Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Sensory · The activity desk
Cloth Ocean Discovery Bin
Make soft ocean waves in a bin and uncover a toy boat.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A shallow bin, two large blue cloths, a large washable toy boat and a cup
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Place the bin on the floor and loosely fold the cloths inside. Hide the boat beneath one fold.
Adult's role: Choose intact cloths and a toy with no small detachable parts. Stay nearby during play.
Let's make it happen
- Move your hands under the cloth to make gentle ocean waves.
- Look for the hidden boat and sail it over and under the folds.
- Use the cup to scoop a wave, then make up a destination for the boat.
Make it simpler: Leave part of the boat showing and lift the cloth together.
Clean up: Fold the cloths and put the bin, cup and boat away.
Use large intact materials and keep cloth away from faces. Stay with the child throughout play.