Have you ever watched your toddler scoop, pour, stir endlessly during bath time, completely lost in the moment? Has your 5 year old ever insisted on helping you wash the daal when you’re preparing for dinner time? This is because most children love sensory exploration.
It may look messy, a waste of time and annoying for us adults but for a child, this is not just play. This is learning in action. And it’s an important step in your child’s brain, muscle development and this is exactly why sensory table have become a cornerstone of early childhood classrooms and there are many reasons this one tool can be just as valuable an addition at home.
Now what is a sensory table you may be wondering?
A sensory table is a large bin on a table that can be filled with different textures like sand, water, beans, pasta that the children can explore, touch, and scoop. The magic of the sensory exploration lies in their open-endedness because children decide how they want to engage with the material, making the experience unique and very enjoyable.
And now introducing you to the House of Zizi Sensory Table which will make for a versatile tool to your child’s room, because it’s an art station and sensory table all in one. Made in mango wood, with adjustable legs, this little station will be a great place to make lotsof memories with your child through different phases of their growing up!
Why are Sensory Tables Essential?
Boost Cognitive Development
Through pouring, sorting, mixing and experimenting, children begin to understand big concepts like cause and effect, measurement and even simple physics, concepts like gravity, sink and float etc.
This hands-on exploration lays the foundation for later math and science learning.
Strengthen Fine Motor Skills
Scooping beans, pinching slime, pouring rice work the tiny muscles in children’s hands. Strong fine motor skills are essential for holding a pencil, buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces and all these small hand movements make way for big ones.
Grow Language Skills
Children learn to describe the different textures, ‘it’s squishy,’ ‘this is heavy,’ expanding their vocabulary in the process.
Builds Focus
Your toddler who has newly started walking will sit and explore the material and tools for a while. This creative activity has the ability to charm even the most busy little bees into sitting and exploring for hours on end.
Tips for setting up a Sensory Table at home
Keep it simple - Start with the basics like rice, water, beans.
Add tools - Cups, spoons, funnels or small toys make play more engaging.
Make it thematic - Add seashells in summer, animals in green vermicelli or alphabets to sneak in literacy.
Stay safe - Always superwise messy play and use age=appropriate materials (avoid very small objects around toddlers.
In a world full of screens and structured learning, sensory play gives children the freedom to explore, discover and just be curious. So the next time your child is elbow deep on sand or rice, know that they are building skills, exploring the world that is brand new for them, sating their curiosity and building on it too!