Baby Sensory Play: Bugs in "Grass"

Time for another edition of our Baby Sensory Play adventures!  Last time, my little guy got to explore some wax paper and shapes and this time, we're getting messy with a fun bug-themed sensory tub.

Here is my usual preschool bug-themed sensory tub:

Not so good for Mr. Everything-is-food, so shredded paper was out and green spaghetti noodles were in!

I just boiled the noodles as I normally would, but added green food coloring to the cooking water.  When they were done - I strained, rinsed and cooled.  I did add a teeny speck of olive oil, just to keep them pliable and prevent clumping.

Little Bear dug right in!

He was definitely more interested in the bugs at first and worked hard to get each one out so he could give it a taste.  Working on that pincer grasp!

 

The texture of the noodles didn't seem to bother him at all and he was happy to get in there and find those bugs.

Monkey, my 3 1/2 yr old, was in sensory heaven!  He picked up handfuls just to squeeze them and hear the SQQQUUUUIIIIISSSSHHHH!

He also loved the noise the noodles made as he dropped them back into the tub.

And Bear was still tasting.

After a while watching big brother, he started really getting in there and actually playing with the noodles, sliding them all around.

And also tasting.

Eventually, Bear lost interest, but Monkey couldn't get enough, he wanted his feet in there and added a spatula, measuring spoon and colander from our play kitchen as well.  He spent nearly an hour playing in our 'grass' and I'll definitely be sure to cook up some colorful noodles for my students very soon!

Baby Sensory Play: Wax Paper Shape Discovery Tub

I certainly couldn't leave baby Bear out of the bathtub fun this week, and since we rarely use his baby tub for actual baths these days (unless they're fraught with choking hazards and non-ingestibles), I thought it would make a wonderful vessel for baby-friendly sensory items.

We do a lot of squishy, messy, wet, slimy sensory play around here, but I often feel like we're ignoring all of the other senses.  I've added sound bottles to the classroom, and have plans for even more sensory additions.  I thought I'd start with something that would engage sight, hearing and touch all at once - and knowing Bear, taste, as well.

I used the shapes from our Melissa and Doug Shape-Sorting Cube and added pieces of wax paper.  If your baby, like mine, puts everything in his mouth, be sure to use only large sheets of wax paper.

I started with all of the shapes covered by the paper, so he immediately went for a sheet of wax paper and shook it around to hear the noise it made.  He has recently learned how to clap, so he experimented with clapping while holding one sheet of the wax paper and while holding a sheet in each hand.

Soon, though, he discovered that there were other treasures hidden in this tub!

Shapes!!


Bear spent a long time playing with this invitation - longer than most people would believe possible for a 7 month old.  I left it out for three days and he continued returning to it, discovering and exploring different shapes.

Eventually, he figured out that he could take the sheets of wax paper out of the tub and crawl/slide on the floor with them, crinkling his way through the house.

Even Monkey got in on the wax paper action and asked for a few sheets so he could 'ice skate' on the carpets - try THAT one with your preschoolers!!

More baby sensory play adventures to come!

10 Preschool Sensory Bin Ideas

 We always have plenty of sensory experiences here at Seedlings, but we love to go beyond the typical sand, water, potting soil, rice, birdseed, beans, etc.  Here are some examples of seasonal and anytime sensory bins.

Rainbow Bubbles

Spring/Easter Theme: shredded paper, plastic eggs, spring foam shapes, spoons, baskets.

 Cloud dough: 8c. flour, 1c. oil - I used baby oil

Bug Theme: shredded paper, wood blocks, plastic bugs and trees.

Pond Theme: Colored water, river rocks, frog life cycle models, magnifying glasses.

Gardening Theme: sand (or potting soil), garden tools, plastic planters, faux flowers.

Gardening/Flowers/Spring Theme: Lavender scented water, water beads, faux flowers, cups for scooping and pouring.

Christmas: Dyed rice, ornaments, gift boxes.

Arctic/Winter Theme: Tray covered with foil, vanilla-scented glitter play dough, Arctic TOOB

Arctic/Winter Theme: Salt in tray covered with foil, small arctic buttons (Hobby Lobby/Michael's) and blue and white pom-poms (not pictured).

DIY Montessori-Inspired Sound Bottles

I've been perusing the Montessori materials websites lately and finding activities that I can recreate on my own without breaking the bank.  It all started with our sewing basket, which is a classroom favorite.

A few weeks ago, my son asked for 'yogurt smoothies' during our weekly Trader Joe's trip and I happily obliged knowing just what I was going to do once my lil man helped out and drank all those yogurts.

Sound bottles!

Although the sound quality isn't as good in the plastic bottles as it is with the more traditional wooden cylinders, I decided to try it out anyway using whatever was around the house to make my first set of bottles.

I used water, popcorn kernels, dried pinto beans and rice.  I measured 1/4 cup of the items into their assigned bottles because I wanted the bottles to feel the same as the kids were shaking to allow for the sound difference to be the only variable.  Once everything was measured, I hot glued the tops, just in case.

I labeled the bottom of each bottle for the children to check their work.  Even though they aren't reading, they can recognize the individual words as shapes and decipher whether or not the words match.  

My son loved the activity as soon as it was presented and I am allowing him to help out the other children as they discover the new game.  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly children can not only discover a new activity, but also understand its purpose.  On the very first day the bottles were in their new home in the classroom, I heard a little guy shaking away and after a moment or two, a joyous, "That's a match!!"