Ready for winter sensory play?
This Rescue the Bears activity will not disappoint.
It has been on repeat for days with my three-year-old. He’s obsessed with the sensory play, and I am obsessed with watching him explore.
RELATED: Set the tone for your day with Breakfast Invitations. 5-minute set-ups to help calm your morning.
A sensory bin with counting bears? Yes, please!
You know these counting bears are my ultimate favorite. They are recommended for ages 3+ and we just love them!
In fact, they are all over our preschool blog.
These counting bears have been on repeat since the start of my teaching days in 2001. How about that for longevity?
So the question is, What’s next for these bears?
Freeze them of course!
The counting bears must be frozen and placed into a fun sensory bin!
RELATED: New to sensory play? This introduction to sensory play will help.
What do you fill a sensory bin with?
Days with Grey is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
The star of the sensory show here are these counting bears.
Once frozen, they become a fun rescue mission for your preschooler. Freeze them in a muffin tin, and now they all have their own little pods to be rescued from.
Set up your winter sensory bin today:
Place a small amount of counting bears into each circle of a muffin tin.
Add water.
Freeze overnight.
The following day, pop the circles out of your muffin tin.
Add the circles of ice into your sensory bin. Here I am using an under the bed storage bin.
Add colored WARM water.
Optional: salt
RELATED: Like water play? You will love our water play roundup!
Why is this sensory play important?
I love referring to the book, Loose Parts to help explain the importance of movement.
“When we know how things move, we can predict what caused the movement and what we can do to control it. When we control the way things move, we restore a sense of order to chaos that is caused by unpredictable and random movement.” Loose Parts
Moving the ice, water, and counting bears around the sensory bin will help your child explore gravity, motion, and problem-solving.
Your preschooler will also be able to begin to discover the transition of solid to liquid and what makes the ice melt. (the salt and warm water helps)
Squirting these water bottles will help your toddler with writing. How? You need to read this.
Want to play more with movement?
Try these play ideas!
water – Cranberry Water Bin
cardboard tubes – DIY Maze
marbles
balls
water beads – Your first bin
pine cones
movement dice – Make in a flash!
cotton balls – Squeeze them, squirt them
RELATED: Here are 50+ Play Ideas for toddlers and preschoolers!
When will you freeze the counting bears?
Shop Related Products:
Leave a Comment