for the ideas that Katy mentioned, we have a "no food policy", too. another reason we don't use food as sensory materials is our past experience with bugs and rodents using seeds, popcorn kernels, dry beans, etc as a food source. I will shield you from the details!!
non food items that we've included in sensory bins are:
pea gravel
aquarium rocks
ice
leaves, sticks, pinecones, roots, etc
small pieces of fabric and yarn
cotton balls
gems, jewels, buttons
glitter
dirt and water
colored water
baking soda and vinegar
lids from fruit pouches and bottles
empty yarn and thread spools
pipe cleaners
tissue paper
i love out-of-the-box thinking and playing with "non-toy toys" (all the while being vigilantly mindful of choking and other hazards).
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Beth Clawson
lead teacher
silver spring day school
Silver Spring MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-07-2019 12:46 AM
From: Katy Gregg
Subject: sensory ingredient policy?
Our center also has the no food policy. To me, it should be the standard for best practice in most cases for reasons including allergies, teaching children to 'play with their food's, and for food shortage reasons (i.e., asking a child to play with and throw out food when they dont have enough to eat as it is).
Sand and water are the old stand bys for sensory tables. Shaving cream can be an option as long as it is allowed in your state (and no allergies to the ingredients), water beads are cheap and very cool for children on the older end (with supervision, but also not natural). Bird seed could be used and recycled after use- you can do seek and find in bird seed. Shredded paper is another way to recycle. Water with a bit of dish soap can be used for a 'car wash' or baby doll baths. soil is another option that again can then be recycled for planting flowers or veggies later. adding things to sand like seashells or rocks and little animals or different types of scoops and measuring cups changes the play children engage in.
Just a few ideas!
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Katy Gregg
Associate Professor
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro GA
Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2019 12:28 AM
From: Temesha Ragan
Subject: sensory ingredient policy?
I love natural sensory exploration! But I am not allowed to use food due to military regulations. So that limits what we can do in that area. I tend to use stuff like dirt, leaves, sticks, pinecones. I would probably have large large brightly colored signs around the sensory bins that announces what is in the sensory bins and maybe make it a requirement that parents stay by their children at all times.
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Temesha (Ms. Tessie) Ragan
Family Child Care IF Facilitator
Perfect Start Learning
Family Child Care Provider
Edwards, CA
Original Message:
Sent: 06-05-2019 10:19 AM
From: Allison Leake
Subject: sensory ingredient policy?
Hello,
The Children's Museum where I work has a space for sensory exploration within our infant/toddler exhibit. We're interested in having an option to explore sensory doughs, and I'm curious how other facilities select doughs or dough ingredients for babies and toddlers? We have a staff person nearby, but the activity is not always directly facilitated by staff. Parent supervision is expected, though not foolproof.
Many commercially available playdough products are labeled for ages 3+ and homemade doughs are usually edible (not great for allergens) or use ingredients that may not be "taste safe."
Do you have a policy about what ingredients you use in sensory exploration and/or language you use to explain your choices to parents?
Thanks!
~Alli Leake