La manipulation and experimentación are two basic aspects in the process of discovery of the children and, therefore, for their learning.
With these experimentation trays for 2- 3 year olds, your child will manipulate natural materials and everyday life while enjoying the pleasure to play.
It is also a very good option to spend some fun time on rainy days or when you have to be at home.
What do I need to prepare this activity?
A plate
It is the container that contains the material. I recommend an individual tray of about 50 × 50 cm. It can be made of plastic but much better if you have the option of using wooden trays.
Material for trays
To fill the trays you can use materials so varied and differents as you like. I recommend you use natural materials. They offer much richer sensory experiences than commercial toys, which are mostly made of plastic. Here are some examples:
- Continuous material: rice, flour, sawdust, coffee grounds, breadcrumbs, sand, salt, sugar, water, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
- Discontinuous material: oranges, chestnuts, walnuts, dried tangerine skins, pomegranates, flower petals, pineapples, shells, stones, etc. Try to be from different shapes, sizes and textures, so the experience will be richer.
- Mixed materials: rice with lentils or chickpeas, colored pasta, mint leaves with pieces or lemon slices, sand with shells and conches. The combinations are endless!
Now is the time to start the experimentation phase
Offer your child the tray you have prepared on a table or on the floor. You can cover the floor with a packing paper so it doesn't get dirty.
You will see how soon he is encouraged to start scan tray material. Little by little you will discover the actions what can you do with the objects (fill, empty, cover, group or separate, open or close, fit, stack, compare, squeeze, etc.).
The idea is to let the child play freely without any restriction. They will be testing their own actions, you should not direct him. If you do not perceive interest on their part, it will be that this is not the time. We keep it and something else. There will be another occasion.
Are they also suitable for younger children?
Children under 2 years of age can experiment and manipulate with the experiment trays. You just have to be careful to use non-toxic materials that can be put in the mouth without any risk (breadcrumbs, potato, moniato or boiled pumpkin, jelly, yogurt, etc.). If the game objects and tray are clean, they can suck as much as they want as long as don't lose sight of it.
Benefits of play with experimentation trays
There are many benefits that this proposal offers. These are the most important:
- Boost and increase the level of atención y concentration.
- Invites at the beginning of the process of Mathematical logic encouraging the use of combinations, classifications, comparisons, groupings and series.
- The child usually verbalizes what he is experiencing, in this way he develops his language.
- It encourages the posing of questions (what is this ?, what will happen if ?, how can I ..?, What if ... ?, etc.) and the formulation of their own hypothesis. It is a start to scientific thought.
- It favors the development of fine motor skills that allows you to gain harmony in fine movements and prepares your little hands for the initiation of writing processes.
- Not only touch is stimulated but the five senses. This stimulation is closely related to the generation of new neural connections.
- And most importantly, he himself is the protagonist of his own learnings y discoveries.
Well moms, you see all that this activity gives of itself and the benefits it can bring. I hope that you are encouraged to offer different materials to your little ones to enjoy this type of sensory experiences to the fullest.