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Spooky Sensory Bins: Digging in Darkness
- Learning Resources Posted On Oct 13, 2021 | 2-4 Years Motor Skills
Halloween is such a fun time to explore sensory play. I love all of the fun colors and various loose parts you can find in the stores at this time of year. We enjoyed putting together this simple but very entertaining sensory bin using one of the most fascinating sensory bases we’ve ever used, Playfoam Pluffle™ and Learning Resources’ Sand & Water Fine Motor Tool Set!
What you need:
- Learning Resources® Sand & Water Fine Motor Tool Set
- Educational Insights Playfoam Pluffle™ (we used the sparkly black one)
- Container (wash bins from Dollar Tree are the perfect size)
- Halloween loose parts (we added wooden figurines found at Target, a mini cauldron, and also a mini pumpkin pot)
The Set-up
The simplicity of this bin is one of its biggest appeals. Just pour the Pluffle into the bin and spread it out. Then add the wooden figures, pots, and of course, the fine motor tools. It is all set in a matter of minutes, and this bin won’t dry out either, so you can leave it on offer throughout the day or even the week!
Time to Explore!
If you haven’t yet played with Pluffle, then you are most definitely missing out. It has such a fascinating texture and movement to it. It is fluffy to touch, easy to mix and transfer, and never dries out. The black has a little sparkle to it made it ideal for this Halloween-themed sensory bin. My preschooler couldn’t wait to explore the sensory base with her hands and fine motor tools.
She started by using the spinner tool to ‘drill’ little holes in the Pluffle. This fine motor tool is so fun to use and does work little hands hard. Not only does it involve good coordination, but it also encourages problem-solving and engineering as the holes are made. The Pluffle was a neat material to use as it would gradually move back into place. My little one kept saying that the dark dirt was ‘melting.’
Let’s Get Digging
Once my four-year-old had made plenty of holes, she decided to bury the wooden figures and then go on a digging mission to rescue them. She enjoyed being hands-on with the Pluffle to hide the figures and then used the scooper to ‘excavate’ them. The scooper is perfect because it is just half of a ball shape, so children can view what they are scooping. The scissor-style handle requires children to coordinate the opening and closing of the scooper, which adds a fun challenge.
The wooden figures continued to be rescued, and more holes being made with the spinner tool. After lots of hands-on digging, scooping, and transferring, my preschooler had fun using the wooden figures to make up stories. She used the pots as props and enjoyed all sorts of spooky adventures. The combination of a fun sensory base, some challenging fine motor tools, and a huge helping of imaginative play made this a great sensory bin set up for this spooktacular time of year.
Writer’s Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.
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Keep the learning going all summer long with our free activities at Camp Learning Resources and earn your merit badges! Print and color your merit badges as you follow our weekly learning activities!
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Coloring is not only a fun activity, but it also has many benefits for children, including:
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- Improves focus and concentration: Coloring can help children focus and concentrate on a specific task, which can be helpful for their academic performance.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Coloring can be a calming activity, helping reduce stress and anxiety in children and adults.
Encourage your child to use their favorite colors and get creative with their coloring. You can also use this printable to talk about springtime and narwhals, teaching your child about nature and animals. The Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page from Learning Resources is an excellent activity for children of all ages. It promotes the development of fine motor skills, improves focus and concentration, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Download the printable today and encourage your child to get creative with their coloring, spending quality time together as a family.
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