1. Tinker trays foster independence. They engage children wholeheartedly. Adults may look at tinker trays and think of the potential mess to clean, but kids look at tinker trays and think of possibilities. They get ideas. They get excited. Their eyes light up! Hence, giving them time, a lot of it, to work on their ideas.
2. Tinker trays foster problem solving skills. We live in a world where everything is at our finger tips. We barely have to think anymore to get anything done. Tinker trays offer children the opportunity to explore materials and come up with new and exciting ways to use the materials. Tinkering lays the ground work for successful learners and thinkers.
3. Tinker Trays promote creativity and decision making. With so many choices in the tray, kids are forced to make decisions about what they want to use and for what purpose.
4. Tinker Trays introduce kids to new and interesting materials. I don’t know about you but I find tinker trays so interesting to look at, which drives me to find unusual things to put in them. With such small cubbies to fill, you can get really creative with what goes in them.
5. Tinker trays are awesome. C’mon, just go for it.
and our own reason 6. When we do this at camp, you don't have any mess to clean up at home!