Creating a new sensory activity for preschool can be a challenge when you feel like you have “done it all”.

Making a sensory bin is an easy and fun way to keep your preschooler entertained while learning. Sensory play for preschoolers is important. All you need are a few simple items like rice, pasta, or beans, some toys, and a plastic container with a lid. Fill a long, shallow container with the chosen medium and add toys – be sure to include small objects that can fit easily in the hands of young children so they can explore different textures (cars, scoops, funnels, small containers with lids, etc.).

You may also want to consider filling one half of the container with something wet like water beads or colored water for added texture. This can also be done by placing a smaller container within the larger sensory bin. Place the lid on top once filled and securely fasten it for safety purposes.

Sensory bins and tables provide endless opportunities for exploration and discovery as children interact with their environment. With sensory bin play, children can feel the different textures of the materials within their fingers or toes, hear the sound of small objects being dropped into a container, observe colors as they mix together and see how objects move through the materials.

Setting up an enclosure around the sensory bin is a great way to keep play contained and mess to a minimum. Sure, a simple sheet or large tarp is all you need as it will provide an easy clean-up solution when playtime comes to an end.

Because I do sensory activities regularly in different locations, I wanted something that I could use for sensory play that would be easy for clean up and contain any mess. Enter the enclosure. Yes, it’s an enclosure for pets. Weird? Maybe, but it works sooooo well for my needs.

There are several things I really like about this enclosure. I like there are two “doors” that easily zip and unzip. I have several enclosures and we often use them at the same time and have different centers. The children come in one opening, play, then leave out the other opening and move onto the next center.

It also has a mesh “ceiling” that can also be used if you feel you need it to further keep the sensory stuff in one place. I usually don’t use it unless I am using the enclosure for a ball pit. Also I take a lot of photos so the photos look better without the cover on top. The enclosure also folds up into a flat canvas bag that makes storage AWESOME! If you have one in the classroom, you can easily store it behind a bookcase or cubbies.

This enclosure comes in several sizes. I got the extra large size because I have various sizes of kiddos and sometimes I even have parents in the enclosures too. I can sit comfortably in an enclosure with four three to four year olds. Plenty of room!

The price is about the same for an actual child’s play enclosure. They may be a little more aesthetically pleasing, but the pet enclosure has one VERY important feature: it has a floor that can be zipped into and out of the enclosure. It can be hosed off, wiped off or removed to dump out extra “stuff” that escaped the sensory bin during play.

If you’re trying to improve sensory play in your classroom, try an enclosure that makes clean up easy. Having a sensory activity for preschool is such an important part of their development. Sensory bins are so much fun for young kids – they offer them freedom to explore their environment in new ways while giving parents and teachers peace of mind knowing that clean-up won’t be a hassle. Give it a try today and watch your preschooler learn while they play!

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