I love sensory bins! Everything but the mess that is! In a daycare or preschool classroom, or pediatric occupational therapy clinic for children, sensory bins are great ways to play. And switching them out for a new theme every month is a great idea!
Once only found in classrooms or therapy spaces, sensory bins have gone mainstream! They can now be purchased on Amazon and Target!
What is the Purpose of Sensory Bins?
Sensory bins are a great way to increase sensory input for children (or even adults!) who crave sensory tactile input. They are also a great way to sneak other developmental activities such as scooping and finding hidden objects into fun sensory play for children who are hard to engage in adult-directed play, have decreased joint attention, or have a short attention span.
What Age are Sensory Bins Good for?
All ages! Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even older children! We should vary the ingredients in a sensory bin based not only on the child's age but also if that child tends to put things into their mouths. With babies and children who continue to mouth objects make sure the items in the bin are either edible or too large to choke on.
Who are Sensory Bins Good for?
Children with sensory processing disorder oftentimes LOVE and crave sensory tactile input. Even children with tactile defensiveness sometimes like to touch certain textures. Just remember not to push sensations on a child who does not like them!
Why are Sensory Bins Good for Autism?
Children with autism tend to have sensory processing disorders.
What Should be in a Sensory Bin?
Anything! Sensory bins can be very basic from rice or water. Or many teachers and therapists have enjoyed making more intricate themed sensory bins. Even companies have started selling sensory bins!
How to Play with Sensory Bins
There are so many great ways to play with sensory bins! My favorites are:
Transfer with spoons (I love this one for a way to work on feeding goals!)
Hiding items in the sensory bucket
Even better hide items such as puzzle pieces! I love this simple puzzle.
Put your feet in the bin
Get in the bucket!
What Skills can Pediatric Occupational Therapists Work on with Sensory Bins?
I love being creative with sensory bins! So many OT areas can be addressed through play activities that use sensory bins. This includes:
tactical seeking behaviors
tactile defensiveness
tactile discrimination
visual discrimination
figure-ground discrimination
sorting/matching
cognitive skills when asking the child to find certain items
eye-hand coordination
scooping for feeding
fine motor control
the list goes on!
Different Types of Textures to Put into Sensory Bins
Both wet and dry textures can be put into sensory bins. My favorite simple dry sensory bins are rice, lentils, pasta, and coffee beans. For wet, I love water beads or shaving cream. A lot of time easy is actually best!
What Type of Bucket Should I Use?
Definitely one with a top! Make sure you select a bin or bucket for your sensory bin that is large enough to move the ingredients around without it easily flying everywhere. But also one that has low enough sides that you can sit on the floor and play.
How Not to Make a Mess!
Having fun with sensory bins is a lot easier when you are not worried about the inevitable mess that will be made. Clean-up is easier in a classroom or daycare setting. But at home, some setup is required.
One reason I recommend a bin with low enough sides to sit on the floor and play. Place a sheet on the floor and the bucket on it to play.
As an early intervention occupational therapist bringing these items into a home for therapy sessions, I would then roll up the sheet, bring it outside and shake it clean!
If you are playing with wet items a plastic table cloth may work well.
To help people with sensory issues, occupational therapists(medical professionals who provide occupational therapy) create a tailored plan that may consist of exercises, integrative activities, and other forms of therapeutic tools to improve their fine motor skills and sensory skills.
Some sample objectives that you may be trying to improve with sensory strategies might be to increase tolerance for a non-preferred activity (seat work, being in a store, novel food), decrease outbursts or other undesirable actions, or demonstrate an ability to self regulate (identifying personal alertness level, self ...
A sensory bin is a plastic container filled with items that are used to engage a child's senses. Typically, these include items such as pompoms, kinetic sand, shredded paper, dried foods such as rice or beans, buttons, packing peanuts, and more.
Toddlers and preschoolers can learn about basic concepts such as full/empty, up/down, above/below, or same/different while they are pouring, sorting, and moving the objects in the sensory bin.
Examples of these latter techniques and practices include auditory integration-based approaches, music therapy, weighted blankets, swinging, brushing, deep pressure, massage, joint compression, vestibular stimulation (note 1 and 2).
Those who are having trouble seeking sensory input effectively can be treated through occupational therapy, which will help them interact with their environment more successfully.
Sensory processing refers to how the child responds to sensory input, like touch, sound, and movement. Professional pediatric occupational therapy can aid in developing sensory processing skills using different types of sensory input, such as tactile or auditory stimulation.
performing daily living skills such as brushing teeth, bathing, or dressing. creating schedules to assist with transitions and expectations. using sensory diets to assist in regulating and modulating input around them which may include use of a weighted blanket, pressure vest, noise cancelling headphones, etc.
Those goals might include increasing the amount of learning time in between sensory breaks, learning self-advocacy to ask for when they need a sensory break or increasing the amount of time they can tolerate something, such as noise or activity.
The Bin Supplies: You can fill your bins a few inches deep with age-appropriate items like dried rice/beans/pastas, pom poms, wool balls, dirt, rocks, water, sand—whatever you like!
What Is a Sensory Bin? A sensory bin is a shallow container that combines filler material and various small odds and ends. You fill the bin with a filler material such as sand or rice, then add items from around the house such as spoons or measuring cups. Let your child explore the items and have fun playing.
Essentially, a sensory bin is a container filled with materials specifically chosen to stimulate the senses, allowing the child to explore and interact with the items as they choose. Sensory play is a great way to expose your child to a variety of textures, facilitate communication, and actively engage with your child.
Sensory play encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving and creativity. It helps to build nerve connections in the brain and encourages the development of language and motor skills.
The most common treatment used as an intervention for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder is sensory integration therapy. This focuses on activities that will challenge the individual with sensory input.
Sensory integration therapy, usually conducted by an occupational or physical therapist, is often recommended for children who have sensory processing disorder. It focuses on activities that challenge the child with sensory input. The therapist then helps the child respond appropriately to this sensory stimulus.
Treatment for SPD typically includes Occupational Therapy, introduction of a sensory diet, and sensory integration challenges that retrain the brain to respond differently to stimulation from the senses. SPD affects everyone differently; it may affect one sense or several senses simultaneously.
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