SENSORY BIN : SCOOP, POUR & TRANSFER
Sensory bin is absolutely a fail proof activity, be it babies or toddler. There I no expiry date for a sensory bin activity, it’s always a win-win for both the child and the parent.
WHY SENSORY BIN?
Learning is best when it’s done through play, when the child gets to explore. Now, how does a child explore? And the answer is through their senses – touch, smell, sight, hear and movement.
“There is an old saying that children learn what they live. Essentially, Montessori is saying the same thing.” – How to Raise an amazing child the Montessori way
Sensory bin (play) helps in developing motor skills, including both fine and gross and also practical skills. Not to forget the other development it provides: vocabulary & problem solving. And it encourages independent play.
Apart from all this, sensory bin is mere happiness, there is so much joy when the child gets to explore. The texture, the sound – it really feels nice. Some things when they run through those little fingers, oh my God !! you must witness the expressions of these little humans.
WHAT YOU CAN ADD INTO YOUR SENSORY BIN?
- Beans
- Chick peas
- Rice
- Oats
- Frozen peas
- Ice cubes
- Soya chunks
- Ragi
- wheat
- cereals/pulses
- pasta
If your starting with sensory bin, then I would suggest you to start with Beans – the texture (the feel of holding a handful), the sound (when it is dropped from a ladle into the bowl), the weight – it feels really good.
For the first few times, I would suggest you to just use one item in the bin, slowly you can add in a few together or go with just one.
All the things that I have mentioned are items that are from the kitchen – there are other options which can be discussed later.
SCOOP, POUR, TRANSFER:
These are basic skills that a toddler must develop and are very important.
If you had known us for a while, you would definitely know that Chintu has been into scooping, pouring and transferring for what seems like a long time now. This is not just with Chintu, be it any toddler, you will notice that the toddler has more focus on sensory activities that involves these skills. The play lasts longer – I don’t just mean to say that the play lasts for 30 plus minutes or an hour, but I also mean that the play grows along with your child (baby to toddler).
Chintu’s go to activity anytime any day it’s this – sensory bin involving scooping, pouring and transferring. The play has been evolving along. Trust me – it provides high engagement and you get a few extra minutes for yourself.
IMPORTANCE OF SCOOPING, POURING AND TRANSFERRING:
- Fine motor and Gross Motor skills: Fine motor skill develops as the child learns to handle the spoon; gross motor skill develops as the child learns to move his arm steadily without spilling the item on the spoon.
- Cause and Effect (Problem solving): The child gets to understand when there is a success and when there is a failure. Example: if the child bumps the spoon on side or tip of the bowl, the items in the spoon spill – so they get to work on it.
- Vocabulary/language: develop conversation with your child, talk about the texture, talk about the things that are being used for play, just talk about everything possible.
- Mathematics: Child gets to understand basic concepts like quantity (full, half, empty); weight; measurements; counting and more.
