This week was not a typical tot school week for us with getting our house on the market. We mostly worked on last weeks activities. Especially the oatmeal container puzzle. You can see last weeks activities here. I also worked on making a new play room/school room for us to enjoy until the house sells.
One of the things that we put in the new "playroom" was our sand/water table. The Stink Bug received this as a birthday gift, and I knew better than to put sand in it for the little bit of summer that she had left to enjoy it. I also knew that she was just a bit too small to enjoy sand and that I wanted to bring it in for the winter without making a sandy mess.
The first few days that it was in our "playroom" I left it empty, aside from a few toys that we used in the water. She mostly just took the toys out and left them all over the room. Then I decided to add a bit of fun to the mix (and maybe some stupidity). I added some brown rice and some left over rainbow rice. (You can check out my rainbow rice tutorial here.) She LOVED it.
Soon after she started playing she realized that the rice made a satisfying sound as she poured it onto the foam mat below. Ugh. Not so smart on my part. I had MUCH cleaning up to do. When faced with the idea of taking the table out, I realized that I really didn't want to. It wasn't her who had the problem. It was me. So, I re-purposed an old hand vac that we found during our house clean up as the "rice pick-er-upper" and have to remember not to cringe when she pours it on the floor.
All for the name of sensory play, right? At least I will have a place to make her sensory play now, and wont be limited to what I can fit in a small bin. Who knows, by the 20th time of vacuuming up the rice, it may be replaced with something less "messy." Maybe pom poms. What do you think would be a cheap and safe "base sensory material" for her table?
Check out a sneak peak of something that I have been working on! Check back soon to see what it is!
You brave woman! I haven't given Grace rice yet- I mostly pull out our sensory bin for Jonathan while she takes her morning nap. I would love to have a full sensory table!
ReplyDeleteAs far as what to put in... hmmm. We've done dry oatmeal, popcorn, and aquarium rocks. Something larger would be maybe something along the lines of packing peanuts? Or feathers... hmmm.
Here's a pin I found of a list of some ideas:
http://pinterest.com/pin/201835817/
Thanks so much for the pin link! I followed it to the play table manufacturers website. They have a GREAT side show! http://www.jonti-craft.com/Sensory/player.html I *think* I may make this a regular weekly post topic! Cotton balls sound like something right up her ally right now. Throw in some spoons and I am sure she will have a blast! Not a choking hazard and low mess!
ReplyDeleteVery cute idea... I know what you mean about sensory bin mess/clean-up, but the kiddos love them so.
ReplyDelete