Indoor water table/sensory table

[mickyc]

OK ladies what are your thoughts?

I want to do something fun with my kids. Winter seems to be dragging on and on and I want to add something to our daycare room. I have been toying with the idea of a water table or sensory bins but the whole thought of it makes me cringe lol. My daycare is in my basement and it is all carpet except for a small area where we eat/do art. I don't want to make a pile of work for myself as far as cleaning up kids and my floor afterwards. I also don't want it to be too time consuming and costly to prepare.

Ideas would be appreciated. Also I don't like the idea of putting food like rice/macaroni in it! I don't like to waste food lol. Is there somewhere I can buy a big bag of something for cheap?

I have also thought of blowing up an outdoor pool inside and filling it with balls. The only reservation I have is I don't want the kids to end up putting a hole in the pool with the other toys or end up with the balls all over. Also my new little boy always has toys in his mouth and I don't want him to bite the pool either.

What do you ladies do to switch things up a bit?

[5 Little Monkeys]

You could buy a piece of vinyl flooring or something similar to put under it? A shower curtain or table cloth would work too and than be folded up and put away when not in use.

My kids love when the water table comes out! I usually let them play just in their diapers or make sure they all have a change of clothes because they will get wet!

I also use my water table for sensory things like feathers, foam pieces, cloud dough, egg cartons etc. I will put small toys in there and let them play with a mix of things. I use macaroni and rice a lot though lol. I buy it with coupons or when it's on sale and can often buy boxes of it for 25-50 cents!! We finally did the coloured spaghetti and that was a huge hit!

Sand is another option. I'm a fan of letting kids be kids and getting messy but I will admit there are some things I won't do inside and sand is one of them. We play with sand in the summer at the playground haha.

I don't know if I have done it with my hdc but in the centres we did cornstarch magic a lot. It's really cool. Also, it's messy but kids love it....pudding and jello!

The pool with balls is a good idea! I did it with a playpen, maybe that would work for you too?

[Discoveries]

If feeling brave, put a dollar store table cloth or shower curtain under the sensory area and bring in some snow. Add some scoops, little shovels, mitts, bingo dabbers, etc. Can also freeze smaller blocks of ice with toys inside for them to discover.

[Fun&care]

Been there, done that, bad idea. Lol. Picture toddlers wandering away from the sensory table with spoonfuls of colored rice and then it spills everywhere. You turn around and toddler 2 is doing it too. And the others etc. if you have A LOT of time and patience then go for it. You will have to spend a lot of energy "training" them and cleaning up.

Mind you after saying all that even I have been considering letting the two older girls play in the sink with play dishes etc because we are getting tired of winter too.

[mickyc]

My kids are very good at staying at the table when we are doing something structured which is what a sensory bin would be at my house LOL. They all know that when we are done art/coloring that we must wash our hands before we go play so this would also be the rule for this as well. I likely wouldn't include the ones under aged 2 in these activities.

I really don't like the idea of using food in them LOL

[5 Little Monkeys]

It does take some time and energy to "train" them but the time is going to pass anyways right? Might as well be doing something fun :) My sensory bins are also a structured activity...more so for safety reasons though.

I made the mistake of folding laundry, literally only 5-8 feet from them one day and my handful (no longer here) had encouraged them to dump the rice all over them. NOT FUN but live and learn!! lol

I do a lot with food....sensory play, painting with fruits and veggies, making cereal necklaces etc. I understand some don't like to waste food though.

[mickyc]

How full do you fill the bins with the rice? I suppose I could buy 1 big bag of rice to use in the sensory table.

[AmandaKDT]

I use individual sensory bins and have them sit at the kitchen table, prevents anyone walking around and dumping stuff everywhere. I use rice and just fill it 1/3 full, definitely not to the top. Then give them lots of cups, bowls and measuring spoons. They love just dumping it back and forth into the containers. It does make a mess, but you can train them to try and keep it in the sensory bin as best as possible. It can keep them so actively busy that is worth the mess every once and awhile.

As for wasting food, the rice gets used over and over again so I wouldn't really consider it wasteful.

It is really easy to colour the rice too, makes it more visually appealing.

I did this with my 22 month old daughter (as well as the older kids) and she really loved it. Made a huge mess though. But her obvious enjoyment was worth it.

[Secondtimearound]

Yes well mine eat it !!! Lol gross but they don't get it !! I bought 2 little tikes climb and slides and find they can burn up some energy that way !! I also have a sandbox filled with balls and we put the slide in it !!! Great fun !! Big mess !!
I'm a big fan of messy creative play !! I tried big flat plastic containers filled with rocks for the dump trucks but again had kids walking around chewing on rocks !!!!
Play doh as well !!! We have a big spot we do indoor chalk ( on painted cement floor ) that's a big hit !!! And we have an indoor stand and paint area .
You know what is keeping us wildly entertained the last week ?? Bought $10 worth of big rubber balls at the dollar store !! They go crazy !! For them ! I'm going to pick up 10 more , it's like dodgeball madness !! Mine are so little , so no one gets hurt but believe me they get so excited when they come out !!!!

[mickyc]

I will likely put rocks in my sensory bins. my kids are good about keeping things out of their mouth (minus the little one but he wont be participating in the sensory bin). I rarely do playdoh. Chalk OMG NO WAY LOL. no large balls in my basement. I can just envision someone hitting the TV with it! LOL I have a pile that we use in summer outside.

[Secondtimearound]

Lol !! They love the chalk ! And after everyone gets a wet one and they love cleaning it all up !! Another wet one for themselves ! Seriously it's great !!! My tv is mounted pretty high on the wall so no worries here !!!

[torontokids]

I keep balls from my kids as much as possible inside. I find they just get them crazy hyper. Balls everywhere, kids running...just not worth it.

[mickyc]

I agree with torontokids on that one! LOL

that is why I thought a pool with the ball pit balls in it. I don't allow them to throw balls (I have 2 small soft balls inside).

Temperature looks like it is going to be nice the rest of the week so hopefully get outside so I might save that one for a day we have to stay in.

Today we painted on snow inside. It wasn't as messy as I thought. I will definitely be getting a Rubbermaid tote and starting sensory play soon!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'm so proud of you mickyc!!! LOL I know how you don't really like messy things but I think once you see how much fun the kids have and how it's really not that big of a deal to clean up a mess once in awhile, you will LOVE it!!

Way to go!! :)

[sunnydays]

You could also have individual small bins and do the sensory stuff at the table where they are strapped into booster seats (for the younger kids especially) and it is contained. This is what I do. I have done objects frozen in ice and the kids love it :) I haven't done rice yet because mine are all so little and would eat it, but I may try snow as it just melts into water ;)

[Discoveries]

Another one they like here is when I saved empty foaming hand soap dispensers. Fill with a little bit of tear free baby soap and lots of water. They had a great time making foaming bubbles. Add to the fun by giving them a plastic baby doll and wash cloth.

[mickyc]

ha ha 5LM - the thing that I realized is I am still in control LOL. I control what I put in it and how much and then how much of a mess it will make.

As for strapping them in a booster seat. nope I don't own any. All kids sit at a child sized table with child sized chairs except for any that require a high chair. Those that require a high chair will not be participating in the sensory bin because the items inside will be a choking hazard (and they would make a mess lol). The kids know they can't leave the table until I say so and when they do it is straight to the sink so I can wash their hands.

[5 Little Monkeys]

LOL, yes a contained and controlled mess is do-able too! All depends on your kids and the activity!!

I've had my young kids participate too but I just make sure they are beside me and I watch them like a hawk!! We talk before we start the project and we talk a lot before and during that things do not go in our mouth or the activity will go away! For the most part, they are pretty good and the 2.5 year old helps me out too lol. If she sees a child going to put something in their mouth she says "not in your mouth or xxx will take this away" hahaha. I start things like this with them early though so they grow up knowing my rules and expectations.

[Rachael]

My son made me a sensory table a few months back. The instructions are here : http://jaxinthebox.com/2013/05/01/diy-sand-water-table-60-minutes-50-done/

I love this table and the bonus is that it can just be un-slotted and dismantled and all the tubes fit inside the bins which is great if you buy the bins which have a lid.

I don't tend to put food items in mine but do like Christmas time or St Patricks Day when the dollar store has tinsels or glittery items and lots of textures that can all tie in with our colour of the week.

To protect my floor, I have those mats which fit together like a jigsaw piece which are great.

[kassiemom]

I posted on another thread about taping things down to the table or floor. such as sandpaper and felt and bubble wrap. its tough with little ones who just don't get how to be somewhat tidy. I'm not sure of your set up or numbers but i take my kids sometimes and strip them to diapers and let them pain in the bathtub. that way easy clean up.