I think the most favourite sensory bin of all our bins is The Bean Bin!
However, all our bins assist children in learning skills needed for future school success.
Here are 5 reasons we use sensory bins:
1. Small Motor Skills are strengthened by twisting lids on and off; pinching and grasping objects within the bin and the tools we use. And all the scooping, and pouring we do!
2. Pre-Math Skills are learned. Skills such as comparing container sizes, measuring, sorting, and counting, are all practiced through our sensory bins.
3. Science Skills are learned. Children are learning about sizes, shapes and weight of items and how they all move differently. Children are learning through their senses; textures and sound. Some items feel soft against their hands where others feel dusty. They can compare sounds of the different items in the bin. They can see that different objects move faster or slower than others.
4. Social Skills are practiced. Children practice their social skills by sharing containers and scoops; or helping each other with filling a container or holding a funnel.
5. Eye-Hand Co-ordination. Children learn and practice eye/hand co-ordination by scooping and pouring the sensory item into funnels or containers.
We have the obvious sensory bin additives like measuring cups, different sizes and shapes of containers, sieves, funnels, scoops and turkey basters. But we also have things like letters children need to find, or colour/shape/sized buttons, geo shapes, rocks, shells, … lots of small manipulatives for more of a challenge!
