Why a Canopy Changes Sensory Play
A sensory table is a staple for hands-on exploration, but adding a canopy transforms the experience. The overhead structure creates a defined, enclosed space that naturally encourages calmer, more focused play. The Sensory System - Table with Canopy from Guidecraft features a slatted, Pikler-inspired arch that visually frames the play area, helping children settle into a single activity without distractions. This setup is especially useful for quiet sensory play with materials like rice, beans, or sand and water.
What the Sensory System - Table with Canopy Offers
- Sensory System - Table with Canopy: Guidecraft has created an innovative sensory table that supports every child’s physical and cognitive development through a one-of-a-kind play experience. The base component is a Greenguard Gold Certified Sensory Table and canopy made from sturdy hardwood with an easy-to-clean, water-resistant finish. The Greenguard Gold certification and water-resistant finish make this table safe and practical for regular use with wet or dry sensory materials, both at home and in classrooms.
Sensory System - Table with Canopy - Sensory System - Table with Canopy: The canopy promotes active, exploratory play across multiple levels and overlays additional gross motor skills as children engage their entire bodies, attach tubes and drape silks. The canopy isn't just for looks—it invites children to reach up, drape materials, and interact with the space above the table, adding a gross motor element to calm sensory play.
Setting Up Your Sensory Table for Calm Play
Follow these steps to create a calm, inviting sensory play area using the Sensory System - Table with Canopy.
- 1. Choose a calm location: Place the table in a low-traffic area of the room where children can play without being interrupted. The canopy's arch helps define this space visually, so avoid placing it near noisy activity centers.
- 2. Set up the table and canopy: Assemble the hardwood table and canopy according to the manufacturer's instructions. The canopy sits securely overhead, creating the overhead structure that supports calm, focused play.
- 3. Select your sensory material: Fill the included deep play basin with a calming material such as dry rice, beans, or sand. The basin has a drain for easy cleanup, making it simple to switch between wet and dry materials.
- 4. Use the chalkboard lid for added calm: The double-sided lid can be used as a chalkboard for quiet art activities, or removed to create a storage shelf below the bin. For a calm play session, set the lid aside or use it as a drawing surface.
- 5. Add soft, natural props: Drape a Sarah’s Silks Enchanted Playsilk over the canopy slats. The soft, earth-friendly silk adds a gentle visual element and gives children something to touch and manipulate, enhancing the sensory experience without overstimulation.
Using the Canopy for Gross Motor and Quiet Play
The canopy is more than a visual boundary. Children can attach tubes (sold separately as the Sensory System Tubes and Clips Set) to experiment with cause and effect, or drape silks to create a cozy nook. These activities engage the whole body while still encouraging a calm, exploratory pace. For quieter moments, simply leave the canopy bare and let the child focus on the sensory material in the bin.
Pairing with Sarah's Silks Playsilks
- Sarah's Silks Enchanted Playsilk Set: Sarah’s Silks inspires the imagination of children around the world through open-ended toys made from natural, earth-friendly materials. Playsilks are inspiring, magical toys that children will be drawn to play with time and time again. The natural, tactile quality of playsilks complements the sensory table's open-ended design. Draping a silk over the canopy adds a soft, calming element that invites gentle interaction.
Sarah's Silks Enchanted Playsilk Set
