NEWBaby and Toddler Sensory Room in Chesterfield
This year at Tiny Town Barlborough, we have decided to give our baby and toddler sensory room a complete makeover. While keeping the same calm and soothing environment, we’ve thoughtfully chosen new resources for our space, to offer little ones an alternative sensory experience.
Focusing on more natural materials and sensory exploration through textures and surfaces, we aimed to provide a calming environment that contrasts with overstimulation. Our vision was to create a minimalist space, with calming benefits for children as well as educational value. Where children in the early years can enhance the key areas of the EYFS and develop the crucial skills in Early Childhood.
Our aim is to explore how babies and toddlers interact with different kinds of sensory resources, different to the light up and glow resources in our old sensory room. For this transformation we wanted to opt for more natural, and wooden, resources rather than the plastic rechargeable ones. While being more durable, these resources offer unique sensory feedback through the texture – promoting deeper engagement and focus. Providing varied textures and tactile stimulation aids in sensory processing development in children. Natural materials promote a calmer, more focused play, increasing concentration levels. Incorporating less plastic and moving to resources made from different materials, meant toys were more durable in the long run and safer for little hands to play and investigate.
With no buttons to press or stimulate, these resources rely on a child’s imagination. This creates multiple play opportunities and purposes. Enhancing a child’s creativity and supports their development in Expressive Arts and Design. Children might start to ask questions about what they see, supporting an awareness of the natural world. Contributing to the EYFS Understanding of the World around them.
Low Level Play & Tummy Time
Different to our previous sensory room where all resources were laid out on the floor, we wanted to incorporate some furniture to store our new resources. We decided on a low-level shelving unit, displaying each resource in a different space. Choosing what resource they want to interact with sparks a child’s curiosity and exploration. This supports important decision-making and critical-thinking skills, building on a child’s independence, self-confidence, and problem-solving abilities. The low-level height encourages physical development and independence, as little ones can push themselves up and stand independently, using the furniture for support. This is a key milestone for babies, building on core strength, balance and coordination needed for walking.
Tummy time builds crucial upper body strength and develops motor skills needed to sit, roll, and crawl. It’s essential for preparing babies for future milestones. To support this, we’ve created a cosy environment with a memory foam mat for babies to crawl and lay on. As well as large, soft cushions and pillows.
As little ones explore our sensory space, they’ll discover a variety of carefully selected resources TTS. Each item has been chosen with babies and toddlers in mind, creating opportunities for sensory exploration, curiosity and play.
We wanted to provide a range of resources that are not only enging and stimulating, but also support key areas of early years development.
What's new in our Sensory Room?
Thoughtfully chosen resources for little explorers!
We have been so lucky to collaborate with TTS Resources to bring you our brand new baby & toddler sensory room! We’ve carefully selected each resource with your little ones in mind, aiming to create a calming, natural play space where children can discover & develop early years skills through sensory exploration! Here are our favourite resources chosen for our sensory space:
Wooden Treasure Cylinder Rolling Pins
One of the resources we’ve introduced into our sensory room was the set of Wooden Treasure Cylinder Rolling Pins. As children roll, shake and investigate the cyliders, they can observe the different treasures moving inside through the clear viewing panels. Watching the different shapes move helps develop visual tracking and concentration skills, while gripping, rolling and shaking the cylinders encourages fine motor development and hand-eye coordination.
The different sounds and textures create opportunities for sensory exploration and early communication. Children can begin to identify, describe and talk about what they see and hear. Helping to support language development in a playful way.
We love how these resources encourage little ones to learn through discovery, allowing them to explore at ttheir own pace, building confidence and curiosity.
Wooden Twist & Turn Spinning Tops
Another addition to our sensory space is the collection of wooden spinning tops. These engaging resources encourage children to explore movement, cause and effect, and the world around them through play.
As little ones spin, watch and experiment with the tops, they naturally develop important skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor control and concentration. Children are encouraged to investigate how different movements affect the way the tops spin, helping them to build an early understanding of concepts such as motion and balance.
Ergonomically, each shape is crafted with little hands in mind, making it easy for children to grasp. We found the chunky wooden pieces made the tops easy for little fingers to hold and spin – supporting those fine motor skills.
Metallic Distorting Cubes
The Metallic Distorting Cubes have becaome one of the most fascinating resources in our sensory space. With their unique mirrored surfaces and distorted reflections, they allow children to see themselves and theor surroundings in new ways.
As little ones explore the cubes, they’re encouraged to investigate light, reflection and perspective through hands-on play. The changing reflections spark curiosity, prompting children to observe and question.
We love how these cubes inspire a sense of wonder. Their reflective surfaces create endless opportunities for sensory exploration, allowing children to engage their imagination while learning through play.
Metallic Stacking Donuts
Similar to the Metallic distorting Cubes, the Mirrored Stacking Donuts are a wonderful example how play can support learning in a natural and engaging way. With their reflective surfaces and varying sizes, they capture a child’s attention and encourage exploration through, touch, observation and discovery.
Early mathematical skills such as counting, sequincing and recognising differences in size, can begin to develop as children stack, sort and compare the donuts. This allows little ones to experiment and problem solve at their own pace, building confidence through play.
The mirrored surfaces add to the sensory element. Children explore reflections and observe themselves from different perspectives. This helps support personal, social and emotional development, while sparking curiosity and conversation.
These resources are so versitile and offer endless opportunities for play. Whether children are building towers, creating small worlds or incorporating them into imaginative play. They encourage creativity and exploration, all while remaining fun and engaging for little ones.
Wooden Twist & Turn Tower
The Wooden Twist & Turn Tower is another resource that encourages childrem to learn theough hands-on exploration. As little ones twist and turn the chunky wooden shapes down the pole, they’re introduced to new challenges that spark curiosity and build confidence.
This resource supports the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem solving as children discover how each shape moves along the spiral. Concepts such as movement, spatial awareness and cause and effect can be explored in a fun way!
We love how this resource turns play into a valuable learning experience. Encouraging children to investigate and persevere as they twist and turn.
Happy Feet Natural Play Mats
An exciting addition to our sensory space is our collection of natural sesnory play mats. With a variety of calming textures, these mats allow children to explore through movement, touch and imaginative play. Creating a rich sensory experience. These mats tie in perfectly with our new natural, woodland theme we have created!
Little ones can experience a range of different surfaces as they walk, crawl or explore with their hands. This can help body awareness, balance and coordination. The varied textures encourage children to move with confidence while strengthening muscles and supporting gross motor development through active play.
These mats provide valuable sensory input which is great for children who benefit from deep-pressure stimulation and a wonderful resource to create a calming sensory experience. Children can follow a pathway, create their own adventure or just explore each texture, encouraging curiosity, confidence and discovery. We chose these mats to create even more opportunities for open-ended exploration!
Textured Mix & Match Balls
These Textured Mix and Match Balls are a lovely addition to our new baby & toddler sensory space, offering little ones endless opportunities to explore through tough, movement and play. With a variety of textures, they are perfect for small, curious hands to grasp, squeeze, roll and investigate.
As children interact with different surfaces, they’re intoduced to a range of tactile experiences that help develop sensory awareness while strengthening both fine and gross motor skills. Rolling, throwing and catching the ball also encourages coordination, balance and confidence in their physical development skills.
Children can explore the different textures, describe what they see and feel, encouraging communication skills. Helping to support early language development through every day play.
These resources can be enjoyed in so many different ways, encouraging children to move, explore and engage with the world around them whike buildingcnfidence though playful, hands-on learning.
Weighted Lap Buddies
Creating a calm and reassuring environment was a priority when creating our sensory space. The weighted sensory lap buddies are a perfect addition to our peaceful space. This resource helps children feel safe, settled and supported as they explore our sensory room.
For children who benefit from additional sensory input, the lap buddy can offer a soothing and calming experience, helping to regulate their emotions and feel more comfortable in their environment. The gentle vibration provides extra sensory feedback, while allowing the resource to be adapted to suit different sensory preferences.
Whether its a quiet moment to relax, a chance to self-regulate or a comforting comapnion during play, the weighted lap buddy helps create a sensory space where little ones feel confident, calm and ready to explore.
By including resources that support emotional wellbeing alongside sensory exploration, we’re creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to play, learn and thrive at their own pace.
