Anonymous wrote:I think it's really because kids don't go outside and play and explore and get dirty and so they are missing out on a lot of sensory experiences involving touch. I don't think the bins provide a huge benefit, but kids do like them.

Anonymous wrote:I could see my DS loving a sensory bin, but I cannot wrap my head around two things:

1. The mess
2. The waste (of rice or beans or pasta)
3. Mess mess mess mess!!!

Okay that was 3. Honestly asking, how do you deal with the mess that it would create INSIDE the house. (I guess I could restrict use of the bin to outside, but then I go back to the wasting food issue too)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Preschool teacher here. Sensory play is one good thing for kids to do. Sensory bins are one way to give children different sensory experiences (smooth. wet. round, granular, etc). SO play dough is a sensory experience, as is squishing yogurt in your hands, or splashing in the bath.

In a preschool classroom, we have a sensory bin and fill it with new things each week: sand, soil, water, pebbles, dried corn, dried beans, feathers, leaves, cotton balls, hay, snow, etc. We give the kids cups and spoons and funnels to scoop and pour with, or fake flowers to plant, or dump trucks to drive around in the sensory bin. The hands-on sensory play can be very soothing to young children, and it is good open ended exploration and touching of safe objects. We can also incorporate play tied in to a lesson plan theme: If we are doing construction, we'll have dirt and rocks and shovels and trucks, if we are doing sea animals, we'll have water and toy fish or frogs.

You don't have to do a "sensory bin" at home, but if your child gets to touch the leaves, pour water in the pool, squeeze playdough, crumple paper, etc, they are getting a range of sensory experiences, which is good.

Not OP but thank you for your explanation. Wish I did this when DD was younger. She has issues with textures and she's 1.5 now.

+1. 3.5 yr old has sensory issues, too. I am not making the same mistake with DS2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Preschool teacher here. Sensory play is one good thing for kids to do. Sensory bins are one way to give children different sensory experiences (smooth. wet. round, granular, etc). SO play dough is a sensory experience, as is squishing yogurt in your hands, or splashing in the bath.

In a preschool classroom, we have a sensory bin and fill it with new things each week: sand, soil, water, pebbles, dried corn, dried beans, feathers, leaves, cotton balls, hay, snow, etc. We give the kids cups and spoons and funnels to scoop and pour with, or fake flowers to plant, or dump trucks to drive around in the sensory bin. The hands-on sensory play can be very soothing to young children, and it is good open ended exploration and touching of safe objects. We can also incorporate play tied in to a lesson plan theme: If we are doing construction, we'll have dirt and rocks and shovels and trucks, if we are doing sea animals, we'll have water and toy fish or frogs.

You don't have to do a "sensory bin" at home, but if your child gets to touch the leaves, pour water in the pool, squeeze playdough, crumple paper, etc, they are getting a range of sensory experiences, which is good.

Not OP but thank you for your explanation. Wish I did this when DD was younger. She has issues with textures and she's 1.5 now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Preschool teacher here. Sensory play is one good thing for kids to do. Sensory bins are one way to give children different sensory experiences (smooth. wet. round, granular, etc). SO play dough is a sensory experience, as is squishing yogurt in your hands, or splashing in the bath.

In a preschool classroom, we have a sensory bin and fill it with new things each week: sand, soil, water, pebbles, dried corn, dried beans, feathers, leaves, cotton balls, hay, snow, etc. We give the kids cups and spoons and funnels to scoop and pour with, or fake flowers to plant, or dump trucks to drive around in the sensory bin. The hands-on sensory play can be very soothing to young children, and it is good open ended exploration and touching of safe objects. We can also incorporate play tied in to a lesson plan theme: If we are doing construction, we'll have dirt and rocks and shovels and trucks, if we are doing sea animals, we'll have water and toy fish or frogs.

You don't have to do a "sensory bin" at home, but if your child gets to touch the leaves, pour water in the pool, squeeze playdough, crumple paper, etc, they are getting a range of sensory experiences, which is good.

Not OP but thank you for your explanation. Wish I did this when DD was younger. She has issues with textures and she's 1.5 now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My toddler eats yogurt with his hands. Is that a sensory bin?

No. Read the thread. If you don't want to make a sensory bin, that is fine. But please don't embarrass yourself by feigning ignorance.

I did read the thread, and I'm embarrassed for these people who need to purchase plastic tubs and fill them with plastic and vermin attractors in some misguided parenting substitute. How about taking your kid outside? Too hot outside? Read books, build with blocks, do a puzzle, have a tea party and have your kid pour, do a craft together and get sticky, color, do laundry together, wash dishes together, cook food with different texture, have your child help prepare food, knead dough. But please stop talking about these stupid bins.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My toddler eats yogurt with his hands. Is that a sensory bin?

No. Read the thread. If you don't want to make a sensory bin, that is fine. But please don't embarrass yourself by feigning ignorance.

Anonymous wrote:Preschool teacher here. Sensory play is one good thing for kids to do. Sensory bins are one way to give children different sensory experiences (smooth. wet. round, granular, etc). SO play dough is a sensory experience, as is squishing yogurt in your hands, or splashing in the bath.

In a preschool classroom, we have a sensory bin and fill it with new things each week: sand, soil, water, pebbles, dried corn, dried beans, feathers, leaves, cotton balls, hay, snow, etc. We give the kids cups and spoons and funnels to scoop and pour with, or fake flowers to plant, or dump trucks to drive around in the sensory bin. The hands-on sensory play can be very soothing to young children, and it is good open ended exploration and touching of safe objects. We can also incorporate play tied in to a lesson plan theme: If we are doing construction, we'll have dirt and rocks and shovels and trucks, if we are doing sea animals, we'll have water and toy fish or frogs.

You don't have to do a "sensory bin" at home, but if your child gets to touch the leaves, pour water in the pool, squeeze playdough, crumple paper, etc, they are getting a range of sensory experiences, which is good.

Anonymous wrote:My toddler eats yogurt with his hands. Is that a sensory bin?

Anonymous wrote:My toddler eats yogurt with his hands. Is that a sensory bin?