Our Autumn Sensory Tub for this year:-)
It’s got many of the same resources as last year but with a few additions / changes. I’ve used rice as a base instead of mixed beans, as I have a child I know will try to eat the beans.
I’ve added pots, natural resources from our walks including, twigs, fir cones, apples, leaves and conkers,
wooden acorns and cinnamon sticks, small leaf buttons,
woodland figures,
extra pots and containers for classification / moving the resources,
and a few curious toddlers!
When I set up a sensory tub, I try to ensure it will provide opportunities that are developmentally appropriate to the children who will be exploring. I’ve provided more than one of each item so that the children will be able to sort and classify the objects,
they enjoy filling and emptying containers, so there are an assortment of pots and spoons included,
as well as some less conventional objects for filling.
I’ve included the woodland figures to encourage imaginative / role play,
but the children also came up with their own ideas, from the slurping noises it appears this pot has become a very tasty drink!
The children were fascinated with this tealight holder, I happened to find it by chance, reduced in a local supermarket.
They fiddled around with it, working out that the door opened and shut
Then the children became fascinated with posting the tiny leaf buttons they had sorted from the tray, down the top of the tea light holder.
Retrieving them from the holder gave little fingers a good workout!
Then another use was found for the buttons……
…they were hidden in the rice, accompanied by ‘hide hide hide!’…..
and then retrieved!
Pots and containers were stacked.
Then in our final day of exploration I moved the tray onto the floor. Why? Well I generally find the little ones become more involved in their play and exploration when the tub is on the floor.
Fascinated by the falling rice.
Again fascinated by falling rice!
Loved the big swooshing movements play on the floor allowed!
Of course being on the floor also meant it was easier to get into the tray!
