One of the first things we learn in science is about our senses and we start to learn these from birth. Our Senses are Touch, Smell, Taste, Sound, Sight.
When Lily was only a few months old I started to put together a sensory basket for her. I started with a few touchy feel items and rattles and I added more and more as she got older.
A Sensory basket is a great way for a baby to explore there senses and experience a range of exciting items that are new to them. As they get older they will understand more and more about the objects they are holding. Are they soft, hard, bright, dull, noisy or quiet.
Ive put all her old rattles in there and her contrasty books as she no longer plays with them on a regular basis, but they work great for a occasional sound making instrument to play with when we get the basket out.
So here are a just a few ideas of what you can put in your basket.
TOUCH
Wash Cloths
Sponges
Toothbrush
Nail Brush
Hair Brush
Sensory Balls
Bean bags
Wooden Spoons
Spatula
SOUND
Rattles
Drums
Musical instruments
Shakers
Rustling Sounding Paper
Bells
SIGHT
Contrasting Books
Bright coloured toys / teddies
Mirror
Pictures
Sensory Tubes (seen in top of picture)
A lot of items can also be used for more than once sense. For example the some of the things you can touch, like a tooth brush, can also make a great sound if rubbed against something. Some of the musical instruments may have interesting things to look at like the blue drum we have with the balls inside. Or maybe the bean bags make a noise as you scrunch them.
One of Lily's favourite things to do with things in the sensory basket is make noise. She loves the musical instruments and will often bang the drum we have with lots of the different items in the basket.
She also loves the Mirror that we have that is by Galt Toys who have a great range of items perfect for sensory boxes. She really like looking at herself in it and now will point to her nose while looking in the mirror. She also has given her self a few kisses while holding the mirror. Hence the lovely smear marks on it Haha.
Not all items for the sensory basket have to be shop bought though. You can make things to put in yourself. One idea is to make sensory bottles. Here are 2 examples of ones we have. One is filled with pasta and so makes a great rattle noise, and the other is filled with water and sequins which looks really nice and interesting and is also great to shake.
Lily Loves her sensory bottles and will often pull them out of the basket to play with.
If you have never made a sensory basket for you child I really hope that I have encouraged you to want to make a one. But I must stress as a lot of the objects in the sensory basket are not toys, you must always make sure that your child is fully supervised when playing with them.
I would love to know your thoughts on sensory play.
Have you ever made a basket? What would you put in yours?
Happy British Science Week!
I used to love making sensory tubs for my kids when they where younger. My favourites where the coloured themed ones
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought of something like a sensory basket but it makes complete sense x
ReplyDeleteoh yes we had something the same as I had 3 under 3s and they used it a lot and loved it and learned so much
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting, I will share this post with my friend who's just had a baby! :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is disabled with Hydrocephalus and loves sensory items and doing this is very good.
ReplyDeleteI actually made one for my little sister who is disabled and has special needs and she loves it. Up until recently she found it hard to use her sensory skills but she is getting better now.
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative. Thanks for sharing this post.
ReplyDeleteAw this is such a good idea. I like that it covers all of the senses. You've definitely covered everything that I could ever think to put in! xxx
ReplyDeleteThis just goes to show you are never too young for science! How awesome :D
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! It's good to teach young children (esp girls imo) about science from a young age.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading a lot about sensory for babies recently, and there looks like there is everything you need in here. It's never too early for science!
ReplyDeleteI think sensory games and tasks are a great learning tool for babies. I'd be doing the same when I have children
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! No matter what age they are, they can benefit from this kind of sensory exploration.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, introducing science to babies as well as helping their development. Such a huge benefit! x
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend sensory boxes for little ones - love that age. I think I read somewhere that the recommended amount of items to have in at any one time is 5-6.
ReplyDeleteAww I remember doing this with my son, he loved it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a cute idea, the pasta in a bottle is the oldest trick in the book. So much fun and so simple
ReplyDeleteI've read so many articles about sensory baskets but never really gotten around actually doing one, I will get on it now and sort one out for our little lady
ReplyDeleteIts so important for kiddies to use their senses so a sensory basket is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteWhen we babysit our little granddaughter we try to entertain he with things we have around the house, so that our daughter does not have to lug a big bag of toys over to our house. We have made a sensory basket, but you've given us a few more ideas of what to use. The other thing we have made is a very primitive shape sorter out of a shoe box. We just cut a 2 different sized circles out of the lid, and gave our granddaughter balls in different sizes (golf balls & a tennis ball) to sort.
ReplyDeleteGreat for exploratory play
ReplyDeleteDon't have to be expensive -you've just proved that perfectly
Great for exploratory play
ReplyDeleteDon't have to be expensive -you've just proved that perfectly
Love these ideas. Though my little one is too young to try this at the moment I am planning to do this when he is ready
ReplyDeletemy youngest grandchild loves going to sensory classes.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest still loves her sensory/heuristic basket I made her when she was a baby. They are great fun for inquisitive minds aren't they and show imagination has no bounds. A lovely read!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. My 18 month old daughter Poppy has sensory issues and we have similar for her.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely idea and a great experience for Lily .I suppose you could use a cloth sachet of dried lavender for smell if it was sewn tightly and securely . I suppose it would have to be replaced very often though! (Kim Styles)
ReplyDeleteI made a sensory bag for my little one and a box similar to this though it's contents keep changing. I add some metal spoons and pot lids too.
ReplyDeleteSince seeing this I have made a lovely sensory basket for my daughter who has developmental delay. I wish I could post photos x
ReplyDeleteGood idea - I'm sure some things will go missing though and turn up in the strangest places.
ReplyDeletegreat ideas here my son might like some of them x
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fabulous idea! I will definitely be making one of these for my daughter!
ReplyDeleteThis is a brilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteLove these ideas
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea. Just shows you don't really need lots of toys
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post thankyou. I have a nearly 10 month old you've inspired me to create one of these for him.
ReplyDeleteI've done something similar for my baby :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a good idea. X
ReplyDeleteI love these ideas, i did something like this for my Son
ReplyDeleteWill be trying this with my little girl brilliant idea
ReplyDeleteGreat idea with lots of things in it
ReplyDeleteGreat learning and fun, lovely....
ReplyDeletegreat ideas ! show how important sensory play is x
ReplyDeletesensory bottles are a good idea
ReplyDeleteSome really good sensory ideas in your basket.
ReplyDeleteThese are fab for kids of all ages... you can adapt as they grow as to what you put in them. Were always a favourite when I worked in Nursery
ReplyDeleteMy son is Autistic and I have made him a Sensory Basket which he loves!
ReplyDeleteMy pre-schooler has really overcome various sensory issues by using a sensory basket. Those prickly balls are amazing. We have various sizes.
ReplyDeleteSome really fantastic ideas here.
ReplyDeletefab ideas the pasta in a bottle is so simple
ReplyDeleteOh what a good idea this is and such fun to make too!
ReplyDeleteI would never think to do this and so simple - dried pasta in a bottle! Great ideas. Will try this when baby number three comes...
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea
ReplyDeletei had one of these i made for my daughter
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! I love how simple and cost effective these learning games are
ReplyDeleteI had one of these for our youngest and found she had more fun, with the basket lol, but she had great fun taking everything out and then putting it all back one by one
ReplyDeleteMargaret Clarkson
ReplyDeleteSuch good ideas.
There are some really good ideas to go in a sensory box
ReplyDeleteWow, such a lovely idea!
ReplyDeletelove the sensory basket ideas
ReplyDelete