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Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
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Sensory bins
Sensory bin filled with cotton craft pom pom
balls.
Sensory bin filled with artificial, silk flower
petals and plastic bees to find.
Sensory bins are a tried and true means for
getting children to explore tactually. Some of
the parents were accustomed to the concept of
having children dig through dried rice, beans
and sand in sensory bins, but expressed
frustration over bugs finding the bins, and the
mess incurred through using these bins indoors.
Alternative sensory bins were presented in
Braille Babies that addressed these concerns
and included the use of cotton pom pom balls
or silk wedding flower pedals.
Children using sensory bins are asked to find
hidden items in the bin. For example, small
rubber ducks in the colorful pom poms or
plastic bees made of rubber nestled in the
artificial silk flower pedals. Children can play
with the contents of the bins to measure, pour,
fill, stir and otherwise have a hands-on-learning
experience. Parents were encouraged to put
containers of various sizes in the sensory bins
for this part of the activity.
As a mother, I know children wear through and ruin their clothing
rapidly, and as a result, I added the use of fabric to elements of
Braille Babies. Use fabrics to make tactile cards for matching and
sequencing. Use fabrics from clothing, such as denim, corduroy,
silk or terry cloth. Other textures, such as vinyl, burlap, screen
(window screens) and any other varied texture can be used. Tactile
scrapbooking paper can also be purchased at local craft stores to
add texture and for use in the below activities. Several varieties of
textures, such as fuzzy, slightly rough and bumpy scrapbook paper
can usually be found at retailers with larger scrapbook paper
inventory.
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