I am glad to see this conversation even though in many places the use of food as play material has long been viewed as inappropriate. It strikes me how many people say that since their own community has plenty of food, they aren't concerned about food waste. Are we all sharing the same, one planet? Is there an endless supply of rice, pasta, beans that can be partially thrown in the garbage when others are unable to have enough? Do we only care about the families from other communities and countries when they are in photos and books?
I think we have a duty to teach the larger context about subjects, the various aspects of materials and experiences. Young children are learning values and culture with whatever we put in the sensory table. When we use water, we can talk about how vital it is to use only what we need. In the summer, we can bring a bucket of clear but used water outside to water plants or grass. Inside we can let them explore loose parts, recycled materials, reusable materials, and mix outdoor items with toys. Who hasn't filled the table with Autumn leaves then let the dinosaurs run amok?!
If we care enough about recycling to have a recycle bin in the center or at home, we can be mindful enough to consider both the practical aspects of food as play material (food insecurity is extremely prevalent in the U.S. right now, let alone worldwide) as well as the philosophical aspects of it (are we teaching children to consume and discard, or to consider our neighbors and how to share resources?)
------------------------------
Mars April Caulton
Education Coordinator,
Mary Crane Centers
Chicago IL
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-11-2021 12:07 PM
From: Kimberly Rosholt
Subject: Food in the sensory table
Hello NAEYC community,
I am looking for some advice. I work in the diverse school district based program and our Early Learning Community adopted a policy about 10 years about no food (rice, beans, oatmeal, flour) in the sensory table. The primary reasons being implications of food scarcity and rice is sacred in some cultures (a lesson we learned after we saw a mother picking up one grain of rice at a time). So now 10 years later some of the teachers want to repel the policy stating the difficulty in replicating that sensory experience and the cost and ease of using food. I'm wondering what you think. Do you all use food in your sensory tables? If so why or why not?
Thanks,
Kim
------------------------------
Kim Rosholt, TOSA
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Preschool Education Coordinator
Kids Place
St. Louis Park Public Schools
"In the rush to NORMAL use this time to consider, which parts of normal are worth rushing back to."
-Dave Hollis
------------------------------