{"product_id":"silicone-scoops","title":"Silicone Scoops","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSome of the best play comes from very simple tools. This set of three soft silicone scoops is made for the kind of play young children come back to again and again: scooping, pouring, filling and tipping. Use them with dry rice, lentils, sand, water, soil or anything else in your sensory bin. They’re just as at home in the bath or the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe three scoops come in small, medium and large and fit neatly inside one another, so they’re easy to pack away when play is done. The medium scoop has a funnel handle, so children can watch a stream of rice or water run out the other end. The silicone is soft and flexible but holds its shape. It’s gentle on little hands and mouths, and the muted rose, blush and honey-yellow colours look lovely on a play shelf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBecause there’s no single right way to use them, the scoops grow with your child. A young toddler might simply dig and tip. A preschooler might fill containers, compare amounts or set up a pretend shop or kitchen. They’re simple, durable and easy to clean, and well worth adding to your sensory play basics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"5\"\u003eWhat’s Included\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Large scoop (dusty rose) – approx. 16.5 cm long x 6.9 cm wide x 4.8 cm deep\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Medium funnel scoop (blush pink)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Small scoop (honey yellow) \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal: 3 pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e · Made from food-grade, BPA-free silicone · Nests for storage\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended age: 10 months+\u003c\/strong\u003e (adult supervision during water play)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"5\"\u003eWhat the OT Says\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eScooping looks simple, but it is a rich motor task. To fill a scoop and carry it without spilling, a child has to grip the handle steadily and rotate the forearm to keep the scoop level. They also have to adjust their wrist as the weight changes. These are the same movements a child needs for using a spoon at mealtimes, so scooping play can support self-feeding skills in a low-pressure way. The three handle sizes give different grasp experiences. The larger handle suits a whole-hand grip, and the smaller one encourages a more refined grip with the fingers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePouring adds another layer. When a child pours from a scoop into a container, they’re using hand-eye coordination and graded control: tipping slowly enough to hit the target without overflowing. Children often hold the container with one hand and pour with the other, which supports bilateral coordination. The funnel scoop lets children see cause and effect, as material flows in one end and out the other. Many children find that captivating, and it can lengthen their attention span.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eScoops also make sensory play feel safer for children who are unsure about textures. Some children hesitate to put their hands into wet sand, slime or water. A scoop puts a little distance between them and the material, so they can explore at their own pace while still getting the sensory input. Heavier materials like damp sand or soil also give useful proprioceptive feedback through the hands and arms. Over time, many children move from using the tool to touching the material directly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThere’s lovely language and early maths in this play too. Words like full, empty, more, less, big, small, in and out come up naturally. Nesting the scoops by size introduces size order (seriation) without any formal teaching. I’d happily recommend these for home sensory bins, bath time and outdoor play, and as a versatile everyday tool in a therapy room or classroom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"tiny tree toys","offers":[{"title":"Blue","offer_id":50808066474203,"sku":"SS001940","price":350.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Beige","offer_id":50808066506971,"sku":"SS001941","price":350.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0640\/9155\/4011\/files\/scoop_warm_colours.heic?v=1793118608","url":"https:\/\/tinytreetoys.co.za\/products\/silicone-scoops","provider":"tiny tree toys","version":"1.0","type":"link"}