The infant educators have observed that the infants have been enjoying sensory activities in the tuff tray. Educator Amanda decided to make a holiday themed sensory bin for the infants to explore. Amanda added shredded paper, garland, foam shapes and balls to the tuff tray and placed the tray on the floor for the infants. Owen, Lana and Max quickly came over to the tuff tray to see what was inside. The three infants climbed inside and started picking up the items with their hands. They used their sense of touch to feel the different textures of the materials. Max picked up a ball and used his motor skills to throw the ball across the room. Owen and Lana spent a lot of time picking up the shredded paper in big chunks and pulling it apart. They laughed and smiled when the educators picked up the paper and dropped it down on them. Evy spent some time watching the others play first and then she came over and started playing with the shredded paper.
Another thing the educators have noticed is that the infants enjoy doing activities with contact paper. Amanda decided to expand the activity by taping contact paper to the table and providing the infants with the foam shapes and shredded paper from the tuff tray. The infants quickly came over to the table to participate in the activity. At first the infants took handfuls of paper and tried to stick it all on the contact paper. The educators modelled how to take one foam shape at a time and stick it down to the paper. Amanda said, “pat, pat, pat” as she placed a shape on the contact paper and patted it down with her hand. Some of the infants repeated, “pat, pat, pat” as they stuck down their shapes to the contact paper. When we were finished the activity, the educators covered the top of the contact paper with another sheet of contact paper. Then the educators hung up the art on the window so the infants could look at it.
This activity kept the infants engaged all morning. We wonder what other activities we can use the tuff tray for?
