New Year's Sensory Tray - Putting the Pretty In Preschool

This New Year’s sensory tray shines bright with gold and silver accents. Two watch heads are the highlight of the bin, and children treasure finding them.

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

The collection of pieces below is all gold with a few silver parts added in. The musical instruments are black, only because the gold finish wore off in previous play! The alphabet letters are cut from “Happy New Year” necklaces.

Gold and silver supplies to use in a New Year's sensory tray. Opportunity to sort and count pieces and make sets. Invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year."

The base ingredient is parboiled rice, as its yellow hue complements the gold tone of the bin. The ingredients are showcased in a silver metal square-shaped tray.

A square-shaped silver metal tray is perfect for showcasing the gold and silver pieces in this New Year's sensory play center.

Items In The New Year’s Sensory Tray:

parboiled rice

antique watch heads set to 12:00

tube confetti

confetti party hats and stars

sequins

foil pieces

tiny balls

beads

pom poms

bead garland strips

tinsel

bells

musical instruments

alphabet letters that spell the wish “Happy New Year”

star dessert cups

spoons

Safari Toob musical instruments would be a stand out in this tray.

Activities To Extend Exploration

Your early learner will enjoy sifting through the sensory tray and filling the star dessert cups with treasures. A few prompts will extend learning opportunities.

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two antique watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

Search And Find Challenges

Challenge your child to…

find letter H, Y, etc.

collect five pom poms

shake bells in cupped hands to make music

search for watch heads

find three silver stars and two gold stars

add musical instruments to a star dessert cup

Spelling “Happy New Year”

Cut necklaces into “HAPPY NEW YEAR” sections. Ask your little one to find the letters that make up the new year’s greeting.

New Year's sensory tray with an invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year". This tray offers sensory, math and language opportunities for learning.

The gold and silver pieces are not precious metals, but this New Year’s sensory tray has a rich feel that is sure to be inviting.

To create a similar tray, keep an eye out for baubles to recycle from Christmas events or gift openings. As an alternative, you can put together a bright, colorful bin as seen at rubberbootsandelfshoes.