This small world sensory tub came to life after I took my own advice! Last week when we were talking about loose parts free play I mentioned my idea of using a Magic Three – three items from our super loose parts list {click through to print your own copy} – when you need a little spark of something new. Here’s what happened when we combined rice, shells and cotton wool!
Sleepy bunnies small world sensory tub
Watch our Sensory Tub Masterclass
Click to play on the video above to see our sensory tub masterclass. You’ll learn how to make a sensory tub for your children using simple materials, the benefits of sensory tubs for children, and how to use a sensory tub to teach children about math, literacy, science and fine motor skills.
You’ll also see lots of ideas for sensory tub fillings plus find out how to get great printables to add to your tubs. Subscribe to NurtureStore’s YouTube channel to get more sensory play videos!
My girls adore playing with Sylvanian characters and their current favourites are these three little bunnies. Because they play with the same characters time and time again, it gives them the chance to really develop storylines. The rabbits each have their own names, defined personalities, and family relationships, and it’s so interesting to watch the girls play, both co-operating with unspoken rules about how the characters will react in any imagined situation. Having said that, I like to introduce new items to their play, to keep the sensory environment rich and to just bring in new, fun materials.
Today I set out a towel {to catch any escaped materials and make tidy up super easy} and offered some loose parts to go with their bunnies:: lavender dyed rice, shells and cotton wool.
You never know how the play will go but, perhaps sparked by the softness of the cotton wool, or because we’ve used the rice in a bedtime sensory tub before, L decided this was going to be a land where the bunnies could go to sleep.
She made chairs for mum and dad to sit in.
And the softest bed for Fluff to sleep in.
She also used the cotton wool to fashion some warm clothes for the rabbits to wear – it gets rather chilly up in the bedtime clouds!
The lavender rice smells so lovely and is a great sensory material to try.
Super Sensory Invitations to Play
Ready for a whole year of exploring through the senses? Super Sensory Invitations to Play is a delightful resource that encourages your children to explore the five senses through the year, using a wide variety of sensory materials. It includes 52 invitations to play, linked to the festivals and seasons of the year, and including water, ice, dough, rice, paints, sand, sensory tubs, and more.
They are easy, simple, and fun ideas that you can use right now to give a multi-sensory boost to your play and learning. It comes with a printable recipe book featuring all our favourite recipes for play. Come and see more here.
Hi ! I’m an avid pinner & mainly use Pinterest to support my teaching.
I particularly enjoy pinning to
Alphabet & Phonics – https://pinterest.com/hilarywhite3/alphabet-phonics/
Discovery & Exploration – https://pinterest.com/hilarywhite3/discovery-exploration/
Malleable – Play Dough – https://pinterest.com/hilarywhite3/malleable-play-dough/
Rachel (“,)
This looks great, so cute and it must smell wonderful!
hmmm I wonder if my girls would let me use their Sylvanians for imaginative play…. you are inspiring me!
What, let they boys use them? My two are very protective of their Sylvanians! They know exactly which characters and furniture – right down to little cups and plates – belong to each sister. United Nation-style negotiations are undertaken when the two sets get joined together!