I am frequently asked how I teach one child her school lessons while keeping the other child busy with something else. I combine their lessons as much as possible and both of my girls are excellent at filling their free time without my input. We also use a timeless tradition from classrooms all across the country: centers!
Each month, we brainstorm a list of activities that each child might want to do during their “down time.” My older daughter is a budding author, so she spends a lot of her time writing and illustrating her latest creation. She also loves to practice her music and read her library books.
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Our younger daughter loves to listen to audiobooks, work on crafts, and do sensory play. It’s not unusual for me to put a queen-size sheet and sensory bin on the carpet right next to our dining room table (where we typically do our school work) so my little auditory/tactile learner can benefit from hearing her sister’s math or grammar lesson.
In this sensory play series, we cover:
the benefits of sensory play
must-have sensory materials
sensory bin storage
Our girls know that I love simple invitations to play, and sensory bins are so easy to put together:
- Grab a filler (we reuse our food items or choose non-food options)
- Add something novel like pom poms or gems (watch for little ones putting items in their mouths!)
- Choose a few of favorite tools from the kitchen.
You can mix and match items for a whole year’s worth of sensory play!
Sensory Bin Storage:
We are fortunate to have a lot of cabinet space down in our basement. I have one large basket in a cabinet that holds all of our sensory fillers in gallon-size zipper bags. Our favorite fillers are:
- different colors of dyed rice
- navy or black beans (dry)
- uncooked popcorn
- dried peas
We even have bags with small river rocks, pine cones, sunflower seeds, bells, and more. I keep another tote close by with all of our tools (jars, funnels, spoons, tongs, and more).
Watch this video to see our sensory bin storage set-up:
My five-year-old has grown up with sensory bins, so she’s a pro at choosing which items she wants to play with. I love to set up special seasonal bins with fun items I find at the dollar store, and I keep a special SENSORY board on Pinterest with new ideas for the future.
Not sure how to fit sensory play into your family’s busy day?
Be sure to check out our FREE Flexible Family Schedule Guide (and get our boredom busters)!
