A sensory bin for toddlers and preschoolers that is full of indoor Easter egg hunt fun!
What is sensory play?
“Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore.”
Why is sensory play important?
According to Creative Play, there are 5 key benefits of sensory play:
1. Sensory play builds nerve connections within the developing brain’s neural pathways, which trigger a child’s inclination for and ability in competing more complex learning tasks
2. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction
3. Sensory play aids in developing and enhancing memory functioning
4. Sensory play is great for calming an anxious or frustrated child
5. Sensory play helps children learn vitally important sensory attributes (hot, cold, sticky, dry, etc)
Who is sensory play for?
Babies up through school age (and even adults) can all benefit from sensory play. The key is knowing your child, what will be appropriate for their age. Also, the smaller the child, the more supervision should be given with these types of activities.
Someone decided to try hunting with a spoon! 😀
Sensory Play Magnetic Easter Egg Hunt
When I first saw these magnetic wands, I was obsessed! Then I realized they were simply bingo chips and wands- how cool is that? That is one thing I really enjoy about setting these activities up for my kids; I love imagining new uses for things!
A big shout-out to our local library for providing the shredded paper! 😀 I was lamenting that I did not have a paper shredder and that people would think it odd if I just asked them for theirs… when our librarian brought out a big bag!
What supplies do I need?
- Large storage container (I used this size)
- Shredded Paper (or shredded crinkle paper)
- Easter Eggs
- Magnetic Wands
- Magnetic Chips
Magnet wand ready!
You can use either these wands or a Magnetic Bingo Set, as I did.
I would also avoid buying the very cheapest easter eggs as they are quite flimsy, and do not close easily.
Found an egg!
I found that shredded paper is bigger and heavier than Easter basket grass, so it didn’t get tracked around as much. Of course, if you want a fun color, than Easter grass is the way to go!
All set up, ready for the kids!
How do I set this activity up?
- Add a magnetic chip to each easter egg.
- Place in the storage container
- Cover with shredded paper or grass!
Instruct the kids to dig around the paper, and to use their wands to pull out the eggs! The large flat sides of the wand are magnetized, not the very top tip- if that makes sense.
What ages should use this activity?
Mr. 4 loved this activity, he was quite obsessed with the magnets in general! Miss almost-2 enjoyed poking around the shredded paper and pulling it out. This is a great activity for 3-4-year-olds, although older and younger can enjoy. Please use supervision for this activity– the magnetic chips are small enough for younger ones to try and eat.
