Sensory activities for little ones that eat everything???

[chenderson]

I"ll freely admit I am at a loss. I love to have sensory activities in the sensory table (Ie. sand, rocks, dirt, etc) but have a group of little tots right now and they eat everything! My child most of all. Lol. He smiles at me as he crunches the sand. Ugh.

I always have the water table outside for play time but I'd love to get something in the "sand" table but am at a loss as to what to use. I used blocks recently but the kids just threw them onto the floor. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I caught one chomping on a rock yesterday and when I tried to get it out of his mouth, he bit me!! Kids lol

Have you considered feathers, big macaroni, cloud dough (baby oil and flour), pieces of felt/fur/sandpaper/ any fabric? Mine love a combo of macaroni or rice with measuring cups, paper cups, pie plates, little cars and little people.

[chenderson]

Oh big macaroni! I tried the cloud dough too but my little angel wouldn't stop eating it. I joke I'll see him on that TLC show "My Strange Addiction" one day...
Going to try oatmeal too. Maybe sandpaper would teach my baby not to eat that stuff. :)

[mickyc]

Honestly just skip it! when they are too small and eat everything then they don't get to do it yet. I don't do many arts and crafts or sensory bin stuff with kids under 2.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Normally I agree with mickyc but on this, I respectfully disagree....kids are taught and learn better/quicker when they are exposed to things. Take the necessary precautions to make things safe and make sure you are constantly supervising. When they turn 2 they don't just magically know what to do. We work with multi-age groups and I'd rather "train" them all at the same time. Kids that start with me young grow up here knowing the rules. I of course do age appropriate things but I try not to limit the young ones experiences. I may alter the things in the sensory bin/art activity to be appropriate to my current group though.

[mickyc]

I have 2 that eat enough dirt, rocks and bark and drink enough dirty pool/water table water! That's enough sensory stuff for me to clean up after! Lol

[AmandaKDT]

Normally I agree with mickyc but on this, I respectfully disagree....kids are taught and learn better/quicker when they are exposed to things. Take the necessary precautions to make things safe and make sure you are constantly supervising. When they turn 2 they don't just magically know what to do. We work with multi-age groups and I'd rather "train" them all at the same time. Kids that start with me young grow up here knowing the rules. I of course do age appropriate things but I try not to limit the young ones experiences. I may alter the things in the sensory bin/art activity to be appropriate to my current group though.

But is it worth it if all they do is stick everything in their mouth? There are so many other things you can do, if all that happens is that they put it in their mouth then I would just wait a few months. It isn't a missed opportunity, it is just waiting until they are developmentally ready to fully appreciate the activity. When you have several kids at once it isn't always easy to see what they're all doing at one time - as you know. They can be so fast in putting things in their mouths, especially when they know you don't want them to do it. I'd rather save myself the headache and wait. I have a now 2 year old dcg that put EVERYTHING in her mouth last summer and now she is totally fine and I can trust her to actually PLAY in the sandbox - not just fill her mouth with sand. :-)

I do lots of sensory stuff, but the idea of putting a bin full of oatmeal in front of little ones that are just going to stuff it in their mouth just sounds exhausting.

I have done sensory bags, which might be a possibility. Fill a ziplock bag with hair jell or jello and then put a bunch of different fun objects inside. They can squish the bag around and get a sensory experience with no mess.

What about changing up the water table activities. Give them lots of cups, buckets, measuring spoons so they can dump and pour. Give them baby dolls so they can give them a bath, etc.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I still think it's worth it. I prefer to teach them at an early age but that is just my preference. Also, I am in MB and private so I have 4 children. What is possible for me to do might not be for someone with 7 or 8 kids.

Sensory bags/balloons are a great way to adapt the sensory bin for younger children!

[chenderson]

Thanks for all of the opinions!! I'm in BC and therefore can only have 2 in addition to my own (as I am unlicensed) and so I am able to be there, but don't hover constantly and like them to explore. I was laughing this morning at the beach with a day off and my boy was quietly snacking on sand. I don't know how they can stand it! Blah.

Ultimately, I will give a few new options a try as I personally get bored and want them to experience new things too. Thank god for the water table.

[SillyGirl_C]

My provider uses the sensory bags AmandaKDT mentioned. I recommend ducktaping the end if you are making it more a permanent activity. I have also seen tubes with water and rocks or other items that they can lift and turn and watch the movement. They do use water and sand, but all really little stuff is for the kids 3+.

[Rachael]

Put the little pieces in a ziplock bag with gelatinous (sp?) liquid such as liquid soap. Seal the baggie and secure even more with duct tape or similar and then tape them to the patio door. This encourages the little ones to stand based on the height of these bags and they can try and move the pieces around inside the bag.

Save toilet roll inserts or wrapping paper cardboard tubes and tape them at an angle so they can shoot items through it. Balls and marbles are great if the children are older but dinky cars work well too. Just make sure they aren't the cheap-o dollar store ones which don't hold up so well.

Lay out a plastic table cloth on the lawn or any other easy clean up area and then mix shaving foam with food colours. Hint - strip them down to diapers first!

[kassiemom]

ha you tried taping things to the floor or table for them. So like get sandpaper, textured paper, felt, bubble wrap etc and tape along all sides to the floor or table to the kids can touch them without picking them up. also sensory bags and bottles are fun but the kids learn best using all their senses, so taste is one of those.
you can also rub a cinnamon stick on sandpaper and it makes it smell nice. you can do scented playdoh. for the Fall its always fun to use pinecones, leaves and sticks. ( a little bit of fiber!!!lol)

Tape bubble wrap on the floor and let them walk on it in bare feet.
its frustrating but just look at the smiles on their faces and take lots of pictures!!!

[5 Little Monkeys]

OOOhhh I love the bubble wrap idea!! Going to try that one for sure! Thanks for the idea :)

[kassiemom]

OOOhhh I love the bubble wrap idea!! Going to try that one for sure! Thanks for the idea :)
Save yourself some bubble wrap too because its a great stress reliever!!! lol

[5 Little Monkeys]

Lol, exactly!! I love bubble wrap....you can't just not want to play with it!

[Rachael]

Tape bubble wrap on the floor and let them walk on it in bare feet.
its frustrating but just look at the smiles on their faces and take lots of pictures!!!

This is awesome. I love this idea. So going to do this.