Look, Listen, Touch, Feel, Taste

As a teacher I was always asked, "What can I do with my child at home to help them develop these needed skills". Kids need and desire that one-on-one time with their parents. As a previous teacher and now as a mother of three little guys, I see the importance of working with your children.
Sensory tubs allow for imaginative play & brain development by using all their senses.  Not only is it fun to see your children using their imagination with these (cheap) tubs, but it's good to join in with them yourself!

A great article on sensory play is @ http://www.highscope.org/file/NewsandInformation/Extensions/ExtVol25No5_low.pdf

As a beginner I got the basics:
-a plastic tub or sand/water table
-water
-bath tub toys that we already had or some toys from the Target $1 bins
(How cheap is that!!)

The boys had so much fun just dumping water out of buckets!

 

 

My next step was to make something for indoor play. I didn't want it to be very messy, especially with an 18 month old. After doing some research and looking on Pinterest I found some great ideas.

 

This is an example of a "Dinosaur" themed tub I made. Again, I went to the basic materials:

-bag of pretend rocks ($2-$3 at Joanne's)

-bag of blue beads (these will be used later in the Ocean tub as well!)

-bag of small dinosaurs ($2 at US Toy)

-leaves/sticks/pieces of mulch from our yard

 

 

 

 

I had to watch Brock bc he kept wanting to eat the beads. He does much better now!