Ok so I have been Racking my brain on what I could get my soon to be 4 year old for his birthday, he just is not in to toys at the moment...in fact all he really likes is to swing ( outside on the swingset) or put rocks in and out of water ( he is pretty sensory and yes, a little delayed/we do have a diagnosis just an FYI)
Anyway...super excited I found the Perfect sized combo table for water/sand, has a cover, not so hugely obnoxious that during winter months it would be unreasonable to have inside in the play room. ( Also very happy it was on sale-Bonus!!)
So...it got me thinking...what else could be put in it and used as a "sensory" table. We had a great one when I worked at La Petite that was sized so multiple kids could play, but due to younger ages I never got to be too crazy or experimental, but with Alex turning 4 and "mostly" past putting things in his mouth I figured you all might have some stellar ideas for me.
I priced the "moon sand" and it seemed very high, even for the small amount it would take to fill the "sand" side...any great recipes for make your own moon sand? Also since Alex LOVES rocks...where might I be able to purchase a decent quantity of Smooth rocks?
Thanks in advance!!!
All you Mama's Rock! Thanks for all the great ideas, can hardly wait until he gets it so we can start with all the fun! = )
Thank you!!! So appreciated = )
This week my sons has dried corn (like feed corn) in theirs at school.
They have done packing peanuts, sand, water colored blue, crumpled up paper, dried beans and pasta. (Those are the ones I can think of right now.)
Cotton balls/Yarn pieces (with or without water added) with tongs and cups.
Confetti with scoops and measuring cups.
Small empty milk cartons with little cups in water or rice.
Shredded paper from a shredder with toilet paper tubes to stuff the paper into.
Magnets and metal/non metal items.
Potting soil with silk flowers and flower pots.
Rocks in water.
Corks in water.
Lily pads cut from foam paper with small frogs/fishes.
Dry rice/beans/pasta/oats with scoops and measuring cups.
Dry rice/oats with cars and trucks, and blocks.
Plain water with a watermill and scoops.
Water can be enhanced with a drop of food coloring.
Dishes and sponges with warm soapy water.
Baby dolls with wash cloths and warm soapy water.
A box of cornstarch with water added to it. (Google oobleck)
Those are just a few off the top of my head. It is limitless.
All the suggestions are great for the bulk material. Then consider things to "hide" in it. Studying or interest in bugs? get small plastic ants and other bugs and mix them in it. ABC letters and numbers (and maybe have some sort of hunt with them...pull out an L...you need to try to find something that starts with the letter..like a Leaf, etc. Go back for another letter. A treasure hunt of sorts inside or outside the house!). Add matchbox or other size cars for a fun construction site. Small pails and shovels (Target dollar spot is great for smaller size petite ones right now).
Put some Lego's in it (duplos or whatever size he uses now). Make a printout or drawing showing to find these specific ones to build a tower or? A red square, 3 blue rectangles, 2 yellow squares and a green long rectangle (or whatever). Whatever it is....have a few of these specific challenges prepared for him for whatever theme you have added to the table materials. You can add books to go with it (with ants maybe...Ants go marching in....record the Cat in the Hat show where they show the Ants...find others from the library on ants and how they work together, etc...if he really likes it you can use it to be the center article of easy theme set ups...and go by what HE is interested in and keep it that way as long as he likes it). If you ahve a few prepared things for him you can ask (if he looks like he needs an activity).."Do you want a challenge?"
Ok..sorry I rambled....I got excited for you!
This can help with fine motor skills, color and letter recognition, counting...all sorts of other skills, depending on the game you play, while still doing sensory play. Just extending it a bit for more activities.
Great suggestions so far. Uncooked rice and oatmeal are also great.
Hi B.!
Years ago, I was a director of a child development center...and many of the caregivers 'hated' me as I regularly had them using the sand and water tables. lol
I had them use all manner of things for the 'sand' side...unpopped popcorn...all shapes and sizes of pasta/macaroni...as I recall even some stones from home depot, but our tables were the big 'industrial' strength ones...and they did get heavy!
Hope your little one has a blast!
Michele/cat
You can go to any home and garden type stores and find rocks for rock garden. Ask for river rocks, pea gravel, pebble stones, etc. They sell them by the pounds, usually 5 - 10 lbs bags. Try home depot or lowes, osh, etc. Or if there's natural stone store near you (building material type), they have more varieties and so many more colors! They're catered to contractors but usually pretty friendly, you can buy a pound each of different kinds (ask for samples or tell them why you really wanted them if you want to get into it. My kids love them! I took my kids rock shopping when I was relandscaping the front yard, they had more fun there than the toy store!
Look up sticky stones. I bought some at a Buckee's in Houston. Best sensory toy EVER!!!! Basically, they are polished, pretty, very strong magnets! My girls think that it is SO funny that when polarized, they make themselves "swirl" around. I have fun with them! I play with them while I'm waiting to pick up my 10 year old from school!
Here's the link:
http://www.teachersource.com/ElectricityAndMagnetism/Magn...
we do a big bucket of golf balls in the water too!
Updated
we do a big bucket of golf balls in the water too!
My kids love that "Magic snow". Not sure if that is the exact name, but you can get it at teachers supply stores. When it dries up, just add more water. Also, I used to put beans in the sand box when my kids were younger and they loved that. I should be doing the same. My 3 year old just likes to move sand and dirt around. Good luck
