Sensory tables (also called sensory bins or sensory boxes) are a great way to keep kids excited about playing and learning, while using toys and items you may already have around the house. They’re a handy educational activity for pretty much any setting… homeschooling, children’s ministry, daycare. preschool, before/after school program or just trying to keep your kids independently busy at home! Sensory tables or sensory boxes can be made on basically any budget and adjusted for any age kiddo. The best part: by rotating out the base material and filler items, it’s like a brand new activity every time you use it!

Sensory tables aren’t just for young kids… by using more creative base materials, more technical tools or more in-depth activities, kids of all ages can stay fun and entertained for hours! On the flip side, if you’re working with toddlers or other kiddos that put everything in their mouths, you’ll have to be much more mindful of the supplies you use (consider choking risk, poison, in-edible items, etc).

Benefits of a sensory table
The biggest benefit of using a sensory table from the parent/educator perspective is how versatile it is… in just a few minutes, you can flip from one activity to a completely different one using the same container. The benefits for kids are nearly endless: younger kids will play and strengthen the muscles which will eventually be used for handwriting, while older kids can do educational activities that just feel like play!

What do I need to create a sensory table?
A sensory table is very similar to a bowl of ice cream… the basic recipe stays the same, but the end product can be pretty much anything you make it!

Sensory table… or box… or bin?
Don’t have a lot of money to spend? Just use a small plastic shoebox ($1 or less) or splurge for a larger under-the-bed type plastic box (regardless of box size, the lid is handy for storage). Want to make it a more permanent part of your educational environment? There are some REALLY nice tables out there specifically made for this purpose. We have this table (which is technically a sand table) and it works great! I think the handiest feature of all the sensory tubs below is that they have LIDS! This is helpful for storage and hiding away activities for a special time.

Take your sensory table to the next level
Keep a few clipboards with plain paper and writing utensils handy to make the sensory table an even more versatile activity! Encourage kids to be creative. Some ideas include:
-Trace the outline of items in the table
-Draw pictures of items in the table
-Write a story featuring items in the table
-Do a texture rubbing of items in the table
-Play a game based on items in the table (hangman, bingo, etc.)

Handy tools for sensory tables
Shovel
Nesting cups
Magnifying glass
Sifter
Measuring tape
Tongs, clothespins or other grabbers (great for developing the muscles used for handwriting!)
Funnel
Cupcake pan (to sort items by color, type, etc)
Measuring cups and spoons
Mixing bowls
Shipping scale (to weigh items)
Balance scale (to compare the weight of two items)
This sand toy set has several of the individual tools listed above at a great package deal!

Sensory table base materials
Water
Snow
Ice cubes
Water beads (or this set comes with some neat tools!)
Rocks or aquarium pebbles
Play sand or kinetic sand
White or dyed rice
Dyed pasta
Cooked pasta
Beads
Playdoh
Shredded paper
Styrofoam packing peanuts
Pom pom balls
Shaving cream
Beans
Birdseed
Legos
Wooden blocks
Craft sticks

Filler items
Once you have a container, a base material and tools, you can add the fun part – filler items! These filler items can link your sensory table to any theme activity. I’ll share some more specific filler ideas in the future, but you can use any small toys, trinkets or other items.

Follow Borrowed Blessings for more kids activities!

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