IKEA Hack: Playful learning with the Montessori sensory table

Consciously experiencing their senses through sensory play helps children develop in many areas. A sensory table is a simple way to support your child in this process. We have summarised everything you need to know about sensory tables and provided tips for creating your own.

What is a sensory table?

A sensory table is a real playground wonder in miniature! You can fill the recessed boxes with all kinds of different materials – from fluffy modelling clay to crackling natural materials. This encourages your child to discover with all their senses: feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling – and, of course, marvelling! Free exploration often leads to highly concentrated play, in which little explorers discover their world with curiosity and creativity.

The importance of the senses in Montessori education

Sensory experience plays an important role in Montessori education. According to Maria Montessori, children want to train their senses and movements intensively. Sensory materials help them to understand their environment more easily, perceive it more consciously and classify it better. True to the motto "Help me to do it myself", children can immerse themselves in the materials on the sensory table, delve into them and satisfy their natural need to explore their senses. A sensory table is not intended to replace sensory experiences in the child's environment and nature, but it can be a simple extension of these in everyday life.

The IKEA FLISAT table as a sensory table

The IKEA FLISAT table is perfect as a sensory table. This is because the children's table already has two integrated boxes built into the tabletop. This means you already have a ready-made sensory table without having to prove your craftsmanship. The IKEA FLISAT table is also the right height for your little one, so they can stand comfortably at it and explore their senses. After playing, the boxes can be closed again with the lightweight tabletop, so that the sensory materials are securely stored away.

2-in-1 sensory table and play/colouring table

With adhesive films that are precisely tailored to the IKEA FLISAT, you can also transform your sensory table into a play or painting table. The open table serves as a sensory table with its boxes. When you close the boxes with the adhesive table top, our creative motifs create a play or painting table.

DIY ice cream parlour at the FLISAT sensory table

A sensory table can be used again and again – depending on the season, interests or imagination. Our DIY ice cream parlour is especially fun in summer: with colourful adhesive film and a few simple materials, the IKEA FLISAT table can be transformed into a colourful children's ice cream parlour in no time at all. And the best thing? The ice cream flavours are made from homemade cloud dough, which not only feels wonderfully fluffy, but is also very easy to make yourself.

To the DIY

Further ideas for FLISAT

The IKEA TROFAST shelf as a sensory table

The IKEA TROFAST shelf can also be converted into a sensory table. What many people don't know is that the shelf also has a lot to offer when turned upside down. To do this, turn the TROFAST shelf upside down. The bottom of the TROFAST now serves as a frame for a sensory table. The next step is to place a TROFAST box on the shelf. The framed area and the box can then be filled with various materials.

Don't worry, turning the TROFAST upside down doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the shelf's storage function. You can still store several TROFAST boxes and their contents on the shelf. The TROFAST is a real eye-catcher, especially with additional front sticker in the Limmaland design. Whether BLUMIG , DINO or TIERIG , there is a suitable motif for every child's room.

Further ideas for TROFAST

What materials are suitable for sensory boxes?

The possibilities are endless! Just take a look at what you have at home: dry pasta, rice or flour make for exciting textures. Or you could go on a treasure hunt together in nature – with rustling leaves, moss or small twigs. Important: the younger your little one is, the larger the materials should be – and please always supervise play. We have put together a list of ideas for sensory boxes to help you choose :

Cooking and baking ingredients such as rice, lentils, pasta, oatmeal, flour, nut shells
From nature: sticks, grasses, moss, shells, soil, snow, water, stones
Magic sand
Shaving foam or hair
mousse Cloud dough
Feathers
Paper scraps
Fabric items, such as pompoms
Water
beadsMarblesLego
bricks
ButtonsCor
ks
Different coloured ribbons

BEKVÄM stool as a sensory table

We've picked up a great hack from @schuberts_haustagebuch: with the BEKVÄM stool from IKEA, the small TROFAST boxes can be easily integrated into a side shelf – perfect as a small play or sensory table for the little ones.

The DIY mud kitchen as a sensory table

Does your little one prefer to play with real sand and like to kick it around? Then the mud kitchen is perfect for you. In just a few simple steps, IKEA KNAGGLIG crates and TROFAST boxes can be transformed into a wonderful mud kitchen – a kind of sandpit with a lid. Perfect for stirring, squelching and "cooking". With Limmaland's custom-fit films for the TROFAST lids, you can turn the boxes into an enchanting kitchen, barbecue or construction site.

To the DIY mud kitchen