The tactile system provides information to the brain on light touch, pain, temperature, and pressure. Children can experience decreased ability to interpret tactile input or can be oversensitive to tactile input. Many early childhood classrooms and parents provide children with sensory bins to explore various types of tactile input. Some children LOVE it, some children HATE it and many children fall in between the two extremes. When introducing sensory bins, it may be beneficial for children who are oversensitive to grade the amount of tactile input based on the materials included in the sensory bin. To begin with the least amount of tactile input, children could wear gloves while playing with sensory bins that include dry materials. Therapists and teachers can fill sensory bins with different ranges of tactile input starting with dry materials, progressing to materials that are not dry then finally messy play. (Children should never be forced to touch anything they do not wish to touch).

Progression of Tactile Input

DRY NOT DRY MESSY

dried beans

rocks

fabric scraps

shredded paper

leaves

dried pasta

uncooked rice

play dough

colored water

magic sand

water beads

cooked pasta

crushed ice

finger paints

shaving cream

yogurt

Gelatin

slime

bubbles

lotion

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Using Sensory Bins