What is Independent Play? 🐰 🥚 🥕 Easter Sensory Bin Activities

Hello everyone and Happy Easter for You who celebrate it today!

In the last couple of days, we've been doing some Easter Sensory Bin Activities. In one of my latest post, I've been saying that Sensory Bins are THAT ONE THING that really gives me some time to do whatever I want.

Besides being FUN and offering some good learning benefits, Sensory Activites are a good choice when you need some time off and not having your kid all on you!

That being said, here are three sensory bins we've played with this past week.

Eggs & Rabbits in the grass

In the tray I put together: paper grass, wooden easter bunnies, easter colored eggs and wooden butterfly clips.

On the table I put some tweezers / clamps. He used them to 'fish' some eggs. I put a wooden tray divided in six squares and silicone molds so that he could sort the objects or simply put the material on it.

I didn't intervene with anything. I let him play the way he wanted to.

You can see in the photos the book with a dinozaur. That's because he wanted that 🦖 Sid the dinozaurrrrrrrrrr to be there instead of the Bunny 🐰 . He loves this book called "The Dinozaur who lost his Roar".

Eggs, Chicken and Hen

I used some Natural Wood Shavings (the ones that come together with a bootle of wine), Eggs, Chicks and Ceramic Hens. We also talked about the Cicle of Life at Chickens.

Rabbits & Carrots on Black Beans

For this tray, I usedr black beans (wanted to be thee ground), crafted carrots and some pom-poms according to the them.

Now, maybe if you wonder How did this child play with all this?

Sensory trays/bins are so good in stimulating children's CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION. This + FINE MOTOR SKILLS are the major cognitive abilities children develop when play with this kind of sensory bins.

By putting these items on their free use, they can choose how and what to do with them. They can make:

• classification and sorting (by color, size, type, etc)
• counting
• play role
• life actions/moments imitation
• imaginative play
• hide and seek with small objects
• transfer activities

If you wanna understand what exactly is Sensory Play and what benefits brings to children's brain development , read more about it here.

WHAT is INDEPENDENT PLAY?

Independent play is when your kid is playing alone, without you intervening.

Teaching toddlers to entertain themselves isn't just an essential sanity-saver for busy parents, but it also helps young kids build creativity and critical-thinking skills, says psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., author of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards. "We often tell our children exactly what to do and how to do it, or that toys should be used in a certain manner. But creativity is an outgrowth of exploration, of using something in a new way. [_source]

When a child has playtime on his own, big things happen!

Children benefit from independent and creative play by learning skills and developing their imaginations.

• Problem solving : when you're not their to help, they have to come with their own solutions and belive me, you'll be surprised to observe how creative are these tiny humans
• Creativity: they have to come up with their own ideas on how to use toys and materials they have in front of them
• They discover what they like to do and play with the most
• Confidence: when we trust the power of play and let them create without judgement or input, it builds their confidence to then play independently.
• Self-Entertainment: kids who play by themselves learn to have fun on their own. They don't count on others for their happiness and entertainment.
• Imagination: the time alone will draw out superheroes, princesses and other play situations you wouldn't get to see if they weren't engaging in solo playtime.
• Social Indepndence: Playing alone develops a strong sense of independence in children. They don't have to be around another person or a group of people at all times. This social independence will help them feel comfortable in any situation.
  Playing by themselves doesn't encourage your children to shy away from others. It actually prepares them for whatever your day holds: a morning of solo play, an afternoon with your playgroup, or an evening sleepover with a friend. _[source]
• Encourages Calmness: playing by themselves brings a sense of calmness to your kids. This time playing alone takes their mood to a different level as they peacefully play with their toys.

When you're playing with your children, let them lead the interaction even if it donesn't make sense to you. Resisrt the urge to make every play opportunity a learning experience. When children feel comfortable making their own choices and playing creativitely with you, it makes is easier for them to play when you are busy too.

Try to observe and just intervene when your child is asking your help. At times when he/she seems to get stuck, try to think of ways to help without giving the answer right away. What's the smallest intervention you can make that will still get the result? ⠀⠀

Recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that kids were more likely to figure out a toy's happy surprises (the noises it can make, how it's able to move) when left alone with it than if a teacher first showed them how to use it—or if they overheard a teacher teach another child how to use it. [_source]

And taking things to the next level, one of the best ways to encourage INDEPENDENCE is through play. If toddlers can feel comfortable and confident playing on their own, they will also feel capable of other tasks on their own. Play is such valuable time for children to learn, imagine, take chances, and make mistakes and then do-overs.

Sensory bins aren't the only way of encouraging Self Play to your kid. Here are some other ideas of day by day playing activities and toys that promote Independent Play:

• Duplo, Lego, Blocks and Bricks: Grab a bin of wooden blocks or LEGO bricks and watch your child build a tower while they learn about reasoning, balance, and so much more
  
  
• Provide your child crayons, paints, feathers, clay and other craft materials and allow them to express themselves independently.

• Puzzles

• Nature Items as flowers, leaves, plants, rocks, pebbles etc

I think any toys you already have at home are perfect! You just need to create some Play Alone Time for your kid and maybe adjust some learning materials and that's it!

Thank you for reading,

Missdeli