As a home daycare provider, you are always looking for new, fun, and educational activities to keep your kids busy and engaged. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, why not add some festive sensory bins to your list of activities? This blog post will explore four different thanksgiving sensory bin ideas for you to try this holiday season. Sensory bins are an excellent way to inspire exploration and discovery, and can you can tailor them to children of all ages. First, what is a sensory bin?
What is a sensory bin?
If you’re a home daycare provider, chances are you’ve heard of sensory bins. But what are they? Sensory bins are simply containers filled with materials that can be used for sensory play. The type of sensory bin filler will depend on the age of the child. For infants, you might use larger non-toxic materials that are not choking hazards. For older children, you could use various materials such as rice, sand, or dried beans. The possibilities are endless! The key is choosing safe materials that interest your particular group of children. Sensory bins provide an excellent opportunity for children to explore their senses and use their imagination. They can also be used to work on fine motor skills or to calm an upset child. Sensory bins are a great option if you’re looking for a way to add variety to your daycare program!
How to set up and use a sensory bin in daycare
If you’re looking to set up a sensory bin for your home daycare, there are a few basic materials you’ll need. First, you’ll need a bin or container to hold the materials. Second, you’ll need something to fill the bin, such as sand, dried beans, shredded paper, etc. Third, you’ll need objects to add to the bin for tactile exploration, such as shells, rocks, beads, etc. Finally, you may want to add some scoops, spoons, and other tools to help with scooping and pouring. With these basic materials, you can easily set up a sensory bin that will provide hours of fun and exploration for your young kids.
Here are four Thanksgiving sensory bin ideas to get you started.
Thanksgiving-Themed Sensory Bin
A thanksgiving themed sensory bin is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who are just starting to explore the world around them. Fill a large bin with corn kernels, dried cranberries, preserved fall leaves, mini pumpkins, acorns, and other small Thanksgiving-themed objects. Encourage your kids to use their sight, smell, touch, and sound senses to explore the bin’s contents. For older children, you can also hide a few small toys or objects in the corn and challenge them to find them.
Pilgrim Hat Sensory Bin
This bin is ideal for older toddlers and preschoolers that are beginning to develop fine motor skills. Fill a bin with small items such as feathers, lengths of ribbon or yarn, squares of felt in different colors and textures, beads, buttons, and pipe cleaners. Give each child a small pilgrim hat (you can find inexpensive ones at party supply stores) and let them decorate it using the materials in the bin. They can add feathers to the hat’s brim or weave ribbons through the holes punched around the edge—the sky’s the limit! For an added challenge, see if they can thread beads onto a pipe cleaner to create a small necklace for their doll or stuffed animal.
Fall Leaves Sensory Bin
This fall sensory bin is another great option for toddlers and preschoolers who are just beginning to explore their senses. Gather up various types of leaves from around your yard or neighborhood—some should be soft and silky, others crisp and papery—and place them in a large bin or container. Encourage your charges to touch and smell. For older children, you can hide small objects or toys in the leaves and see if they can find them.
Harvest Sensory Bin
This bin is perfect for children who are old enough to understand the concept of harvest time. Fill a large container with dried fruits such as apricots, apples, pears, and prunes; nuts such as almonds, cashews, and pistachios; and spices such as cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and cloves. Give each child a small scoop or spoon and let them fill a bowl or cup with their favorite combination of ingredients. *Do Not Use Nuts If A Child In Your Care Has A NUT Allergy.
Additional ideas for activities that go along with the sensory bin
Many activities can go along with a sensory bin. One popular activity is to have the children sort through the bin to find different objects. Sorting can be done by color, size, or type of object. Another activity is burying small objects in the sensory bin and have the children search for them. This can be turned into a game by seeing who can find the most objects in a certain amount of time. Sensory bins are an awesome way to keep children entertained and engaged, and they can also be used to teach basic concepts such as sorting and matching. With a bit of imagination, the possibilities are endless.
A few recommended products to help you create a successful Thanksgiving-themed sensory bin
Thanksgiving is a great time to create a sensory bin for your kids! A few recommended products to help you get started are corn kernels, mini pumpkins, leaves, acorns, pine cones, and cinnamon sticks. You can also add some small toys like turkey figurines or candy corn. The possibilities are endless! Just make sure to supervise your children while they play in the bin. Have fun!
Sensory bins are a great way to encourage exploration and discovery in young children. Why not add festive sensory bins to your list of activities? These four Thanksgiving sensory bin ideas will surely be a hit with kids of all ages. Break out those bins and get started!
****Please use caution when selecting objects for these bins, as small items can pose a choking hazard. In addition, sharp or pointy objects should be avoided, as they could cause scratches or cuts. Any objects used in sensory bins should be carefully inspected before each use, and any damaged or worn items should be removed and replaced. By taking these simple precautions, home daycare providers can ensure that their sensory bins are safe for all to enjoy.