The Sensory box - A Bean Sandbox

Kids have so much fun playing in the sandbox right? What do you do when its winter and your sandbox if frozen solid?!?!? Make one in side!
Cai, AJ, and Andrew (my friend Mai's kids), all playing in the bean box together.

How to make a bean box:

Take a low Rubbermaid tub (the kind that fits under a bed) and fill it with any small thing you can think of:
uncooked rice
uncooked macaroni
dry beans
dry lentils
large beads
small lego pieces.....
(This is not an event for really little ones)

Throw in some spoons, sieves, cups, measuring cups, forks......

And let your toddler go at it!

They will spend hours mixing the items with their hands, pouring from one cup to the other, or sorting the different colours or shapes. You can get your hands in there too, its really very relaxing.

Officially, its called a sensory box because it allows children to use their senses to experience new things: hearing the beans bang against each other, feeling the noodles with ridges,....its all very engrossing. Unofficially, I think of it as an indoor bean sandbox. Although it is less messy than having a real sandbox inside your house your children will get things outside of the box. The mess can be easily cleaned with a broom and dustpan or vacuum.

You may feel hesitant to try something like this if you fear that your child will start throwing rice around the room, however, you simply have to set limits ahead of time and be consistent. Children need boundaries so that they feel safe to explore within them. Explain the rules before starting the activity and then if (when) they are breached give one chance and then remove the box calmly and without a fuss. The end of the bean box will be punishment enough. Bring it out again when you feel ready to give you child another chance: after nap, the next day, when you feel comfortable....Your little one will learn how to be creative in a responsible way that does not destroy your house:)