Sensory bins have been around for a while (I’m certain that you’re already aware of them) so even though this post won’t contain any particularly revolutionary information, I thought I’d share the details of the table / bins that we use (and love!) as well as our play tools and accessories. I have seen them referred to as Montessori bins and while I understand why people would think that learning practical skills this way would be considered part of that method, apparently that’s not the case.
I will say that they’ve been a great addition to our routine and Sophie enjoys these enrichment activities almost as much as I enjoy putting them together for her. Additionally, we both appreciate having the table to elevate the sensory bins to a height appropriate for a toddler to use, as well as for keeping the bins stationary (I can imagine Sophie flipping the bins over or knocking them off of a table if given the opportunity toward the end of her attention span… haha).
The IKEA Flisat Children’s Table and Trofast bins that are designed be used together by fitting under the top of the table. If you’re familiar with IKEA, then you know that they try to create items that can used in multiple applications and work with multiple pieces of their furniture, and these are no exception. The table edges are smooth, the construction is sturdy (without being too heavy), and all removable pieces fit together well without being so tightly packed that they’re challenging to remove.
The best aspect of this table is it’s versatility; it can be used in so many different ways, and not just for sensory play, but also for art activities or dramatic play (tea parties!). It’s a mainstay in our playroom.
THE SETUP
Table Personalization
The table is sold “unfinished”, but it technically has a light coating of clear acrylic lacquer. However, that can easily be sanded off in order to paint it or stain it to suit your style. We prefer the look of the light pine wood so we opted to simply waterproof the wood to give it extra protection for water play!
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Water Table Sink
Speaking of water play, I really want to get Sophie a play sink, but I’m holding off on buying one right now because I know that we’ll be receiving one in an upcoming Lovevery shipment very soon and given the dimensions (W: 10″ x L: 14″ xD: 4″) it seems like it will be a perfect fit for our Flisat table! If you want to buy a play sink for your table outside of the subscription, I recommend confirming the dimensions of both the opening in your table as well as the size of the play sink (if you care about having it fit in the table). I’ll link the specific Lovevery box I’m referring to as well as some other play sinks that came highly recommended by my mama friends!
*UPDATE: the sink arrived and it fits perfectly in our Flisat table! The sink is a bit raised from the tabletop (read: it doesn’t fit inside the bin), but it sits perfectly on the lip inside the bin.
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Activity Bin Lids
Activity-specific bin lids can easily be made out of cardboard, but there are also inserts for purchase designed specifically for this IKEA table/bin setup. Whether or not you create or buy is entirely up to you depending on your budget, how much your time is worth (it’s tedious to cut these cardboard pieces out!), and the durability factor… cardboard simply won’t last as long as a wood or acrylic piece will.
The Creative Learning Company is a great resource for purchasing high quality inserts, but I’ve also seen some great ones on Etsy. I plan to buy Sophie an alphabet letter holder as well as a light table lid, but the rest can easily be made with cardboard (I may end up purchasing a tracing printable to make this task a bit easier on myself).
You can find even more sensory table customization DIY ideas here!
Waterproof Play Mat
We love this mat in particular because (1) it’s super cushy and comfortable underfoot, (2) it’s all one piece — I worry about the integrity of the whole-room foam mats that fit together like large puzzle pieces because I think crumbs & liquids can still find their way to the floor and they just seem like they’d be tripping hazards for little feet (the mat we chose has tapered edges to prevent this), and (3) it has a cool pattern on the back that provides little roads for your kiddo to play with cars, etc.
One aspect worth noting is that it’s not the largest so if you’re looking for a lot of floor coverage this may not be your solution, but it still offers great coverage in relation to the size of the sensory table.
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Chairs
Sophie currently prefers stand at her table for better visibility and access so I didn’t bother buying her the IKEA Sundvik children’s chairs, but I know that she’ll want to have something to sit on eventually so I’ve been shopping for a pair of chairs to go with her table. There are a lot of different chair styles that would easily go with this versatile table, but also fit the aesthetic of your home.
If you’re someone who likes stools, these would be great, but I think that chair backs are more comfortable and helpful at keeping littles from falling off! We were gifted this pair of adorable chairs for Sophie’s second birthday and they work really well with the table! I’ll link some more favorite chair options in the widget if these aren’t your style.
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SUPPLIES
Please note that these options are merely suggestions and are the most popular / frequently used tools for sensory play, but not all items are necessary. Use what you feel comfortable with!
Tools & Containers
Our favorite tools: scoops, scissor scoops, jumbo tongs / tweezers, droppers, syringes, squirt bottles, spray bottles, funnels, cups / sieve, brushes, and rake/ shovel.
You can also use many household items for play (cleaned jars and containers, silicone muffin cups, turkey baster, repurposed cardboard boxes / toilet paper rolls, plastic bowls, etc.) instead of buying everything new. I will admit that sometimes you just can’t replicate the product (thinking of unique items like the scissor scoop tool) and those items will need to be sourced.
There are so many options for sensory play and the possibilities are truly endless. I loved this post about sensory bin setup recommendations and thought it was worth sharing in an effort to provide a general idea of how to get started.
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If you’re curious about the supplies we use, such as frequently repurposed play items (like pom poms and acrylic letters) and some of my favorite resources for play inspiration, I’ll be sharing them in an upcoming post that I’ll be sure to link here when it’s complete!
In the meantime: have fun, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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