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Salt box discoveries

26 Comments Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten

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I have seen salt boxes in several other places around the blogosphere, and I have been wanting to put one together for my children.

I finally got around to creating our own salt box one recent evening and we have been using it as a tool for learning shapes, colors, letters, and numbers.

Our salt box was so simple to create, and I’ve really enjoyed watching my kids engage with all the discoveries inside.

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

I started by creating several pages designed to target skills such as shapes and colors for my daughter and numbers for my son.

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

Then I placed one page at the bottom of the salt box, and covered it with enough salt so that the images were no longer visible.

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

When it was time to play, I handed my daughter a paintbrush and encouraged her to sweep the salt to see what she could find. As she came across a shape, she and I talked about each one.

When we adopted my daughter a few months before her third birthday, she was so far behind in so many skills.

In the months she has been with our family, she has learned so much, although she still has more catching up to do.

Nonetheless, when she was able to successfully identify the triangle, circle, star, and heart, I was one proud mama jumping with joy!

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

My son looked on as his sister worked with the salt box, anxious to get his turn.

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

So after my daughter had found all the shapes on her turn, I switched out the page at the bottom to have my son work on identifying the numbers 1 through 5.

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

It turned out to be a breeze for him, so next time we play with the salt box I’ll be using the page with numbers 1-10 on it instead. 🙂

Salt box discoveries: Stimulate early learning by hiding objects (e.g., numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in a salt box for your children to find || Gift of Curiosity

Do you have other creative ideas for using a salt box for learning? If so, leave a note in the comments!

Filed Under: Toddler, Numbers, Preschool, Kindergarten, Fine Motor, Sensory, Shapes Tagged With: salt, salt box

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Reader Interactions

26 Comments

  1. Julie Cox

    April 26, 2013 at 9:33 am

    Katie, what Idea! You are so creative! I would like to do it with my preschoolers, can we print the pages? I could not find the download on the web page. Thank you!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      April 26, 2013 at 1:33 pm

      Julie, I didn’t share the pages because I figured everyone’s salt box would be a different shape, and thus the pages we used wouldn’t necessarily work for others. But it would be easy enough to draw something up by hand if you want to try this out!

      Reply to this comment
  2. Renae

    April 26, 2013 at 11:26 am

    What a fabulous idea! I love it! Thanks so much for sharing. My kiddos would love this!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      April 30, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      Hope they have fun with this!

      Reply to this comment
  3. amy davis

    April 26, 2013 at 11:45 am

    Love love love this idea. Thanks for sharing so much!!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      April 30, 2013 at 2:35 pm

      You are welcome! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply to this comment
  4. Deborah

    April 29, 2013 at 12:04 am

    I really love this! Yes, I really do:)

    Reply to this comment
  5. Ruth

    April 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    Can I just say that this is absolutely brilliant and I will be using this in my Montessori program! I will be investigating your page a lot more if this is what you come up with! Well done! Ruth, Montessori 1:1.

    Reply to this comment
  6. Julie

    May 2, 2013 at 2:55 am

    That is really creative. I’m impressed each week with they ways you find to put a very fun and creative element into teaching preschool skills.

    Reply to this comment
  7. Angela @ Teaching Mama

    May 2, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    This is very creative!! I’ll have to try it with my boys. I would love it if you shared this on my toddlers & preschool link up @ teachingmama.org

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      May 2, 2013 at 12:54 pm

      Thanks for the invite to your linky party. I added my link!

      Reply to this comment
  8. Tracey@We-Made-That

    May 3, 2013 at 8:07 am

    What a great idea! Thanks for sharing on We Made That!

    Reply to this comment
  9. Allison

    May 3, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    Such a fun idea! I’m featuring this on The Sunday Showcase this week.

    Reply to this comment
  10. Carrie

    May 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    What a fun activity and way to learn! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    Reply to this comment
  11. jaime@FSPDT

    May 6, 2013 at 5:40 pm

    this looks like my kids kind of fun. featuring this on moms library this week, jaime@FSPDT

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      May 6, 2013 at 7:43 pm

      Thanks for featuring our activity!

      Reply to this comment
  12. Hannah

    May 7, 2013 at 10:22 am

    Looks fun! My fear would be my Bunny can make some big messes! lol

    Reply to this comment
  13. Phoebe

    May 7, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    You could also have them trace the letters and numbers with the paintbrush through the sand.

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      May 7, 2013 at 1:27 pm

      Yes, that’s a good idea. QBoy has used his finger to write letters in a salt tray, but I’ll have to have him try it with a paint brush as well!

      Reply to this comment
  14. Dollie @ Teachers of Good Things

    May 8, 2013 at 9:28 am

    Thanks for linking up with Tender Moments with Toddlers & Preschoolers! We love seeing great ideas, like yours, linking up with us!

    Reply to this comment
  15. Renae

    February 18, 2014 at 10:27 am

    Great idea. We have one kiddo in particular who can’t get enough of the salt tray, so he would absolutely love this activity!. Thanks for sharing.

    Renae

    Reply to this comment
  16. Angela

    April 30, 2014 at 8:39 am

    This is such a wonderful idea! Also, I am loving your new site design!! I am glad Mindy was able to design you a beautiful site!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      April 30, 2014 at 8:48 am

      Thanks Angela! I’m so glad I found Mindy through your site, because she was fabulous to work with!

      Reply to this comment
  17. Dolly

    May 4, 2014 at 8:57 am

    I am learning soooo much with your ideas!!!!Than you.

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie SG

      May 4, 2014 at 7:07 pm

      Awww, thanks! I’m glad I could inspire!

      Reply to this comment
  18. Amahle

    September 9, 2014 at 3:20 am

    I am a second year student and i found this really helpful because the child i am doing therapy with really struggles with colours. This is a enjoyable way to learn, Thanks

    Reply to this comment

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I help parents who are transitioning into homeschooling shed old mindsets and embrace their homeschooling superpowers so they can create a homeschool they love where their children will thrive.

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