Sensory Storytimes, 2

Storytime presenters have lots of useful tips up their sleeves. What do YOU do? Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works and what doesn't.

---

Our Sensory Storytime is a more explorative play program we called Discovery Station, (twice a month, one Friday and one Saturday).
Each month, different stations are set up around the room. There's always:

• Quilt with a plexi mirror, bath mats, squishy toys and stackable toys as a tummy time station.
• Water station with different things in it: one month it was plastic spiders down a water spout, we've put glitter water and colanders, soap and sponges with hard toys to wash, eye droppers and toys frozen in ice, etc etc etc. 
• Kiddie Pool* filled with something: shredded paper, stuffed animals, rice, Easter grass, shaky eggs, scarves, etc.
• Gross Motor Station
• Fine Motor Station

All of my other stations, I make up as I go. A lot of Pinterest browsing for sensory play. Try to do about 6 stations altogether but it will depend on the crowd and the participants. Try to pair a nursery rhyme with each station and have the lyrics posted on the walls. Demonstrate each rhyme and explain the station before you get started. Print the rhymes and hole punch them, and give out binder rings for parents to collect new rhymes each month so they can take them on the go.

          --Caitlin Hoffer, Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County

(response to Storytime Underground FB query 7/2018)

 

*Other contents for small tubs/kiddie pool:

• water--balls, slotted spoon, measuring cups & spoons. funnel, rubber ducks, water beads, ice
• shaving cream--bowls, spoons
• dirt--shovels, toy trucks
• stones--toy trucks, cups
  
• food--cereal, pudding, rice, uncooked pasta, chick peas, cooked spaghetti
• misc--pompoms, buttons, string, ribbons, scarves, small toys, plastic eggs, sponges

**Most items you will already have or can purchase at the Dollar Store.