Discovery, exploration and building of language and practice important skills and help children connect with each other during play. This center could be injected with novelty, even by the smallest of details, a new texture or a seasonal theme making the center seem new and exciting all the year round.
Why Sensory Play is a Must in Preschoolers
- Brain development: the senses produce strong connections in the brain. The experimentation with textures, forms and materials assists children to process the world in order to make sense of it.
- Fine motor skills: The fine motor muscles are important and activities which give strength to them include scooping, pouring and pinching.
- Language skills: Sensory play provides children with a natural way to use new words, things they observe and have meaningful discussions with their peers and their educators.
- Reasoning: Children apply their minds to solve problems that have to do with cause and effect, measurements, and volumes through experimenting on problems.
- Emotional control: Working with the sensory materials can be calming and train the child to regulate the big feelings throughout the day.
- Social skills: The ability to manipulate stimulating materials in a sensory table involves cooperation, sharing and giving other children a chance.
- Keep materials in sturdy plastic bins with lids that allow harvesting of materials and quick rotating of materials.
- Label all containers and shelves so that the supplies are accessible.
- Reinvent sensory materials on a regular basis to maintain interest.
- Even during sensory play, be sure to watch them, particularly when using small objects.
- When choosing new materials be aware of allergies and sensitivities.
Sight Table Random/Random Grains, beans and seeds ideas
The most versatile sensory fillers in the preschool classroom would include grains and seeds. Scooping, pouring, and sifting such materials develops fine motor skills in addition to giving children the opportunity to experiment with weight, sound, and feel. Classics such as dried beans, rice, oats and dried corn are readily available to change to various themes depending upon the time of year.
Dried beans are another great sensory table filler as they are heavy to hold and smooth to touch. Children like to scoop and pour as well as sort them into various container. Coming in so many varieties, like black beans, kidney beans and navy beans, this filler can be mixed and matched to sort by size, color, or even batter. There is also the acoustics of the beans as they pour them gently as an added dimension to the experience.
Dried corn brings a splash of color and a new texture to the sensory table. The round kernels roll easily between little fingers and create a soft rustling sound as children play. Corn is a great choice for fall and harvest themes as it pairs well with
Fluffy and soft filled sensory tables
The sheer and soft materials add a calm feel into the sensory play. Plouffe squeezes and stretches in a manner that attracts children. Pom-poms are fly and fluffy, encouraging children to play around and experiment involving their movements. These are easy-filled fillers that can be used on any themed party or time of year.
Educational Insights is the inventor of unique sensory material called Plhloeesque. The texture is light, airy and it has a different textual feel to other fillers and in several brilliant colors. There is a new tactile element of hands-on tactile experience found with Children stretching, squeezing and shaping Plouffe.
Pom-poms are popular in most preschool classrooms due to their soft nature and colorful nature; they are very versatile. Their feather light structure and lightly textured feel lend them to the abilities of young children to hold and transfer one container to another. There are way too many sizes and colors of pom-poms to mention, and this makes them ideal as sorting, counting, and adding a fun and playful element to any other sensory item.
It is also one of the easiest sensory fillers to clean up thus making it suitable to teach new students how to use sensory table. Sand creates a sensory experience common in the preschool classroom. Children are able to scoop, pour and have it run through their fingers. Sand is perfect to use with scoops, tiny shovels, cookie cutters or even construction items. This filler encourages digging and constructing and gives the students many opportunities to do whatever they like the way they like.
TIPS for a Successful Sensory Play
- Set clear expectations: A review of simple rules should be established like when finishing, leave in the table and wash hands before leaving. To reinforce it even more, make visual prompts around the table so that everyone is aware of what they should do.
- Rotate materials on a regular basis: New learning objectives can be promoted by changing accessories and tools in the sensory table on a regular basis to make them interesting.
- Various tools: Provide scoops, cups, tongs, spoons, and containers in order to provide a different kind of grasping and pouring.
- Promote language: Reinforce new words and ask open-ended questions concerning what children observe, experience or make.
- Clean up without stretching: Keep one small dustpan and brush or a hand held vacuum cleaner handy. Demonstrate to children how they should clean up their spillages and what the environment would like when they have completed the task.
