Getting Creative with Your Senses
Smell, sight, touch, taste and sound - and ESP if you’re into that kind of thing ;) … Most kids start to rattle off these senses as soon as they can talk. Research suggests that play designed to stimulate the senses can have an important role in their development and helps build cognitive skills. It’s like food for the brain! It is the foundation of all the skills children will use in school learning to read, write and solve math and science problems. All children can benefit from this kind of play, and it can be especially therapeutic for those who have autism or other sensory conditions.
While I don’t have children, I am a godmother, and I LOVE kids. I also have many, many friends who are moms and can only imagine how difficult this past year has been trying to not only deal with the impact of Covid on their own lives at home or at work, but also having to take on an entirely new role as teacher or homeschool creator on top of it all.
I’ve also started to see a lot of different types of toys pop up (pun intended), designed to inspire this kind of play, from the the colorful Pop-its to the good old fidget spinner. But one of the coolest things I’ve seen are premade sensory bins. They’re all colors of the rainbow, filled with things like rice or beads or even beans, incorporating different textures, shapes, toys and more - all to make playtime more exciting. They also boost not only their creativity, but yours as well if you make your own!
Sheila Richardson, a mom, educator and Beach Body coach, who has worked in the special education field for many years, has been making these bins as a way to occupy her time at home, as a way to get all that creative educational energy out. Now she’s sharing some of her tips and tricks with you!
Sheila Richardson, Mom, Educator and Beach Body Coach
Q: What do you look for when creating the bins?
A: First, I look for a theme, then I choose items that have different textures, or that can be used in imaginative play. For example an ocean themed bin could have little ocean animal figures, shells, stones, rocks, regular or kinetic sand, Play-Doh.
I also include other items that can be used like beads, blocks, string, shredded paper, pom poms, beans, rice, water beads, or pipe cleaners. These basic things can become whatever they want them to be. (Think..ocean pearls, seaweed, build an undersea castle, whatever they want).
Q: What’s the right mix to hit all the senses?
A: Sensory bins target mostly the sense of touch. It is important to think about others, like sight, by using bold colors, or sound by scooping and pouring beans, rice, sand, etc. Smell may be present occasionally with possible a whiff of some Play-Doh. Taste is not a focus…as I hope they don't try to eat the items (I always put a warning about small parts and not leaving children unattended).
Q: Where do you get the items to put in the bins?
A: I look to dollar stores for most items, in case things get spilled or dirty it doesn't feel like a huge loss to replace some sand, rice, or play-doh. I also love finding items at craft stores, but again...I always head to the clearance or sale items first. Or the dollar section at Target.
Q: What’s the best way to put these to use?
A: For the home, they are great for breaks between homeschool assignments, or something kids can do to stay busy next to you while you get some emails out. In schools, making these affordable if helpful in times like these because each student would need their own. The days of the big sensory/water tables in preschools are gone right now. These smaller bins can be labelled for a certain child and are portable enough to be put away when not in use.
Q: What inspired you?
A: I’m a mom, educator and Beach Body Coach. Though I love being home with my boys now and helping people with self care and healthy lifestyles as a coach, I miss my full time job as a Behavioral Specialist, so I have been looking at ways to get out my creative educational energy not only through these bins, but also doing directed drawings with my old class via zoom, and dabbling with trying to create teaching materials on TPT.
Q: What’s next for the bins and for you?
A: I think my next ones are going to be things like insects, farm, colors, numbers, and letters. I also may re-kickstart my painting side business again, Paint Me A Picture.
I for one can’t wait to see what’s next! Will you be trying to make any of your own bins? I’d love to see them!