Sensory Bottles!

Hello!

I have been busy preparing for University! However, I have had time to prepare some Sensory Bottles for the children at the playgroup for September 2013! I managed to get this great idea from my placement setting. I was working with Babies 0-2 years old for x2 sessions for 6 weeks. One thing that I found out in regards to Babies is how they learn through the use of all of their senses touch/sight/smell/taste/hearing. Within my placement setting, they had numerous sensory bottles in their Baby Room to aid learning development and exploration of senses! I would watch the Babies with fascination at how they interacted and experimented with these bottles- it offered long term play and interest for them!

I decided to incorporate these bottles into our own setting, for several reasons. First of all I think there is a lack of sensory play within our setting and for the chance for our children to explore different resources and materials, consistencies, weights and liquids in a more visual form. Secondly, it gives the children to visualise different materials through a clear bottle, clearly using their senses to experiment shape/weight/colour/consistency.Thirdly, we have quite alot of 2 year olds in the setting, they are still learning and experimenting with their senses and learning about the world, this will greatly aid them in their experiences. Finally, all children learn by doing and experimenting and this will be a great tool of experience and visualisation for all children of all ages within my setting.

                           Heres a photograph of my Sensory Bottles! So far my bottles include:

                           * Food Dyed Water with Oil and Foam Letters (Visual, colour/letter recognition, weight)

* Food Dyed Water with glitter (Visual, colour recognition, weight)

* Water with Washing up Liquid, makes bubbles when shaken! (Visual, Weight) 

* Flour (Visual, Weight)

* Coffee (Visual, Weight, Sound)

* Food Dyed Rice (Visual, Weight, Sound)

I will be making new Sensory Bottles when I have/receive new ideas- keep an eye out for this activity in September 2013!