How many times have you had a bored little one on your hands and needed to find something that would keep them stimulated and engaged? Well, if you have ever found yourself googling for ideas, it’s very likely that the phrase “sensory bin ideas” has popped up at least once!
There are a lot of benefits to making a sensory bin for your child. Not only is it quick, cheap and easy, but you’re opening up your child to a whole new learning experience!
This weeks article has been written by a wonderful guest author, content creator at speech blubs: Liz Talton! Enjoy!
Sensory bins are an incredible way to introduce new textures and imaginative play for children. But for those kids with autism and sensory processing disorder, sensory bins are a useful form of therapy. If you have no clue about how to make sensory bins, there are easy sensory bins to get you started!
When I first started doing sensory bins for my son with autism, I had no idea what to put in a sensory bin. So, my research began! When researching sensory bin activities, I kept a couple of things in mind:
I needed activities that introduced him to a variety of textures to desensitize him
I needed the sensory bin activities to be as easy as possible
With those two points in mind, I have plenty of easy sensory bin ideas to get us started!
1. Sensory bin idea, or doing the washing up?
For this sensory bin, take dish soap, water, and fill a plastic bin until the water is full of bubbles.
Then add in plastic utensils and dishware (the kind of play toys that come with a plastic kitchen set). Have your child “wash the dishes” with a scrub brush. You can even extend this sensory bin activity to include a drying station with dish towels and a drying rack next to the sensory “washing” bin.
This is an amazing sensory activity because it combines a sensory experience with household tasks to teach early responsibility.
2. Shredded Paper Sensory Bin
Simply take some old bills through a shred machine, then take the shredded paper and place it in a plastic bin. Now, get creative! You can add plastic animals, trucks, cars, cups, and more. Although this is a simple ingredient sensory bin, your child will need a significant amount of imagination to play.
3. Flour Pit
Flour makes a terrific dry ingredient to add to any sensory bin activity. But to make it as simple as possible, just pour a desired amount of flour into a bin. The amount you want depends on the size of the container you are using. However, there should be enough flour for your child to make small piles with it.
This sensory bin is called “flour pit” because along with flour a child uses small construction vehicles for playing at a “construction site.”
4. Letter Hunt and Numbers Game
Letter hunt involves searching through a sensory bin for plastic letters or alphabet letters from a wooden puzzle. All you need to do is fill a container bin with one of the following dry ingredients:
Rice
Black beans
Kidney beans
Garbanzo beans
Bowtie pasta
You can even color the rice ahead of time with food coloring, but always make sure the rice is completely dry before using it for a sensory activity. Alternatively, you could add plastic numbers andhave your child retrieve the numbers in order. In other words, you can use this idea to create a counting game! For younger children, you can add the numbers 1 through 5 or 1 through 10 to make it simpler to complete the activity.
While you can add visual stimulation with colored rice, the dry ingredients also make noise when moved to create hearing stimulation as well.
5. Scoop and Pour
By the name of the sensory bin, you have probably guessed the activity. Simply add a dry ingredient like black beans, then give your child large plastic spoons and ladles along with an ice cube tray. After that, all your child must do is scoop and pour the black beans into the ice cube tray. You can also do this same activity with your child’s favourite cereal. It will be completely taste-safe!
6. What a lot of “Smashing” Sensory bin ideas!
Speaking of cereal, another great activity is a “smashing” sensory bin. This activity is great for children needing help with fine motor skills or for kids who like destroying things! Take cereal like Cheerios or Fruit Loops and supply your child with a small plastic or metal hammer. Place the cereal into a plastic bin and instruct your child to smash each circle one at a time.
My son loves this activity. Mainly because he really enjoys destroying things and seeing how they are put together.
This is an activity that allows him to appropriately destroy something. Plus, all the mess stays contained in a shallow plastic container. Three cheers for easy cleanup!
Your Child’s Interests Provide Fun Sensory Experiences
When you start learning about sensory bins, there is an overwhelming amount of information out there! However, once you learn some key ingredients, add in your own creativity, and your child’s interests’ sensory bins become a fun multisensory experience for both you and your child.
If your child is on the autism spectrum or he/she has sensory processing disorder, sensory bins are an easy way to slowly expose your child to new sensory stimulation because they lessen an overreaction to sensory input. Plus, providing these experiences gives your child a healthy outlet to help manage anxiousness related to external sensory input.
About the Author
Liz Talton is a mom of 2 wonderful boys, has a Masters in Psychology. She advocates for her son with autism. That’s why she joined content creators at Speech Blubs, a speech therapy at-home app that helps many kids with speech difficulties produce first words and sounds.
As mums, we hear ‘be more mindful’ all the time, and mindfulness for mums is always encouraged. But what does it mean? Why does it matter and how can you easily build it into your day for better change?
Mindfulness is a great way to take the million-and-one thoughts that are buzzing around your brain and help you in turning down the volume on them. It will help you to become more present in your surroundings and help you to breathe.
According to MindUK, there are studies that report that Mindfulness can help with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and feelings of stress. There is even some evidence suggesting that mindfulness can help with health issues like psychosis and bipolar disorder too! (Though, they have disclosed that more research is needed in this area).
So what are some easy little ways you can be more mindful in your day-to-day routine?
We have a few quick suggestions such as:
Taking a moment of calm – Take a few minutes out of your day to do a short and easy mindfulness activity. Maybe this is a short journalling session, or doing a 3 minute body scan meditation. Just take a second for yourself.
Tickle your funny bone – Do/watch something that never fails to make you laugh. Whether this is a podcast or tv show that never fails to make you laugh, or calling up a friend that always sends you into a fit of giggles – do something that you know is going to make you smile.
Go for a walk – Taking a brief moment to get some fresh air and get the blood pumping will truly make you feel better. It’s not always the easiest thing to find the motivation for, but it will really help to get into a more mindful headspace
If you’re really struggling, talk to someone – It’s not always easy to “keep calm and carry on” as a parent. There’s not a lot of shortcuts. And when you feel like there’s just no answer, maybe it’s time to talk to someone about this. A partner, a friend, or a professional. Talking to any of them is going to lift a weight off your shoulders.
Our guest blogger from Babies1st, Moni Celebi, has more to say on the matter below. Read on to find out more!
Mindfulness for mums – What is it?
Mindfulness is all about living in the moment. Not looking back or forwards but pausing to take in the here and now and noticing the little things around us that bring us joy and happiness. Mindfulness is a big trend right now. And we can easily dismiss it as something that won’t make much difference to our lives. But mindfulness for new mums can bring huge benefits.
We all need to be looking after our mental wellbeing, and being mindful about the time with our babies can really help both us and them.
Top Tips on how mums can begin to explore mindfulness
Here are a few guidelines, from Moni Celebi, a parent-infant psychotherapist from Babies1st, that many parents have found helpful:
Once you are over the baby shock, or past the first few months of “baby-moon”, establish a routine: But don’t beat yourself up if you cannot stick to it perfectly. It should be more seen as an aspiration than a rigid rule. Try to start with a clear bed-time routine and then work backwards. In the morning it is of course tempting to lie in, especially if you had a night of interrupted sleep, but in the long run it is good to aim for a regular get up time for yourself, even if baby is still asleep.
Talk to your baby whenever there is an opportunity: Describe what you are doing, what you will be doing etc. Initially this may feel strange, as if you are talking to yourself. But babies love their mother’s voice, and are often curious and understand more than we give them credit for
Head for the great outdoors
Go out once a day, even if the weather is not inviting: Wrapping your baby up tightly you can then meet up with another mother, a friend or family. Establishing a walk and talk space becomes an opportunity to have a chat, a catch-up, a space where you get some adult attention
Connection is key to good mindfulness for mums
Create special times: These are the opposite of educational activity classes and can help you connect with your baby in a different way. Put away your telephone and turn off the TV. Set aside 10 minutes to just watch and give your baby your undivided attention. Make sure baby is safe, but then give space to notice what baby wants to do or not to do. Do not educate, stimulate, or initiate, but just be mindful and responsive if baby seeks you out for a cuddle, or wants to look around, move away and explore. Don’t be tempted to rush off to do some chores, when baby is calm, but stay in the present moment.
You may just want to describe what you see you baby is doing. Be curious about what baby make be thinking, if s/he had words, and at the same time notice what you are feeling, when you just watch your baby. It can be a relief to be with baby and not be doing something. Babies love their parents’ attention. Try to do this once a day if you can. Over time you will see the benefits of mindfulness for mums.
Join either aface to face or an online group for one of the many baby classes: There are so many activity available, from singing, to signing, to dancing. Try them out and discover what you and your baby like doing together. These are all good ways of building a structure, which will help you and your baby get through the day. Beware not to overdo activities though. It is good to do at least one thing a day, but don’t rush from one activity to another. Make sure you leave space for downtime
Daily gratitudes
At the end of the day make a list of things you are grateful for. Remember the moments you enjoyed and think of what you did to bring them about. Always remember that everyone has good days and not so good days. Don’t strive for perfection, but for “good enough”. Your baby will love you for it
Moni Celebi is a parent-infant psychotherapist specialising in the 1001 Critical Days (from Conception to age two)
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