Sensory bin - Sensory play with natural materials
Let children play and discover with natural materials like stones, grass and gravel! Use natural materials when playing and make a ”sensory bin”, to encourage the children to feel, listen, smell and look.
Victoria Bergman is an educational advisor and company and product developer. She also has a background as a preschool teacher, teacher and university lecturer in teacher education at Linnaeus University.
Victoria tells us about why it's so important that children use all their senses when playing and shares her best tips for creating a fun sensory bin!
What is a sensory bin?
”A sensory bin is a box that you fill with different materials that the children explore with their senses. You can have anything in the sensory bin, but natural materials are especially exciting. They often even have a variety of different smells. Use the children's toys in conjunction with the sensory material.”
Why should I make a sensory bin?
”A sensory bin stimulates all the senses. Let the children feel, listen, smell and look. It also trains eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills if it includes tools for pouring, stirring, scooping, raking and so on. Naming movements, activities and objects also trains language skills.”
What ages are a sensory bin suitable for?
“Depending on what is put in the box, it can be used from the age of one with total presence and supervision by an adult. Make sure there aren't any toxic substances or choking hazards.”