Rice Sensory Bin- child led play

Rice Sensory Bin- child led play

To start, I got out a plastic rubbermaid and 2 bags of white rice we had bought from the dollar tree. Yes, I keep things like white rice on hand for sensory play.  

We love sensory bins and play in them often.  It is one of the activities both my boys, now 3 yr and 5 yr, have enjoyed doing together over the last few years.  My oldest always has one item he requests no matter what themed bin I get ready for them.  I had a hunch just what he would choose to add to his bin.

Child led play is a great way to let children learn on their time with things they enjoy.  To start for this child led activity, the kids were given a bin of rice.  Then they added to it and played as they saw fit, all the while learning on their time with items they chose.

Well, my hunch panned out.  When asked what would they like to bring to the bin, “diggers and dumpers” were requested.  I opened the cabinet and got the bag out with those trucks in it and handed it to the kids.

What better than construction trucks to play with in a bin of rice! The kids had last played with leftover Pumpkin Rice in the fall with these trucks, and the bag the trucks were in had a little orange rice left inside with acorns.  It all went into the new bin.

 Of course it would not be complete without at least one monster truck!

Children learn so much just through sight, sound, and touch.  As we grow older I feel we often forget to just take things in as a child and learn from our senses. 

Little brother had to add a fly swatter to playtime.  He pushed the rice and gave it a smack or 2…

Even though I did not get involved in their decisions for creating a sensory bin I just love how it turned out.  I guess after years of playing in sensory bins, big brother knows what he likes. If it was up to him all our bins would be construction trucks.

From the top of the storage box the bin entered the playhouse.  The wind was blowing and the kids said getting in the house would keep them warm.  See! Learning how to stay warm came from playing in a sensory bin.  We did go in for coats and then came back out.  

They stayed inside the playhouse still, scooping and pushing the rice. Sensory bins are often, for us, a great way to promote sibling bonding.  It is also a great way for us to work on sharing. 
The rice bin made it through a morning of play and we put the lid  on it and put up for more play at another time.  Now to see how long the bin makes it before the rice is sprinkled all over the deck or yard.  But that is ok as long as they have fun and learn in the process.
How would your kids set up their own sensory bin?