Ok, some of your friends use sensory bins with their kids. You also follow some instagrammers who seem to have mastered the bins. So you do a quick Pinterest search and are immediately overwhelmed with the possibilities.

Have no fear, Alex is here! HAHA. But seriously, it definitely can be overwhelming but it can also be absurdly simple. So let me show you my bins and also tell you how to start (with minimal effort and money). And, go!

The Table/Bins

I use Ikea’s FLISAT table. I love it because it’s child height and uses the TROFAST bins, which I already own. The top white pieces come off and the bins fit inside. We use mostly shallow bins but occasionally use deeper ones for water play (but the deeper ones are harder for shorter kids to reach inside).

I used to also use this table for the kids to eat at but because of all the openings on the top, food and milk would leak through and it was a giant pain to clean. Even using playdoh on it is a pain to clean up after. So now it’s almost solely used for sensory bins.

Before I had the Ikea table I used a simple under the bed storage bin like this. It was an awesome size and I did in fact store it under the crib. These are also incredibly handy to store all the stuff that goes with sensory bins. The problem with this is the kids often end up inside the bin and it makes a bigger mess. So I would put a sheet or a plastic table cloth underneath to try and catch some of the mess. You could also use a slightly smaller bin and place it on top of a table. You can really do whatever you want… depending on your kids… the mess varies how you do it.

Our daycare uses a giant sensory bin. If I had oodles of money to spend and a place to put it, I’d definitely buy one like that. You can get them off Wayfair or daycare supplies stores. But! I don’t have the cash or space, so the FLISAT is perfect.

Materials

I have dried black beans, dried kidney beans, dried lentils, dry pasta, dry rice, popcorn kernels, kinetic sand and cornmeal for my bins. I also use water. I store them all in Ziploc freezer bags (except the water, HA) in one giant TROFAST bin.

I think kinetic sand is probably my favourite. The kids love it and it doesn’t really make much of a mess.

I like the bigger materials (pasta, kidney/black beans) for younger kids. It’s easier to clean up. I also like cornmeal for the cleanup factor. It vacuums up really easily.

Rice is definitely a kid favourite. No kid can resist a rice sensory bin. If you’re feeling fun, google how to make rainbow rice. Yippee! BUT it’s messy. I swear the rice ends up EVERYWHERE. So only use rice, lentils, etc when you’re having a day of extreme patience. Or maybe the day before a cleaner visits? Sadly at my house “the cleaner” is me. And she gets pissed pretty easily. And doesn’t visit often. Bitch.

ANYWAY. Go visit the bulk section of your grocery store and find whatever works for you.

Insides

If you’re just starting off, keep the insides simple. A couple of jars, strainers, funnels, scoops, whatever you can find at the dollar store!

If you have a birthday coming up or are okay with spending some money, here are a few of my kids’ favourites: construction vehicles, Learning Resources kit, bugs, dinosaurs (from the dollar store), any other kinds of animals and creatures (farm, underwater, etc).

Organization

I pre organize bins. I put different things in each bin that goes together to make an activity (pictured above is a strainer to fish out pompoms and a few other water play things). You could also organize them in ziploc bags or whatever you have. This helps me because I only have to be creative once, build all the boxes and then on the day I need one, I just grab and go. This pretty much sums up how I “mom.” I have moments of creativity and genius and then the rest of the time I’m barely surviving, HAHA (that was awkward hysterical laughter).

I also have a separate drawer full of extras like jars and scoops. Stuff that’s general and too big to go in the little bins.

All together

So when I’m ready to go, I grab a material, a container of insides and some jars… and that’s it!

Clean up

Clean up is the WORST. And I have yet to find a way to make it easy. I’ve tried putting towels, tablecloths, sheets, whatever underneath… and the materials usually go everywhere. I don’t like to do it outside because I don’t want to attract animals. So I do encourage the kids to keep the material in the bins. If they deliberately scoop material out, we close up the bin for the day. If they accidentally spill, I remind them to be careful. BUT you have to not be super stressed about the mess or it won’t be fun for anyone. Find material that works well with your vacuum (mine just spits out rice but does great with cornmeal) or just start with water and work your way up. Sometimes it’s truly worth the mess if it keeps your kids entertained for a long period of time.

Know your child

My eldest wasn’t ready for sensory bins until he was about 2, my youngest was doing them before 1. Other kids need the impulse control that comes with being 3. Some kids like to spill materials, others are better. Some kids put everything straight into their mouths and need “taste safe” materials. Make sure you set your child up for success and use what works for them. Explain the rules clearly (no materials outside the bin) and be prepared to hold firm boundaries and close it up if they’re not following along. Staying close in the beginning and stopping the throwing before it starts works best, “I’m not going to let you throw that” and holding their arm down. Stay calm and figure out what works best with your kid.

How to start now

1. Get a bin or a table
2. Get freezer bags ready
3. Head to the grocery store’s bulk aisle and find some materials
4. Go to the dollar store and buy a funnel, measuring cup, scoop and strainer
5. If you’re feeling extra, buy some kinetic sand, bugs, animals, pompoms, whatever your little heart desires
6. Mentally prepare yourself. There will be giant forking messes to clean up and that’s just part of it

My kids are what you would call “good eaters.” They eat a variety of food and they eat a decent amount of it. But the reason they are good eaters? Because I would never tell them they are.

The other day we were at a friend’s house. She had a bunch of delicious snacks out, including chocolate muffins. We all put food onto our plates. My 3 year old was VERY excited. He loves chocolate muffins. I do too, so I completely understand the excitement. With about a quarter of his muffin left, he said “mummy, my belly is full.” Then we wiped his hands and he continued to play. I popped the rest of his muffin in my mouth, finished my own and finished all the rest of the snacks on my plate. That’s when I realized, my belly was full a few snacks ago. I didn’t need all the food I quickly ate without thinking. 

So how is it, my 3  year old son is already better at listening to his body and hunger cues than I am?!

Well that’s because I’ve been very careful to never control how much food he eats and I always encourage him to listen to his body.

Most of us weren’t raised this way. Most of us were raised to finish our plates. And if we were lucky enough, finishing our plates meant dessert would follow. I believe this has created a generation (or more!) of emotional eating adults who’ve never been taught to listen to hunger/full cues. I believe it’s also swung the pendulum the other way. Creating parents who want to do things differently, and are willing to make multiple meals for their kids (or encourage other bad habits like walking around and eating), just go get them to eat.

So how do I feed my kids?

We follow Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility. Check out her website for the details, but ultimately, this means I control where we eat and what we eat. My kids control how much they eat. It’s simple. 

I make food, I fill the plate with the healthiest food I can manage that day (some days it’s chicken nuggets and fries, other days it’s organic quinoa and broccoli pancakes) and then I serve it to them. I don’t make a second (or third!) meal if they don’t want the first.

I just let them eat.
Or don’t eat.
And that’s it.
There’s no.. “just try a bite”… or… “one more bite”… 
There’s no… “good job!” … or… “look how much your sister ate”…

And if they don’t eat, I make sure snack or meal that follows is something they really like. That way I know if they’re hungry, they’ll definitely eat.

Now what does this do? It takes the power struggle out of it all. They don’t feel external pressure so they can decide themselves what to eat or not.

The other thing we don’t do is save “dessert” for after dinner. If we have dessert (fruit, ice cream, whatever), then it gets served WITH dinner. You’d be amazed at how what you consider dessert doesn’t get eaten first and completely, when it’s not viewed as something more special than what’s on the rest of the plate. My kids will eat a bite of cookie, then eat their pasta, then another bite of cookie, then some protein. Another plus is this way they don’t race their way through dinner just to get to the prize, dessert.

Eating should be about enjoying the company, enjoying the food and listening to your body.

Not racing through one meal to get to something better.

So, when we get together with friends or relatives and they compliment my child on their eating, they’ll surely look confused. Eating isn’t something we reward. Eating isn’t something we punish. Eating is just about eating.

So, how do you start?

Now, I’m not a dietitian but I will tell you what’s worked for my family. If you have questions, definitely find a dietitian to speak with.

1. Serve “dessert” with the rest of the meal.
2. Don’t make a backup meal if your child doesn’t eat the first one you serve.
3. Try and serve one thing on their plate you know they’ll eat. For instance if I’m serving one kind of food for dinner I’m not sure they’ll eat, I’ll also include something I KNOW they’ll eat.
4. Don’t praise your child’s eating.
5. Don’t disapprove of their eating either.
6. Don’t compare. What one child does or does not eat has nothing to do with their friend or sibling.
7. Instead of worrying about your child’s consumption, focus on connection. Stop multitasking and sit next to your child.
8. Have them help you prepare meals. My kids are WAY more likely to eat the food they helped make.
9. Rules and boundaries. My kids know if they stand up and walk away from the table, their food will be taken away. They know there’s no eating and walking along with other rules. Set the boundaries that are important to you and follow through.’
10. Explore. Eating isn’t just about food consumed. If you’re serving your kids something new to eat. They may just smell it, touch it, stare at it, lick it! They may do everything except eat it and you can inwardly cringe. But remember this is all part of the experience.
11. Don’t give up. I served broccoli to my son about 20 times before he actually ate it. In those 20 servings, sometimes he told me he didn’t like it, other times he completely avoided it and occasionally he’d try it. Then on about the 20th time, he ate every bit of broccoli I served and asked for more!

Anyway, I know kids are frustrating and I know it’s not always possible to keep your cool… especially when it comes to something they need to stay alive (FOOD) but just try taking the stress out of it. You may be surprised how your kids start focusing on eating, instead of pissing you off. HA.

I don’t understand why the majority of people don’t like to read parenting books.

One time, a mom I know was passive aggressively judging me for reading the books and said she parents with her instincts, so doesn’t need a book to tell her what to do. A week later the same woman posted on a moms group that she was exasperated with her toddler and had no idea what to do with her.

Duh. None of us know what to do! HAHA.

I don’t read parenting books because it’s fun (I mean, I AM a nerd, but not that big of one), I read them because they’ve made my life DRAMATICALLY easier. Like, life changing.

Here are a few of my favourites. And for the record, I don’t have the time or energy to actually sit down and read a book, so I listen to them on an app called Audible. I usually listen to them after the kids are in bed when I’m cleaning, walking the dog or driving.

1. Rest, Play Grow

If you’ve never read a parenting book I think this is a great place to start. Easy read with lots of helpful info.

2. Elevating Child Care

I love Janet Lansbury. I was extremely fortunate to be a part of a test workshop group with Lansbury and I learned so much from her… both about my kids and myself! I think this is a handy book to read while in your third trimester or when you have a baby. It’s a good intro to the RIE parenting world. Janet Lansbury also has an awesome podcast I recommend checking out, called Unruffled. It’s helped me so much.

3. No Bad Kids

If you have a baby that will soon be a toddler, this is such a great book to read to prepare yourself. Or if you already have a toddler who is out of control or driving you crazy, this book is great.

4. The Whole Brain Child

I believe anyone who has kids, works with kids, sees kids occasionally… should read this book. Dan Siegel is amazing for breaking down the brain research and making it easy to understand. Read this book!!! Would be a great one to read while pregnant.

5. Simplicity Parenting

This book changed my life. Seriously. After reading this book I had an ‘ah ha’ moment that pushed me to finally achieve contentment. It is SO good. If you have kids of any age, read it.

6. How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk

An oldie but a goodie! This book is a fantastic starting point for those who tend to parent in a more old fashioned or authoritarian way. There’s a version for little kids too, but I don’t like it as much.

7. Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids

A great book that talks a lot about the latest brain research and attachment style parenting. A good read if you have young kids or are pregnant with your first.

8. Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings

Such a great book for those who are pregnant with #2 or have multiple young children.

9. Siblings Without Rivalry

A classic! This is another oldie but a good one for sure. Especially if you have school aged kids. I think this is also a fantastic book for understanding your own sibling relationships. A MUST READ if you have more than one kid.

10. The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting

Oh Brene, forever inspiring. Very short but very good.

Are there any parenting books you love that are missing from this list?? Let me know!