Sensory Bins

Tootsie really loves sensory play - water, beans, sand - anything she can pour and scoop.  I've tried several different things recently but we always come back to the simple.  I've noticed that she will not play with a bin that is too busy.  Her winter bin was just too overwhelming.  I collected lots of blue and white items including pom poms, flat glass marbles, pipe cleaners, beads, table scatter, a couple of containers and tongs as well as a few other items.  She didn't use it much.  The Valentine's bin had white beans and an assortment of Valentine themed items.  She removed a lot of things and gathered items from her kitchen to use instead.  So for now, we'll skip the toys and figurines and stick to the pouring and scooping.  Here are a few of the bins we've used lately.

Dried Peas

Dried peas, a few Saint Patrick's Day coins, tongs, funnel, measuring spoon, pitcher and a few different shaped bottles.  The round one is a special Coke bottle salvaged from a family gathering.

Princess and the Pea!  Dancing dress and fancy shoes required!

Chocolatey Mess

This was an experiment in throwing things together based on Cloud Dough.  I guess you could call it chocolate sand/dough.  

We mixed flour, cocoa powder, a little salt, a lot of oil thanks to Tootsie's heavy pouring hand and sprinkles.

Dishes from her kitchen were quickly brought in. 

Not too long after that the dough migrated to her kitchen so she could cook it.

Worked ok until Tootsie took the sink out, filled the dishwasher and spread it around the stove.  This was a really messy project but luckily it swept up easily.  By the end of the second day, I had snuck a lot of it into the trash.  It was getting tracked everywhere!  We will definitely do this again because Tootsie loved it but I will wait until it's warmer and we can take it outside.

White Beans

After Valentine's Day, I removed the themed items and added some I Spy items (see here or a little more info) to white beans.  

Tootsie also liked using her dishes - were these ever a great investment!  She cooked the bean and then we filled up lots of the dishes, added some felt food and had a party.  It was a make up party as I had just had some friends over for an Arbonne party, in which she got to participate.

I loved the Barbie shoe drinks!