Paddy's Day Sensory Box

A sensory bin or box is a container of fun stuff for small children to play with, usually based on a theme. Once assembled, the adult who made it calls it a sensory box to make it sound educational.

I liked the idea and decided to put one together for the babies. I used a large, fairly shallow clear plastic storage box and filled it with all things green (with a bit of orange and white) to try and make it a St. Patrick's Day theme.

My first attempt wasn't great - I just collected all the green trains, hats and other toys going around and it ended up looking like a messy green toy box.

I ended up taking out most of the toys and bulking it out with a grass skirt, felt pompoms, a green tinsel wig and a Paddy's day garland from the Euro2 shop. Then I added a Paddy's day hat, a slinky and an Irish flag.

This was a much better combination as the touchy feely bulk half-hid the other items well enough to make them stand out. As it turns out, the less you put in the box, the easier it is for children to pick and choose what they want to touch and play with.

The box (mark 2) was a hit with Girl immediately and it keeps her entertained day after day whenever I need a minute. She loves it when I sit by the box and play with her too. Though I do spoil the fun a little by insisting on the extraction of pompoms from her mouth. The depth of the box is ideal for her to help herself safely, and she is fascinated by the jingle bells on the hat.

Boy initially turned up his nose at it until he happened to step in it with bare feet one day. He thought this was hilarious and pulled out the grass skirt and trampled back and forth over it laughing out loud. He still likes the box, but tends to tip everything out then sit inside with the tinsel wig on his head hanging onto Girl and singing Row Row your Boat. Each to his own.

I plan to change the contents every so often and have already started collecting bits and bobs for a Spring themed sensory box.

St Patrick's Day is on 17th March each year which gives us one more week of wig wearing, hat jangling, foot stamping, pompom licking, flag waving fun.