New year/ Calendar Sensory Bin - Book Inspired

Here is a fun and festive way to spark conversations about time, change, months in a year, seasons and new beginnings! This bin invites little learners to scoop, pour, and explore while talking about traditions like counting down, celebrating with family and welcoming a brand new year!

Learning Objectives
* Fine Motor Skills - Scoop, spoon, tong, and pour using the tools provided to develop pincer grip and hand strength essential for writing.
* Language Development - Encourage your child to recall and sequence details from the book. Match the initial letter of the month along with the scenery in the smaller calendar cards to the bigger calendar cards. Vocabulary development, story connection, and expressive language emerge when children engage in story based sensory play.
* Math - Encourage your child to count down to mid night!
* Sensory Exploration - Sensory play helps promote focus, and emotional regulation. A variety of textures and colors provide for tactile learning while engaging the senses.
* Imaginative Play - The open ended nature of the bin encourages children to recreate the story in their own way, or invent brand new adventures of their own!

Included are
* 3 cups of sensory mix made of kid safe colored rice, barley, pasta, beans, glitter beads, metallic beads and disco balls.
* Hand painted tools such as a small wooden pinch bowl, a ceramic cup, mini wooden scoop, small metal scoop, small steel spoon and a small steel tong.
* Loose parts - mini calendar, mini digital clock, mini dashboard clock, small sand timer, mini new year props, family of 4 wooden peg dolls(dad, mom, brothers), mini plastic dog, mini plastic tray with 2 mini cupcakes, 2 mini slices of pizza and 2 mini cups.
* 'Months of the year' matching calendar cards to sequence and match.
* Plastic tray is not included but can be added on at an additional cost.
* The book ' The Night Before New Year's' by Natasha Wing is not included but can be added on at an additional cost.
* Shipping is not included.

Care Instructions
* Store the sensory mix and the loose parts in a cool, dry place(They can be stored in the press and seal bags that they come in).
* Not for use with water.
* Wash hands before and after use.

Caution
* This sensory kit contains small parts(choking hazard) and is designed for kids ages 3+ years. Adult supervision is required during use.
* Not for consumption.

Each kit is unique as it is handmade, so exact contents may differ from photos or vary slightly. However the loose parts will always match the theme in the book.
Hope your child has as much fun using it, as I have had making it!