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Now that Kevin’s golf season is over he is working from home. I realized that for him to get work done and for me to keep some semblance of sanity, I needed to find some activities that Grayson could do. Preferably something he could do somewhat independently. I have seen a lot of posts regarding making a sensory box. This was the perfect opportunity to try making my own.
Activities that would keep him entertained and quiet, even if for short periods of time. It’s hard to keep a three-year-old mind completely occupied for long spurts of time, at least when it comes to Grayson.
Kevin likes to joke that he will just go into the office and work, which of course is followed by the look of “really” from me. I like to tell him that I can go to his office instead and he can stay home with the boys. So this is where the idea for the holiday sensory box began.
Finding Inspiration For The Sensory Bin
Pinterest is where I always go for great idea starters. Whether that be crafts, house projects, recipes, you name it, Pinterest has it.
When looking for toddler activities on Pinterest I always see pins for sensory boxes. So I decided that since I needed some new activities that would be educational and beneficial, this was the perfect time to create one for Grayson.
Grayson absolutely loves to play with anything that allows him to use his hands and imagination. So I knew that a sensory box would be right up his alley.
I wasn’t all that sure how long it would keep his interest, but I knew it would at least be something new and fun to try.
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Sensory Box
What is the real purpose of a sensory box other than some sanity time for Mom and Dad?
Out of curiosity, I wanted to understand the true purpose of sensory boxes and their true benefit. So off to Google, I went looking to understand the premise that I was trying to create with my new holiday creation.
All the things I read regarding sensory boxes and sensory learning defined this type of learning for toddlers as important for allowing them to learn, cognitive, sensory, fine motor, and language skills.
The general understanding that I took away from all of my searchings was that sensory boxes allow for a controlled environment where young children can explore their world using all of their five senses.
So after reading what I was trying to create and how it would work best for educational purposes and entertainment purposes, I was ready to start creating a holiday sensory box.
Heading To The Store To Get Supplies To Make The Sensory Box
Figuring out what I was going to put in the holiday sensory box.
Since it is November and somewhat close to the Christmas season, I decided I would make a Christmas-themed holiday sensory box.
So off to the store, I went with a plan in my mind. Grayson went with me to find all of our goodies for his sensory box. Mason was taking his morning nap, and Kevin was home with him getting some work done while we were gone.
I already had a plastic bin that I was going to use that we had used to store Grayson’s baby clothes, which we had saved for Mason. So that is one thing I did not need to get.
Holiday Sensory Box
List of Supplies
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Bag Of Beans
When food becomes fun, you could also use corn kernels as well.
For this sensory box, I bought a 4 lb bag of pinto beans. Which was quite cheap and the perfect amount for the bin I was using.
Pompom’s
There is something fun about pompoms, regardless of your age.
I bought a bag of holiday Pompoms that were actually perfectly located in the center aisle of the holiday section at our Meijer store. I really liked that it had a variety of sizes, colors, and textures.
There were a lot of options when it came to the color, sizes, and textures of pom-poms that you could choose from. I decided on these because they fit with my holiday theme for the sensory box,
They also had blue and silver pom-poms that I thought about getting to make a New Year’s sensory box later on.
Bells
A little sound to add to the holiday sensory box.
While looking through the Christmas craft supplies, I saw a package of little jingle bells and thought that would add an element of metal and sound to the sensory box. I really liked that the package of bells came with multiple-size bells just like the pom-poms.
The bells were actually quite the hit with Grayson at the store and home. We definitely finished our shopping trip with the festive sound of bells.
Paper Mache Boxes
Miniature present boxes that you can fill with all the fun sensory goods.
When looking initially for some type of scooper for the sensory box, I came across these miniature paper mache boxes and thought that they would be perfect.
The little boxes are perfect for the holiday-themed sensory box. They are like little presents that can be filled with all the fun sensory goods that are filled in the box.
There were multiple different shapes and sizes to choose from. Even though this is not what I initially set out to find, it turned out to work better than my initial plan.
So after the beans, pompoms, and bells were added to the box, Grayson started to play. I continued to open the miniature paper mache boxes and mini popsicle sticks while he started playing with all our goodies.
Mini Popsicle Sticks
Because a box full of lots of little pieces also needs something to stir and build with.
I came across mini popsicle sticks in the craft aisle and decided that I would get them as well. Though I wasn’t all that sure if I would use them for the sensory box or another project, in the cart, they went.
They actually ended up being a perfect addition to our holiday sensory box to build and stir with.
All Supplies Ready And Time To Put Together The Holiday Sensory Box
Let the fun begin!
With all of the supplies set out it was time to assemble the holiday sensory box. I started by pouring in the beans, followed by the pompoms and bells. Little hands could not wait to start playing.
Once I was finished adding all the supplies to the box, Grayson went to town exploring. He kept holding the big pompoms to his nose like he was a clown.
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Holiday Sensory Box
Assembly Steps
Step #1
First, add the beans to the box.
Step #2
Then add the pompoms to the box.
Step #3
Next, add the bells to the box and mix the beans, pompoms, and bells.
Step #4
Finish by adding the miniature paper mache boxes & popsicle sticks.
Step #5
Finally, explore and imagine with all of the goodies in the sensory box.
Holiday Sensory Box Review
Was it worth the time and effort? Did it provide entertainment for Grayson?
We have had the sensory box for about a week now. I definitely think that it is a beneficial and helpful fun learning activity that keeps Grayson occupied for a little bit of time, more than Kevin thought that it would.
Something that I ended up adding was an empty paper towel roll, which I cut in half. He absolutely loved filling each paper towel tube with all the beans and pompoms. In my opinion, the sensory box is a creative tool for learning and occupying toddlers which is definitely a better alternative to screen time.
Something that I realized though is to keep the sensory box interesting and engaging, especially for toddlers, you would definitely want to add more aspects to the bin. That or completely replace the contents somewhat frequently, depending on how entertaining the box is.
Holiday Sensory Box Storage
The true benefits of the lid.
One of the benefits of the sensory bin other than the educational engagement that it provides is the easy cleanup and storage. The fact that everything is contained and played with in the box makes this activity super easy.
Though I will say we are still working on keeping it all in the bin, there is always a learning curve. I definitely think that the sensory box is a great toddler activity. I can definitely see myself continuing to change out the contents for more learning and fun.
