Toddlers
What We Saw: The teachers help
the toddlers put on smocks and open the sensory table.
They open a can of apple pie filling and spoon some onto
the table in front of each child. The first toddler digs
right in, picking up filling in her hand and tasting.
She smacks her lips. The second child is hesitant, but
a teacher kneels next to him to show him she can touch
and pick up the pie filling. "What is this? Is it good?"
she asks him. "Pretty good stuff," she comments as the
apple filling is tasted. A third toddler dips one finger
in the filling and then says, "wash it off". A fifth child
watches, then dips his index finger in and licks it off.
The sixth child squeezes the apple filling between her
fingers. After a few minutes, a teacher brings some small
plastic cups and scoops, and hands one to each child.
One child scoops up some filling and licks it off the
scoop. Another digs and licks, too. A toddler says, "apple
scoop."
What It Means: The teachers set up
an interesting activity for the children to explore
with all their senses. They let the toddlers explore
in their own way, touching, smelling and tasting. Both
teachers participate, modeling ways to explore
the apple pie filling. This encourages the reluctant children
to try and helps to sustain the experience. Children stay
longer with an activity if a teacher is present. Sensory
experiences like this help children master fine motor
skills such as poking, scooping and grasping, and
help to integrate the senses of touch, smell and
taste. The addition of scoops adds complexity to the
activity, providing the children with another way
to manipulate the apple pie filling.
