. I stir them for several minutes to assure that they are evenly coated.
You can leave them in the Ziploc bag to dry OR lay them flat on a parchment lined baking sheet. This will speed up the drying process, since they are single layered.
Wait 5 minutes and stir them again: this keeps them from sticking together.
Wait about 5-10 more minutes and stir again, they dry quickly and stirring them frequently helps the process.
Once they are fully dry, dump them into a sensory bin or bowl and PLAY!
Storage:
Once you make a dry sensory base, store them in an air-tight container and they will last you YEARS!!! You can use a Ziploc bag or container with a lid. Keep them dry & you can reuse them over & over again for learning & play!
Do the colors get on kid's hands or surfaces?
NO! Once the sensory base is completely dry, there should be no transfer while you play. If you are seeing colors transfer to your hands or surfaces that your sensory base is not completely dry. If you get a sensory base wet during play, I would discard immediately.
Want to know what else to do with metallic paint? Check out these BLOG posts here!
Small items are choking hazards. Always monitor young children during sensory play. You get to decide what is safe & manageable in your home.
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