Sensory bins are a fun way for your child to learn while engaging in play! Throughout the activity they are using multiple senses (sight, sound, touch, and smell) and these combined experiences are key to cognitive development. Not only do sensory bins provide hands-on activities, but they also create opportunities for language practice.
Why Use Sensory Bins?
-Communication involves a variety of senses and providing stimulation to different senses activates areas of the brain involved in language and memory, allowing for opportunities to increase language output and recall.
-Sensory bins encourage joint attention and social interaction.
-Sensory play builds connections in neural pathways, which allows the body to learn how to complete tasks of increasing complexity.
How Can You Use Sensory Bins To Target Speech and Language?
· Building Overall Language/Vocabulary/Grammar
You and your child can describe colors, textures, size, and other characteristics of the items in the box. You can also discuss additional information beyond physical attributes in order to help your child make connections to personal experiences. For example, if you are creating a sensory bin with cotton balls to represent snow, you might recall a time when you went on a ski vacation or when you built a snow fort together!
· Reading/Following Directions
Your younger child can practice their listening skills as you read the directions aloud and have them execute each task until the sensory bin is complete. As children begin to develop their language and literacy skills, they will also crave more independence. Allowing your older child to read the directions and assemble a sensory bin on their own will highlight how reading is an important skill in everyday life and its application goes far beyond the pages of a book.
· Writing
After your child has finished exploring the sensory bin, have them write (a sentence, few sentences, or a story depending on their age and ability level) about the items they found or the experience as a whole. They could even write a step-by-step guide for creating a new sensory bin! By providing opportunities for your child to develop a solid foundation of language and literacy skills, including grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and organization, you are allowing them to take a multisensory experience and share it with the world through creative expression!
See two options below for variations in sensory bin contents.
Beach
Materials:
Storage bin (your choice of size)
Ocean animal toys, items you would find at the beach
Shells
Play sand
Water
Blue food coloring (optional)
Directions:
1. Fill one side of the bin with sand.
2. Use the shells to create a barrier between the sand and the water.
3. Slowly pour water into the other side of the bin. This must be done carefully in order to avoid the completely water spilling over onto the sand. If you would like, you can also add blue food coloring to create that “water” illusion.
4. Add the ocean animals to the water side of the bin.
*You can also create “waves” in the bin to show how the waves crashing against the shore and its impact on the texture of the sand.
*If you are feeling creative and want to add a texture element,you can make the ocean out of gelatin instead of water!
Zoo
Materials:
Storage bin (your choice of size)
Choice of main sensory elements (sand, beans, rice, rocks, beads etc.)
Animals figures from various habitats
Dividers (plastic fences, wooden boards, etc.)
Directions:
1. Separate your bin into the desired amount of sections.
2. Place your sensory item(s) into each section (This can be the material-rice dyed a few different colors, or three different items-rice, beans, rocks).
3. Add your animals and any other related accessories to each section.
Sensory play encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving, and creativity. Above all, don’t forget to allow your child to be creative and have fun! Here’s to a sensational summer!
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