33 Fun Ideas for Sensory Tables
Sensory Table Activities are always a great tool to increase the kids creativity and hone their skills. These sensory activities are needed for the proper and healthy development of the mental system and such activities markedly promote mental health also. These sensory activities are more often practiced in the kindergartens for the orientation development of the toddlers.
The most commonly practiced sensory art activity is the use of DIY sensory tables. DIY sensory tables are a perfect and a unique tool that is applied to enhance the creativity skills of the kids. DIY sensory table is best known for promoting the sensory development of preschoolers.
These DIY sensory tables are available at the kindergartens, homes and many preschools. Toddlers and young kids are advised to use these DIY sensory tables. The sensory system issues and the disorders are treated by the use of these DIY sensory tables.
What is a DIY Sensory Table?
A DIY sensory table is a perfect tool for the toddlers who do not have any idea how to play with the other DIY sensory tools. Some other DIY sensory tools are available. These include the DIY sensory bottles , DIY sensory toys and many DIY crayons containing art works.
A DIY sensory table is a typical table full with the material goods that are used by the kids through their five senses. The DIY sensory tables in this way promotes the proper sensory system growth. All the sensory system deficits are corrected by the use of these DIY sensory tables.
What are Sensory Table Materials?
The materials on the sensory tables include the various things that the kids have to notice through their eyes thus using the sense of sight. Some of the things on the sensory tables are the toys that make noise or utter particular sounds like the singing birds or the roaring animals. These things on the DIY sensory table will promote the sense of hearing.
Similarly, some odorous substances are placed on the DIY sensory table to promote the sense of smell. The whole setup of the DIY sensory tables was made to help the kids interact with the things using their five senses. There are several benefits of the DIY sensory table. Some of the benefits of the DIY sensory tables are discussed.
Benefits of the DIY Sensory Tables
The DIY sensory table helps the fine and oriented development of motor skills. The motor system development is one of the crucial systems developing in the kids. A DIY sensory table plays an important role in fine motor development. Many physical activities are arranged on the DIY sensory tables to promote motor development.
In these DIY sensory table activities, kids are promoted to use their hands to interact with the various items. Their movement on the DIY sensory tables includes the pouring of sand, handling the balls, grasping the spoons and utilizing the clay on the DIY sensory table. These small movement steps on the DIY sensory table promote the big muscular movements and hence the development of the motor skills.
Development of cognition is the biggest benefit of the DIY sensory table. There are many activities designed on the DIY sensory table to enhance the cognition and mental thinking of the kids. These cognition activities on the DIY sensory tables include the counting of the objects, matching the objects and labeling different items like the numbers etc. These types of sensory activities on the DIY sensory table play an important role in sensory development.
The DIY sensory table is a great language opener. Many activities are performed on the DIY sensory tables to promote the development of language skills. The DIY sensory table allows the kids to learn and practice the vocabulary .
DIY sensory table offers a vast array of conversation for the kids. This conversation includes the children to ask their opinions, manages the tasks on the DIY sensory table, and allows them to express themselves. Many preschools practice this activity on the DIY sensory table to increase the learning skills of the kids.
The DIY sensory table activities allow the kids to develop a healthy interaction socially. The social and emotional development is another advantage of the DIY sensory table. On the DIY sensory table, kids are playing and enjoying themselves together. This step ensures their communication skills development and better their social dealings.
A DIY sensory table helps them to build a cool and calm temperament. It helps the toddlers and young kids to relax themselves. On a DIY sensory table, kids are encouraged to play with different types of things. These things on the DIY sensory table include the clay textured molds, various sensory toys and the sand made items.
The interaction with these DIY sensory table things help kids to engage in the activities and divert their attention. This step on the DIY sensory table promotes a better temperament for the kids and helps them to relax.
The DIY sensory table helps the kids to enhance their creativity skills to the next level. On the DOY sensory table kids are encouraged to play and learn on their own. There are a variety of things on the DOY sensory table to play.
When the kids use these things on the DIY sensory table in different ways, their creativity and imagination is increased. There is freedom given to the kids on the DIY sensory table. So, in this way the learning attitude and the creativity enhance by the use of this DIY sensory table.
Types of the DIY Sensory Table
PVC DIY Sensory Table
This type of PVC DIY sensory table is really simple and creative. It’s simply fun to design the PVC DIY sensory table at home for kids. This PVC DIY sensory table requires the use of PVC pipes. You can adjust the size of PVC pipes according to the size of your PVC DIY sensory table.
Various objects can be placed inside this PVC DIY sensory table that can enhance the cognition power of the young ones. Thus, the PVC DIY sensory tables are a perfect tool for the young toddlers to improve their cognition.
Wooden DIY Sensory Table
This type of wooden DIY sensory table is very creative because the process of designing it also improves the mental and sensory system proper functioning and development. To make this type of wooden DIY sensory table, you only need glue and wood. Use the carpentry skills and tools to design this wooden DIY sensory table.
Water and Sand DIY Sensory Table
This water and sand DIY sensory table is simple to make at home. To improve the sensory skills parents are advised to make these types of water and sand DIY sensory tables at home. You need to have a plastic container and adjust it according to your kid’s height. This will serve as your water and sand DIY sensory table. Fill the container with water and sand.
You can also add clay to this water and sand DIY sensory table to make it more adorable and creative for your kids. The water and sand DIY sensory table is the ultimate goal for the enhancement of the sensory skills. This Water and sand DIY sensory table is practiced by the young kids in almost each and every preschool.
Coffee Style DIY Sensory Table
Yes!! Your old coffee table can become your DIY sensory table which promotes the skills of your young ones. Remove the glass of the old coffee table and replace it with a baggy cloth piece. Now fill the cloth piece with the sand or the marbles. This type of DIY sensory table is the best known sensory system development therapy.
You can also add a spoon to this DIY sensory table that will allow your children to scoop out the sand or use this spoon to make different molds. This freedom of playing enhances the experience and skills of the growing kid.
The Diy Sensory Table Ideas
Alphabet DIY Sensory Table Idea
This type of DIY sensory table idea is the best option for the improvement of the learning attitude of the kid. You need to hide all the alphabets in the sand of the DIY sensory table and ask the child to find the letters one by one dictated by the teacher or the mother.
You can also show the child one fruit or any other toy on the DIY sensory table and ask him or her to find the alphabet of the first letter of that toy or fruit. This DIY sensory table idea is always a better way to help your child learn, experience and grow better. Counting games
Ask your child to count the number of shoes or dresses he is having in the cupboard. Let your child play on the ground and count the number of slides. These cognitive activities would increase the skills and enhance cognition.
Sand DIY Sensory Table Ideas
This DIY sensory table idea is one of the best opted ideas for the improvement and development of the sensory system. This idea employs the use of sand in the DIY sensory table. This sensory table for kids lets them play with freedom.
Kids are encouraged to scoop out the sand, draw various drawings with their hands on the DIY sensory table for kids. This freedom of playing increases the cognition and creativity of the young kids. These types of DIY sensory table ideas for kids are often used in preschools and kindergartens.
Colored Bread Crumbs Eating
This DIY sensory table idea is widely in practice by the parents. Children are given edible colored bread crumbs on the DIY sensory table that trigger their sensory perception and are presented as a good pantry idea.
Dry Pasta
This is one of the most creative DIY sensory ideas. Dried pasta along with the other elements like scoops and cups are added to the materials on the DIY sensory table and children are promoted to play with it. The sensory system is triggered in this way and it has proved a good sensory system enhancement idea.
Sandbox
Sandbox playing has been the kids favorite DIY sensory table idea. The sandbox is decorated with the edibles like the dried pasta and oat meals and children are encouraged to play with these sensory sandboxes. Such DIY sensory table ideas have played a great role in the betterment of the sensory system.
Cornmeal
When the kids are restricted for the indoor games, they are provided with the DIY sensory tables containing various edibles but here the sand is replaced by the corn meals. This DIY sensory table idea is much better than the simple sand containing sandboxes and works for the enhancement of the sensory perception.
Edible Jewelry
This is one of the most fantastic DIY sensory table ideas for kids. Kids love playing with the beads and buttons. In this sensory activity, many edible buttons and laces were given and the children were promoted to make the necklaces and bracelets out of them. This DIY sensory table idea increases the food sensory perception and also improves the creativity of kids.
Playing with Flour
Flour alone is the best DIY sensory table idea for the kids to play. It has been suggested that flour playing has greatly added to the sensory perception. Moms are supposed to spread the flour on the DIY sensory table and kids are asked to draw or write something in the tray with the floor. This sensory activity is the best indoor activity.
Colorful Marshmallows
Children are encouraged to play with the different colors and shapes of marshmallows spread on the DIY sensory table. This DIY sensory table idea is presented with many benefits and honed the food sensory skills of kids.
Lentils
This food sensory activity is played by the kids who seek indoor games. The kids are promoted to make their farm house with the different elements added in them. Many lentils are spread across the floor of the farmhouse and then playing with these lentils will trigger the food sensory system. This food sensory activity has been one of the best activities
Scratch and Sniff Painting Activity
This DIY sensory table activity in children improves all the tactile and smell sensations. Children are given the flavored paints with a few paint brushes decorated on the DIY sensory table. Once they have completed the paintings and they are dried, children are advised to scratch the paints with hand and sniff the smell. This DIY sensory table activity promotes the response to all senses experienced by the children with sensory disorders.
Twister Games
This game improves motor skills in case of sensory disorders in children. It encourages the affected children to use their muscles and joints to twist themselves in different positions.
Puzzles
All the sensory disorders in children greatly hamper their ability to think and imagine. This activity on the DIY sensory table is designed to restore the imagination and creativity among the children affected with this disorder.
Matching Activities
- Write different letters in card papers and then cut the card paper in two halves on the DIY sensory table. Ask the children to identify the letters from the card halves.
- Play an activity with the children asking them to match the items having the same color or collect the words starting from the similar letters and group them together.
- This is the most beneficial DIY sensory table idea for the improvement of sensory activities. It encourages the children to match the pictures with the dictated words.
Following the Instructor
Ask the students to follow dot to dot on paper while they are playing on the DIY sensory table. Students are asked to follow a peer around an obstacle course.
DIY Color Bottles
Design the DIY bottles using various colors and their combinations and place them on the DIY sensory table. Then ask the children showing abnormal visual sensory response to identify these colors one by one. This DIY sensory table idea is simple to play with the kids.
Scissoring Activities
For the improvement for sensory visual activities, students are asked to cut around the figures. For this purpose, various sized papers are placed on the DIY sensory table.
Tracking Activities
The instructor moves the object around a specific track on the DIY sensory table and then the children are asked to follow the same track with their eyes. This performance would enhance the sensory visual system to follow the objects around in an environment.
Spotting the Activities
Present a tray full of different objects on the DIY sensory table to the child and remove a specific object from the tray. Ask the student to spot that missing object.
These activities are designed to improve the sensory visual activities for the children between the age group 4 TO 11. Likewise each age group has specific DIY sensory system activities to practice for enhancing their sensory system.
Rolling Down a Ball
Ask the child to catch the rolling ball while remaining on the DIY sensory table. This DIY sensory table idea for kids leads to the development of their focus towards the visual stimuli and the better development of their sensory system.
Collecting the Butterflies
Give the kids different animals and bird toys on the DIY sensory table. Now ask the kids to collect the butterflies in a net. Likewise, ask the toddlers to collect the different animals separately. This DIY sensory table idea for kids improves their cognition and creativity.
Bubble Popping
The parents are advised to let the child practice the bubble popping with toe, knee, and feet. These bubble sheets are part of materials placed on the DIY sensory table.
Painting Activity
Ask your child to trace his footprints and then paint with different colors. Let them paint with freedom, this DIY sensory table idea for toddlers would help them express their emotions and feelings.
Blind Tasting Game
This DIY sensory table idea for the toddlers helps parents and instructors to introduce new tastes to the toddlers. Toddlers are blind-folded and asked to guess different tastes placed on the DIY sensory table. The tastes include cakes, yogurts and brownies. This DIY sensory table activity for toddlers would control their hyper-reaction towards different tastes.
Slime
This sensory activity for autistic toddlers is of great value because of the dual nature of slime. Mix corn flour and water in a shallow container until they get slime-like consistency. If you punch the slime, it will feel like a solid but when you scoop it out it again becomes a liquid. This dual nature promotes the judgment and cognition of the toddler and is one of the best DIY sensory table ideas.
Frozen Toys
This is again a valuable DIY sensory table activity for the children. Freeze the toys in a large tray with water. Then layer up the more toys, finally when they are completely frozen take out the tray and ask your toddler to get out the toys one by one by making use of different tools.
Sensory Bottle Designing
Fill a neat and transparent bottle present on the DIY sensory table with water and glitter and add a few drops of colorful dyes. Now drop some marbles and buttons in the bottle and let the lid seal by using a hot gun.
Encourage your toddler to focus on this colorful mixture. This DIY sensory table activity for the toddler will lead to their improvement of focus and the development of sensory skills.
Board Games
DIY sensory table activities like playing card games such as “Go fish and snap” and board games like “snakes and ladders” are found helpful in improving cognition skills.
Counting Games
Ask your child to count the number of shoes or dresses he is having in the DIY sensory table. Let your child play on the ground and count the number of slides. These cognitive activities would increase the skills and enhance cognition.
