Finding the right balance between your home and your setting as a childminder can become particularly difficult. You wish to offer the children you look after a safe and inviting environment but it's important that when working it also feel like a home where you can switch off and relax. Choosing the right furniture and furnishing can help to make this balance a lot easier.
Designs For Education recently sent us a Pack-away Sensory Bag which they described as, 'a great little starter pack! Ideal where space is limited this features an integral bag which contains 1 white and 1 black cushion as well as a fleece bolster cushion.Mat Size: 122cm², Zipped Size: 60cm (w) x 122cm (l)'.
I loved this bag when it came because through out my week I like the change our play space around depending on the children's interests and their age. Using the sensory bag would mean that I could create another area to the room and a space where the babies could go to for a cuddle, to relax or lay down during the day.
The sensory mat and cushions are designed with a high contrasting fabric. These patterns are used in equipment to stimulate babies brain development. Once set up for my babies they were instant attracted to this area, this would have been mainly because it was something new in the room but through out the week the babies still seem drawn towards this area and enjoyed using it when looking at books or when playing with the treasure baskets.
The babies especially loved the bolster cushion, for the older babies they liked to sit with one leg either side and sing 'row row row the boat', while the younger babies enjoyed the textures of the silk and fluffy square cushions on their faces a feet. I found that the mat it's self is more suitable for those who are non mobile as it can be quite slippery and babies can become caught up if trying to crawl over it. You may find this is not the case on other surfaces then carpet.
Over the last few weeks we have found the mat very useful to create a quiet are but now the weather is getting nice I also plan to try using it out side for the same purpose in a shaded area of the babies garden area. Each night I have found it easy to zip up and hide the sensory bag in my cupboard ready for the next morning. I love that once your babies have grown up the mat could be easily stored away in your loft or could be moved into a sensory room if you work in a nursery.
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