Imagine for a second: your hands inside a bin full of marbles. How your hands rake smoothly through the explosion of rainbow colors—furthermore, you discover small new objects and smell the soothing fragrance of the oil covering the marbles.
If it's stimulating and calming for you, it's undoubtedly more remarkable for a child with autism. Sensory bins provide children with autism spectrum disorder with the opportunity to explore and learn through hands-on tactile play. A sensory bin engages all their senses and supports various types of development. Plus, it's a fun activity to have at home!
For children who struggle with social or play skills, the tactile materials in the sensory bin can get the child interested in different pretend sensory activities. This article uncovers more about sensory bins and how they help children with ASD.
What Are Sensory Bins?
Sensory bins are an essential part of a child's learning experience. A child learns best when they can touch and feel something. When children can smell, see, touch, and hear something, the learning experience is more meaningful to them.
Sensory bins can be used for individual play. Its goal is to help calm and focus a child. However, you can use the sensory bins for team building, so it's the perfect sensory activity.
Sensory bins come in various kinds, filled with a range of things different in color, texture, shape, and size. The child can play and discover these objects. One of the biggest advantages of the sensory bins is that it’s easy to change the composition of the bins. You can get your little one acquainted with all kinds of unique feelings and experiences.
Sensory Bin Filler Ideas
Some great fillers, which are also edible, are cereal, pasta, and rice. You can color rice, for example, for more enhanced visual stimulation. There are many children with autism who enjoy pom-poms, beans, sand, or water. Some children also like paper shreds or kinetic sand. Sand is a perfect way to allow children to learn through touch. It's relaxing, fascinating, and therapeutic.
You can also try:
- Salt
- Coffee Beans
- Oats
- Lentils
- Popcorn
- Ice
- Pebbles
- Leaves
- Jello
- Nuts
- Cotton
- Acorns
- Water
- Bubbles
The wonderful thing about sensory bins is that there are tons of sensory bin ideas on the Internet--and you only need a tray! Here are some items you can use.
Or you can use your child's favorite sensory material. They will provide a wonderful sensory experience by providing the right sensory input children with autism often seek.
What Are the Benefits of Sensory Bins?
Opportunity for Sensory Exploration
Sensory bins are the perfect opportunity for your child to explore multiple senses simultaneously: touch, sight, sound, and smell. The child can also understand different colors, shapes, and textures, the sounds they produce, or their taste.
Improves Fine Motor Skills
Children with autism improve their fine motor skills by scooping, stirring, grasping, digging, and pouring. The sensory bin can include various toys, such as tweezers, shovels, spoons, measuring cups, etc. These tools also increase hand strength and coordination.
Develops Play and Social Skills
Sensory bins help children with autism learn cooperative play so that you can use them in class, at home with friends, or in group therapy sessions. This way, the sensory bin encourages socialization and conversation. The child will learn how to share, communicate, and participate in exploratory activities with his peers.
Language Development
Sensory bins encourage language development. Talking with your child while playing provides an endless opportunity for expanding language skills and developing vocabulary. By playing, they form new ideas and concepts so they can use new words to describe what they are doing. It can be an essential step for many autistic children.
Cognitive Development
Sensory bins support cognitive development because you can create a learning experience by hiding objects in the box. You can encourage your little one to sort and categorize items by shape, size, and color and encourage your child to search for hidden objects. Putting letter and number shapes provides children with the opportunity to gain academic knowledge.
It’s a Calming Activity
A sensory bin is a quiet activity that will help children with autism play independently and calm down. Many children with ASD can become overstimulated by tactile input from outside and cause a meltdown. The child channels all of the excess energy by playing with a sensory bin and calms down.
Read: How to Create a Calming Kit.
Improves Concentration
Children with autism have a short attention span, and they can't stay still for long periods. Sensory bins are a great way to get them to focus on one thing at a time; plus, they'll enjoy this structured activity since there is no goal.
This calming activity will lengthen your child’s concentration span over time, so start small and build up from there. Also, keep in mind that you might need to explore multiple fillers and objects before your child will settle on one.
Builds Creativity
A sensory bin is a blank canvas waiting to be molded and shaped into something unique. Your child can recreate an image they have in mind or something he has seen so that the results will be creative and fun. With a sensory bin, you can build your child's imagination.
How to Make a Sensory Bin
Here are some tips for creating the perfect sensory bin:
- Choose the right bin. It’s best to choose clear storage containers, so the child can see what’s inside.
- Add small tools. Anything goes here, from spoons, tongs, cookie cutters, etc.
- Choose the filler.
- Add objects. Sensory bins are great because they are customizable. You can create themes for the bins, from colorful buttons to Christmas-themed ones.
- Choose objects that can be reused or perishable items. This strategy helps you save money and time.
- Pick items that are age-appropriate for your child.
Safety Precautions
Sensory bins are usually safe, but there are some things you should keep in mind before introducing your little one to this toy.
- Be aware of choking hazards. Most of the items included in the bin are small-sized, so you must be careful. If your baby has the habit of putting everything in his mouth, you must constantly supervise him.
- Make sure to replace items with a shelf life.
- Do not force your child to touch something he doesn't want to feel. The sensory bin should be fun to play with, so don't force the issue if your little one doesn't want to play with a particular item. Make them feel comfortable with the bin and show them that it's safe.
- Have some towels at your disposal. Sensory play can get messy, so have some towels if your child wants to wipe his hands on your furniture.
Discover More: 13 Best Chew Toys for Children with Autism.
