What Is a Sensory Bin?

A sensory bin is a container that contains wet and/or dry ingredients with at least one new texture your child can explore. Working with dry textures is easier than working with wet textures. 

Where to Start?

Your kitchen is your best resource! You don’t have to run out and buy special materials. Your kitchen contains plenty of textures and smells your child can explore. This is also a great way to use any expired foods in your pantry. In addition, your bathroom and yard are also great resources for materials.

How to Contain the Mess:

Lying the sensory bin on a collecting blanket, sheet, shower curtain etc. will help with easy clean-up. Doing these activities outside is also a great choice!

Additional Benefits to Sensory Bins:

Your child can also simultaneously work on their fine motor skills by scooping and pouring ingredients with different kinds of utensils. 

Pro-Tip:

WIth both wet and dry sensory bins, hide your child’s favorite toys inside so they can search and collect them. Bubble tongs, sand tools, ice trays, shovels, rake toys, squeeze bottles, spray bottles, and kid tongs are all very useful. Give them a task and include something they love!

Warning:

Sensory bins are only safe when the child is provided constant supervision, since they can contain choking hazards. 

Dry Sensory Bin Ideas:

• Dried Pasta (I love to use fun shapes and colored pasta from natural additives, such as spinach and tomatoes) or food-dyed pasta
• Oats with ground or whole spices
• Rice with sprinkles or food-dyed rice
• Dried beans (such as pinto beans, black beans, lentils, etc.)
• Coffee beans
• Cacao powder with cornstarch
• Whole or crushed cereals
• Corn kernals
• Any kind of flour
• Cotton balls
• Sand or kinetic sand
• Dirt with rocks, leaves, pinecones, seashells, flowers, etc. 
• Crinkle-strip paper used for wrapping
• Pom poms
• Feathers

Wet Sensory Bin Ideas:

• Whipped cream or Cool Whip
• Chia seeds soaked in water
• Flour wand oil
• Cornstarch and shaving cream
• Cooked spaghetti or pasta
• Baking soda and vinegar
• Boba pearls
• Fruit/veggie stamps (such as cut apples or celery) with condiment sauces or paints
• Cacao powder and water
• Bubble water
• Ice cubes in water
• Whole veggies and fruits (such as pumpkins) with paints

The post My #1 Recommended Play Activity for Picky Eaters appeared first on Feeling Yum.

Selective eating is a trait that many kids share, thanks to the incorporation of processed foods into our diet or comfort with drinking excess milk, among other culprits. If your child is experiencing more significant feeding concerns, see article When Do I Request a Feeding Therapy Evaluation? Selectiveness is based on different temperaments and actions and does not have to be viewed as a fault. We can all learn to be more open to exploring foods together.

1. Normalize

It is developmentally appropriate for kids to become pickier between the ages of 15 months- two years old, as they start to discover and remember their likes and dislikes and separate themself from their parents. This can be compounded if a child is motivated by movement and not interested in sitting down for a meal.  Learning to taste is a skill, which takes time to develop.

2. Embrace the Positive Qualities

Your child is being cautious and trying to make safe choices. They also may be super tasters, which can smell and taste more nuanced flavors than we may notice. Learning to slow down is a great mindful exercise and yes, makes us learn to become more patient. You can also learn more in this process about where foods come from and creative ways to create them! 

3. Control the Commentary 

Explain to others that your child can be selective about what foods they eat and how they are prepared, but they are learning how to expand their palates. Kids are always learning and we want them to practice a growth mindset so they can rewrite their story.  Name any new foods that were explored recently to reinforce positive behaviors.  

4. Manage Expectations

Go to eye level. Do something grounding. Play with something safe, hold in hand. Model the behavior you do want.

5. Debrief

Do not praise social norm of eating everything but celebrating the baby steps. Team tiny changes. I love how you were being so brave and curious and came to the table. 

6. Refrain 

as a positive expericien : What did you like about trying the food. I saw at first you were nervous but you took a bite and that’s great

The post How To Talk About ‘Pickiness’ appeared first on Feeling Yum.