How is Sensory play beneficial for children on the spectrum?

Sensory bins are so beneficial in so many ways! Using sensory bins on a regular basis can help balance out your child’s sensory issues. Continue to put different types of sensory bins in front of your children and play along while addressing the way the bin, and the objects within them feel. You know your child’s limits so this can be either a slow process or a very quick one when getting accustomed to the bin and the way it feels when they sink their hands into it. There is no right or wrong way to play in a sensory bin and that’s what makes them so great!

• If your child is highly sensitive to the bins try putting the base (rice or pasta) in a Ziplock bag first.

Sensory bins can also be of use to calm your child and prevent further meltdowns. When your child gets overwhelmed with the world around them hand them a sensory bin to redirect their brains. Sensory play can help form nerve pathways, which means the more they get to play in them the more easily they can begin to regulate their own bodies during sensory overload.

• In our house we have a specific area for our sensory bin and the kids always know where it is and it always contains rice, pasta, or chickpeas for playing or calming down.

Communication skills are another benefit of putting a sensory bin in front of your child. Constant play and communication while playing in the bins will bring more awareness of language and words for a child who has trouble communicating. 

• While playing in the bins talk to your child about all the objects and items you are picking up and playing with.