Don't Ditch It...EXTEND It!

Last week I set out a sensory bin filled with beans and cups, envisioning my group of 4's & 5's enthusiastically surrounding the bin and exploring the beans. To my dismay, the kids didn't touch it. Hmm...time to ditch the idea, right? Not quite. Sometimes we are much too quick to replace an activity that doesn't appear to be immediately enticing to children.

To counteract the idea that everything is "disposable" or that all activities should provide "immediate gratification," I believe it is imperative that we try to make small changes in activities to refocus their attention and concentration.  There are times when we can assess what we've given the children and find the missing link that may be the key ingredient to sparking their interest.

So, rather than tossing the beans, this week I mixed in some magnetic and non-magnetic items and added several magnet wands. What a hit! There was a constant stream of children at that bin today and they all enjoyed swirling their wands through the beans to see what they would attract. The activity captured their attention and helped develop crucial skills in focus, observation, and attention. And as a perk, they learned about the scientific properties of magnetism!

Play...Rethink...Extend!