Montessori Sensory Table
Sensory Training and Sensorial Stimulation are among the fundamental principles of Montessori Philosophy.
According to Dr. Maria Montessori sensory training is essential for the learning process. The pupils learn better when they are given the opportunity to feel, see, hear, touch, smell, and taste.
Children for the initial six years of their lives have an Absorbent Mind, hence it is imperative to provide the child with appropriate sensorial stimuli for optimum development.
Finding effective Materials or Activities that align with the Montessori Method can be pretty perplexing for most individuals who are not fully acquainted with the Montessori Principles.
One such confusing child-friendly materials are sensory tables, which encourage children to indulge in unique sensorial experiences.
Although closely resembling Montessori authentic Montessori Materials, most sensory tables aren’t particularly aligned with Montessori Principles.
If you are someone who wants to incorporate sensory tables that align with the Montessori Philosophy look no further.
Here are some unique Montessori Sensory Table ideas to provide your child with exciting and engaging learning experiences.
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What is a Montessori Sensory Table?
Sensory play is one of the most efficient ways to promote holistic development in young children.
Sensory Tables are unique learning tools that encourage your younger one to engage all five senses as they learn and promote sensory development.
Montessori Sensory Tables like any other Montessori material or Montessori toy by utilizing the power of nature.
Montessori Sensory Tables can be regarded as a play station where children are promoted to immerse themselves in self-directed play and learn about different textures.
Unlike traditional Sensory tables, which incorporate synthetic or plastic materials, the Montessori Sensory tables provide children with sensorial experiences by utilizing natural materials such as rocks, sticks, or fabrics.
What is the purpose of the Montessori Sensory Table?
Montessori Sensory Tables are a unique aspect of the Montessori Prepared Environment. The main aim or purpose of these sensory tables is to familiarize and acquaint the child with different textures as well as objects present in the surrounding environment.
Not only do these sensory bins provide children with different sensorial experiences, but they also help with the development of different skills.
Although Montessori materials promote sensorial stimulation they work by isolating and developing separate skills.
The Montessori Sensory table allows children to fully immerse themselves in the activities and promotes the stimulation of all the senses.
Montessori-inspired sensory tables provide children with appropriate stimuli that promote sensorial development without overwhelming the child.
What are the benefits of Sensory Play and the Montessori Sensory Table?
The stimulation of visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile, kinaesthetic, vestibular, and proprioception is facilitated with the use of concrete sensorial materials present in the Montessori classroom.
With the help of these specifically designed Montessori materials, children are able to concentrate, coordinate, memorize, collect appropriate information, understand abstract concepts, and develop a sense of order.
Sensorial stimulation and sensory play are more than just a feature of the curriculum for children, the two facilitate academic development as well as a practical life curriculum for children during their early childhood.
Here are the benefits of sensory play for children during the early planes of development:
1. Provides appropriate Stimuli:
While traditional toys are meant for children, incorporate flashy colors, and several moving components, or produce distracting noises, Montessori Materials and Montessori toys provide children with the right amount of stimuli.
The Montessori Method of education incorporates naturally sourced materials made from wood, cotton, bamboo, or jute that fashion-neutral colors and do not overwhelm the child.
Montessori Sensory Tables are no different, these wonderful Montessori materials allow children to indulge in self-directed immersive sensorial experiences.
2. Development of Fine Motor Skills:
Fine Motor skills refer to the ability to make deliberate and precise movements with small muscles situated in the hands, wrists, and fingers while coordinating eye movements.
These Movements are different from Gross Motor Skills and are important for activities like academic work, self-care, hygiene, and grooming.
Montessori Sensory Tables promote children to tangibly interact with different natural materials such as fabrics, rocks, sequins, or sticks that help them learn how to utilize their refined muscles.
3. Development of Vocabulary:
Montessori Sensory Tables encourage children to interact with a plethora of different materials with a variety of textures.
The materials and objects incorporated in the Montessori sensory table provide children with unique sensory experiences.
These materials incorporated into the Montessori Sensory Tables help children develop appropriate vocabulary referring to different textures, shapes, and objects.
4. Promotes Creative Imagination:
Not only do Montessori sensory play and Montessori Sensory Tables promote cognitive, physical, fine motor, gross motor, and sensory development, but they also enhance the child’s creative imagination.
Children are able to develop their stereogenic senses which allows them to indulge in self-directed creative play.
5. Emotional and Social Development:
Montessori Sensory Tables are a great way to indulge in collaborative play with fellow pupils.
These sensory tables promote children to engage in healthy and productive interactions with their peers.
For children who face extreme anxiety or hyperactivity, Montessori sensory tables help relieve the sense of tension and provide a sense of calm or tranquility.
Montessori Inspired Sensory Tables for children:
A Montessori-inspired sensory table can be a great addition to your child’s prepared environment at home.
The first thing to look for when creating your own personalized Montessori Sensory Table is a Montessori Inspired Table itself.
When searching for any Montessori-inspired piece of furniture, always think child-sized and close to nature.
Here is a list of Montessori-Inspired Sensory Tables that will give you an easy kickstart for your DIY Project:
1. IKEA FLISAT Children’s Table:
IKEA is a one-stop destination for almost all your furniture concerns, finding Montessori-inspired furniture at IKEA is fairly easy.
The IKEA FLISAT Children’s table includes removable storage bins that act as a great place to store all your sensory materials.
2. Parim Kids Sensory Table:
Etsy has a myriad of options for affordable Montessori-inspired sensory tables that will provide your child with a unique educational experience.
One such Montessori-inspired Sensory table is the Parim Kids Sensory table for toddlers.
This sensory table is made from furnished wood and incorporates a whiteboard, storage bins, a chalkboard, as well as a set of chairs.
3. Jonti-Craft Toddler Sensory Table:
Another wonderful option for the child’s prepared environment is the Jonti-Craft Toddlers Sensory Table.
Larger in terms of size than other sensory tables the Jonti-Craft Sensory Table is perfect for siblings who want to indulge in collaborative play.
This sensory table incorporates a large storage bin, a bottom storage shelf, and wheels for mobility, and is manufactured from durable wood.
Fun DIY Montessori Sensory Table Ideas:
It is important to remember that Dr. Maria Montessori prohibited the use of synthetic and plastic materials, hence all Montessori Materials are manufactured from natural substances.
The elements incorporated in the sensory table bin should be non-toxic, child-friendly, and should be large enough to avoid unintended accidents such as choking.
You can create your own personalized Montessori Sensory Table by incorporating materials acquired from around the home environment.
Incorporating elements from the home environment can help the child develop respect for the surroundings and discipline from within.
Refer to the video for DIY MontessoriSesnory Table Ideas:
Here is a list of some exciting and aesthetically pleasing DIY Montessori sensory tables that provide your children with a unique learning experience:
1. Dirt Road Sensory Table:
All you need for this wonderful Montessori Inspired Sensory Table is a Sensory table with two storage bins, Pinto Beans, Black Beans, and Vehicle models such as trucks or cars to maneuver around the “dirt”.
2. Water Sensory Table:
What better way to promote self-care and hygiene than to create a fun activity for it. This exciting Montessori Sensory Table promotes children to interact with water in a productive way.
All you need is a wooden sensory table with a storage bin to contain water and marine life figurines.
3. Fun on the Farm Sensory Table:
Allow your child to broaden their horizon by interacting with simulated farm life. This Montessori sensory table promotes children to interact and learn about new farm animals as well as farm life.
For this Montessori Sensory Table, all you need is white rice, green food coloring, and farm figurines such as a barn, a shed, fences, as well as farm animals.
4. Fabric Sensory Table:
This Montessori-inspired sensory table promotes children to learn about different textures with the help of different fabrics.
All you need is different textured fabrics in your sensory table bin that can be used for a myriad of unique activities.
Promote the child to identify and match the same fabric pieces from the bins to develop their tactile sense.
5. Nature-Based Sensory Table:
The Montessori Method of education promotes children to gain respect for their natural surroundings with the help of Montessori activities and Montessori Materials.
This Montessori sensory table brings your child one step closer to nature and helps them develop innate respect for the natural world.
You can incorporate natural elements from your yards such as pinecones, dried leaves, and twigs.
You can also create a nature-themed sensory table such as an ocean-themed Montessori sensory table.
All you need for this sensory table you can incorporate seashells, sand, or mollusks in the storage bin to bring the ocean into your home environment.
Are Montessori Sensory Tables Worth It?
A sensory table is basically a child-sized and child-friendly table that incorporated bins to contain different materials for the child to interact with.
Montessori Sensory Tables incorporate natural materials manufactured from wood, metal, cotton, and glass that stimulate the senses as well as promote sensory development.
Not only do these tables promote children to engage all their senses while interacting with components, but they also promote the enhancement of fine motor skills and gross motor skills in children.
Montessori Sensory Tables are an exciting way of developing the child’s creative imagination and giving them the freedom to explore new horizons.
If these benefits aren’t enough to convince you, Montessori Sensory Tables also promote emotional and social development in children.
These tables promote children to coordinate with their peers and also help relieve extreme anxiety in children.
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