30 EXCITING Sensory Bins (2024) (2024)

Table of Contents
Sensory bins are a great way for kids to use their senses to explore and learn. Let me show you 30 EPIC Sensory Bins. Activity #1: Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Winter Activities for Kids Activity #2: Pond Number Sensory How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Spring Activities for Kids Activity #3: Gardening Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Outdoor Toys for Kids Activity #4: Lucky Charms Learning Pack How to do this activity A. Materials you need Click here for your FREE Lucky Charms Learning Pack. B. Set-up C. Activity 1. Sorting activity 2. Graph RELATED: Teaching Resources Activity #5: Sensory Bottle Sky Fill How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #6: Insect Sensory Bin How to do this activity 1. Materials you need Want 15% off your order from Safari LTD? Use the code ABCDEE at checkout! 2. Set-up 3. Activity RELATED: Letter I Crafts and Activities Activity #7: Dinosaur Oobleck Sensory How to do this activity A. Materials you need Want 15% off your order at Safari LTD. Use the code ABCDEE at checkout B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Dinosaur Activities for Kids Activity #8: Feed and Count Dinosaur Activity How to do this activity 1. Materials you need Click HERE for your Count and Feed Printable 2. Set-up 3. Activity RELATED: ABCDeeLearning’s TpT Store Activity #9: Peppermint Mocha Sensory Bin How to do this activity RELATED: Christmas Activities for Kids Activity #10: Dinosaur Sensory How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity At the end of play-time, have them help clean up! Grab a bin of water so they can help give the dinosaurs a bath! 3 sensory activities in 1! Gotta love that :). Activity #11: Alphabet Bubble Foam How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers Activity #12: Alphabet Soup How to do this activity A. Materials you need Click HERE to grab the Alphabet Soup Download. B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Sight Word Activities for Preschoolers Activity #13: Christmas Cookie Cloud Dough How to do this activity 1. Materials you need 2. Set-up 3. Activity Activity #14: Pumpkin Spice Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Fall Activities for Kids Activity #15: Muddy Pumpkin Patch How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #16: Halloween Jell-O Excavation How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Fun Fine Motor Activities Activity #17: Fall Themed Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #18: Shaving Cream Leaf Prints How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #19: Artic Animal Sensory Bin How to do this activity 1. Materials you need Interested in these TOOB toys? Grab 15% off by using the code ABCDEE at the checkout! Click this link 2. Set-up 3. Activity Activity #20: Construction ABC’s How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #21: Googly Eye Soup How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Halloween Activities for Kids Activity #22: Snowy Letter Search How to do this activity 1. Materials you need Click HERE to grab your FREE Snow Letter Match. 2. Set-up 3. Activity RELATED: Teaching Resources Activity #23: Stuff the Turkey How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Thanksgiving Activities for Kids Activity #24: Mermaid Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #25: Ocean Oobleck How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #26: Moon Sand Space Themed Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #27: Jungle Sensory How to do this activity A. Materials you need B. Set-up C. Activity Activity#28: Fruit Loop Color Sort How to do this activity A. Materials you need Click HERE to grab your FREE Fruit Loop Sort. B. Set-up C. Activity Activity #29: Shark Learning Sensory Bin How to do this activity A. Materials you need Click HERE to grab your FREE Shark Learning Pack B. Set-up C. Activity RELATED: Teaching Resources Activity #30: Alphabet Magnet Play How to do this activity A. Materials you need Click HERE to grab your FREE Letter Search mats B. Set-up *How to create rainbow rice* C. Activity RELATED: 40 Amazing Sensory Activities Final Thoughts and Conclusion FAQs

Sensory bins are a great way for kids to use their senses to explore and learn.

Kids can learn and play with these themed bins!

Coming up with these themed bins is one of my favorite things to do with my kids. We had a blast playing and learning with each of these activities.

Let me show you 30 EPIC Sensory Bins.

Activity #1: Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin

I love creating sensory bins that the kids can eat! This one was a huge hit because we don’t typically buy sugary cereals.

So, when I broke out the Cocoa Puffs, they literally ran to see what I had planned for them.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Dump some cereal into your sensory bin. Then, add in some mini marshmallows, cups, and spoons!

C. Activity

Let your little ones make their own “hot chocolate” by scooping the Cocoa Puffs into the cups! They can add in some marshmallows as well! They can also use the spoons to scoop out some whipped cream from the mini red cups and put it on top of the cup!

Don’t worry… I ate some too. Don’t feel bad :).

RELATED: Winter Activities for Kids

Activity #2: Pond Number Sensory

I love planning sensory activities that involve learning as well! It’s so fun to come up with these set-ups that the kids enjoy.

This pond setup is the perfect spring sensory activity to practice counting and number recognition with your preschooler.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

In a sensory bin, add some water and blue food coloring. Place in some sticks, rocks, and flowers from outside (this is so fun to do with the kids)!

Create some lily pads with green felt paper. Next, write numbers on the lily pads you want to review with your kids. Lastly, add some frogs to the pond.

C. Activity

The kids should use the frogs to jump from lily pad to lily pad. When they reach the lily pads, they should say the number! They can also count and play with the frogs.

RELATED: Spring Activities for Kids

Activity #3: Gardening Sensory Bin

Gardening is one of my favorite things to do with the kids! It’s a great way for us to get outdoors and have some family time!

We did this activity before we could get outside and actually get in the garden. This was great practice as well!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

To create the brown cloud dough filler, mix 6 cups of flour, 1 cup of vegetable oil, and 2 cups of cocoa. Then, mix it all up with a spoon. Lastly, add in all the accessories mentioned above!

C. Activity

Let the kids use the shovel to scoop some of the “dirt” in the pots. Then, they can add in some flowers. They can play with the dirt and pretend they are gardening!

RELATED: Outdoor Toys for Kids

Activity #4: Lucky Charms Learning Pack

Lucky Charms are a St. Patrick’s Day staple. They are PERFECT for learn and play activities for this month. Does anyone else’s preschooler just want to eat the marshmallows?

This year, I created a FREE Lucky Charm Learning Pack for you!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click here for your FREE Lucky Charms Learning Pack.

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B. Set-up

It couldn’t be easier! Print off the learning pack pages and play! In the pack, I have a marshmallow sorting activity (as you see above) as well as a marshmallow graph.

C. Activity

1. Sorting activity

Cut out the labels and tape them to green cups. Dump the lucky charms into a sensory bin! Have your little ones sort the marshmallows in the correct cups.

2. Graph

Have your kids sort the marshmallows by type. Then, they should place them on the graph. Show them how to tell how many there are on the graph!

This is a great way to introduce graphs to your kids. This is a fun activity that involves treats and small numbers!

RELATED: Teaching Resources

Activity #5: Sensory Bottle Sky Fill

I love using sensory bottles! The kid’s made their own sensory bottles this time, and it was SO much fun!

It works out great because you get two activities in one! You have a sensory setup the kids can play with, and they can make the sensory bottles for later use!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

*Make the blue-colored rice by dumping 2-3 cups of rice in a plastic bag. Add a few drops of liquid watercolors in the bag, close it up and shake!

*Dump it out on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it. Wait for it to dry (it only takes a few minutes).

C. Activity

Place the colored rice in the sensory bin! Add some rainbow-colored poms and cotton balls! Place a scooper inside the bin and let the kids have fun with the setup.

After a little bit, place the sensory bottles inside and let the kids fill them up. Then, they can shake and see how they look!

Activity #6: Insect Sensory Bin

My kids are always fascinated by insects outside! It makes for such a fun sensory and play activity for kids.

While you are playing with this activity, discuss that insect starts with the letter i. If your little one is also working on beginning sounds, it’s important to have them say what sound the letter i makes.

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How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

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Want 15% off your order from Safari LTD? Use the code ABCDEE at checkout!

2. Set-up

In a sensory bin, dump 7 cups of flour, 1 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 cup of cocoa powder. Mix it up! Move it to one side of the bin and place fake grass on the other half. Lastly, add in stones, sticks, and insects!

3. Activity

Have your little ones use the fine motor and gardening tools to play! They will have a blast exploring the bin and the insects. Talk about the different insects, what they eat and how many legs they have.

RELATED: Letter I Crafts and Activities

Activity #7: Dinosaur Oobleck Sensory

Preschoolers LOVE dinosaurs! This dinosaur muddy play is the perfect sensory setup for your little ones to play with their dinosaurs!

There is a land section and a water section for this sensory bin. When you add water into the mix, the kids always enjoy it. I’m also not kidding when I say that I had to set up the blue water set up for my son for weeks straight after this activity.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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Want 15% off your order at Safari LTD. Use the code ABCDEE at checkout

B. Set-up

To create oobleck, you mix two cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water. Then, add in A LOT of brown food coloring. To get it to look brown, I had to add many drops of brown food coloring.

It won’t stain their hands!

Add the oobleck and the fake grass in one sensory bin and add some water with a few drops of blue food coloring in another bin.

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C. Activity

Let the kids explore the dinosaur’s habitats! If you have different types of dinosaur toys, you can separate which dinosaurs would be in the water and land.

They can cover them up in the oobleck and then give them a bath in the water too!

RELATED: Dinosaur Activities for Kids

Activity #8: Feed and Count Dinosaur Activity

Feeding activities have become a BIG hit around here! They work great for fine motor skills, color recognition, and counting skills.

I love when activities work on several learning skills at once!

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How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

Click HERE for your Count and Feed Printable

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2. Set-up

In a sensory bin, dump a whole bunch of different colored poms! Print off the characters and the counting cards. Cut out the characters, punch a hole in their mouth using a knife, and then cut the inside part of the mouth open. Tape the characters to a cup.

3. Activity

Have your little ones use the counting cards to see what color and how many of each color they should place inside the character’s mouth. They can use kid-friendly tweezers to add some fine motor skills, or you can just have them use their hands. They should tell you the number and count out loud how many they are placing inside!

RELATED: ABCDeeLearning’s TpT Store

Activity #9: Peppermint Mocha Sensory Bin

I have a slight obsession with Starbucks and their holiday drinks. But, even if you don’t share this same obsession, this sensory bin is still AMAZING.

There is mashed-up chocolate cake inside this bin! It’s the best sensory bin you’ll ever make, I promise you that!

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This is also a toddler-safe sensory bin since it’s all edible! I love these types of bins because they can work for most age groups.

How to do this activity

1. Materials you need:

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2. Set-up: Make the chocolate cake by following the directions on the box. Let it cool, then start mashing it up using the spoon. Once it looks good, dump it into the sensory bin! In the mini red cups, add in some whipped cream and crushed-up candy canes. I placed unwrapped candy canes in a ziplock bag, crushed them, and then dumped them on top of the whipped cream.

3. Activity: The kids can make their own kid-friendly peppermint mochas by adding cake, whipped cream, and marshmallows!

RELATED: Christmas Activities for Kids

Activity #10: Dinosaur Sensory

I have a sensory bin that includes two sensory set-ups! But don’t worry, the prep isn’t more time-consuming at all!

This is a sensory bin of “mud” and sand for the kids to dig and play!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Make the pudding by following the directions on the box! Then, scoop it into a sensory bin.

To make the cloud dough “sand,” add 8 cups of flour in a sensory bin along with 1.5 cups of vegetable oil. Mix!

C. Activity

Hide some dinosaurs inside the sand bin! The kids will use paintbrushes to act like paleontologists to discover the dinosaurs!

Once they have found all the dinosaurs, they can play with them in the sand or place them in the mud (pudding).

At the end of play-time, have them help clean up! Grab a bin of water so they can help give the dinosaurs a bath! 3 sensory activities in 1! Gotta love that :).

Activity #11: Alphabet Bubble Foam

Bubble foam is super easy to make, and it is a great sensory activity to do with your preschooler!

The kids loved scooping out the letters! This was a really engaging way to practice letter recognition.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

In a blender, add 2 tablespoons of dish soap, 2/3 cup of water, and a few drops of food coloring!

Blend on medium and dump into a sensory bin. Repeat this step for each of the colors you want to use.

C. Activity

Have the kids use scoops or just play with their hands in the bubbles! They will grab/scoop letters and identify them!

They can search for specific letters that you ask for, or they can just find them and tell you what they are.

Play with the bubble foam after! You can even add some of their other favorite toys inside.

RELATED: Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers

Activity #12: Alphabet Soup

Everything is always more fun when you add water! This alphabet activity works perfectly for a winter theme or a summer theme!

My favorite part about this activity is that you can use a can to play along! I love being able to recycle and play!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab the Alphabet Soup Download.

B. Set-up

Take the label off a can and tape it on my alphabet soup label! Also, print off my recipe cards!

In a sensory bin, add water and some plastic/foam letters.

C. Activity

Your little ones will look at one of the recipes and scoop the letters on the recipes either in the can or in a bowl!

They should say what each letter is before they scoop it out of the water!

Once they are done with one recipe, repeat for another! If you have an older child, they can also practice building sight words!

RELATED: Sight Word Activities for Preschoolers

Activity #13: Christmas Cookie Cloud Dough

Are Christmas cookies a big thing around your house during the holidays? They sure are over here!

We end up making several batches throughout the season. Why? Well, because Christmas calories don’t count, right?

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This activity isn’t really about eating, though, unfortunately. It can be eaten, but I will say it’s not very tasty!However, it is a blast to play with!

How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

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2. Set-up

In a large mixing bowl, add two cups of flour and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Then, you can add in 1 tablespoon of vanilla to make it smell good! I also put some Christmas cookie sprinkles to make it seem like they were making Christmas cookies! Once all the ingredients are mixed, dump them into a sensory bin.

3. Activity

Add in the cookie cutters and cups for the kids to play along with! They can pretend like they are making cookie shapes with the cutters!

Activity #14: Pumpkin Spice Sensory Bin

Are you ready for the best sensory bin ever? I’m not kidding when I say this, either.

Pumpkin.Spice.Sensory.Bin.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Follow the directions to make the cake and let it cool once made. Break it up and scoop it into your sensory bin. Add in the coffee cups. In the mini red cups, put some whipped cream and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.

C. Activity

Have your kids make a PSL! This is the best edible sensory bin I have ever done. It smelled and tasted amazing. They can use the measuring cups and spoons to scoop the cake mix and whipped cream.

RELATED: Fall Activities for Kids

Activity #15: Muddy Pumpkin Patch

So in real life, a muddy pumpkin patch would be something that no one would really want to go through.

But, in the play world, this is a fantastic sensory activity for kids! My kids loved pretending they were at the pumpkin patch picking on their favorite pumpkins!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Dump the brownie mix into a sensory bin and add a bunch of candy pumpkins in rows.

C. Activity

Let the kids use spoons and bowls to play with the pumpkins and the brownie mix. Have them pretend like they are at the pumpkin patch picking out their pumpkins! To make this super muddy, add water to the brownie mix. The kids will love this addition to the activity!

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I do suggest doing this activity outdoors. It can get messy, and their little hands get quite dirty! But it’s fun and festive for the holiday!

Activity #16: Halloween Jell-O Excavation

When you think of Halloween sensory activities, the best ones are the slimy ones, right?

The best thing about this slimy sensory bin is that your kids don’t have to touch it unless they want to!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Make two packets of Jell-O and dump into a tray. Add in all the fun Halloween accessories you have. Put it in the refrigerator and wait till it’s ready.

C. Activity

Have your children use fine motor tools like scoop scissors or tweezers to pull out the Halloween items! They can place what they found in another tray or bowl! Count how many things they found.

RELATED: Fun Fine Motor Activities

Activity #17: Fall Themed Sensory Bin

I love all things FALL. I’ll admit, I’m totally basic when it comes to this season, and I’m not ashamed of it.

Fall festivals are one of my favorite events to attend. My absolute favorite part is the corn pits.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Dump a bunch of corn into the sensory bin. Add in all your fall items into the bin for your kids to play with!

C. Activity

Let the kids have a blast pretending like they are at a fall festival diving face-first into that corn pit! Corn is an excellent sensory filler, and the kids just love pouring and scooping it! Add in the farm animals and talk about what animals would live on a farm!

Activity #18: Shaving Cream Leaf Prints

In no way, shape or form is this the most beautiful art project my kids have ever created.

But they sure loved it, and it was a blast. Process art is more about just trying something new and not caring what the outcome actually looks like.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

To create the different colored shaving cream, in a bowl, squirt some shaving cream and add in a few drops of food coloring. Mix with a spoon and scoop it out and place it in a sensory bin. Do this process for each of the colors you want to use!

C. Activity

Have the kids use paintbrushes to paint the leaves and put them on the paper. You may need to press down the leaves to get it to create the best-looking leaf prints! Afterward, my kids just painted with the shaving cream! They enjoyed this activity so much.

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Activity #19: Artic Animal Sensory Bin

Okay, time to get into some sensory bin activities! These are my ALL time favorite. I do love the others, but these let me really use my creativity for the kids.

For this sensory bin, I used DIY fake snow, ice cubes, and blue gems.

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How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

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Interested in these TOOB toys? Grab 15% off by using the code ABCDEE at the checkout! Click this link

2. Set-up

Make the fake snow by adding a 1/2 cup of hair conditioner to 2 cups of baking soda. Mix it up, and you have fake snow! Dump that in your sensory bin, add in the gems and the ice cubes.

3. Activity

Let the kids have a blast playing with the arctic animals in the bin! They can create homes for the animals in the ice cube tray! They can also have them slide on the ice cubes in the snow or on the gems! Talk to them about the arctic animals and their habitats. Also, you can discuss what these animals eat!

Activity #20: Construction ABC’s

This alphabet sensory tray is so fun for preschoolers to learn the alphabet.

What do you think is the sensory filler for this tray? I bet it’ll surprise you! I’ll give you a hint; it smells delicious.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Dump the brownie mix into the tray!

On the stones, use a Sharpie to write the letters of the alphabet.

Add in all the construction toys and other construction odds and ends.

C. Activity

Tell your little one to find a specific letter and scoop it up with their fingers or a small shovel and place it in the dump truck.

They can also just play naturally with the alphabet rocks and tell you what letter they are picking up while playing.

Activity #21: Googly Eye Soup

Looking for a simple but FUN Halloween sensory activity for your kids?

Googly Eye Soup is bound to be a hit. Honestly, anything with googly eyes seems to be a hit around here!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

I mentioned earlier that I got this sensory table from IKEA. If you aren’t interested in a full table, these plastic bins work great for storage and sensory activities!

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B. Set-up

In a sensory bin, add some water and a few drops of food coloring. Dump in the googly eyes and mix it around.

C. Activity

Let the kids have fun playing with the concoction. They can use the measuring cups/ladle to dump the liquid into the small caldrons. This works on scooping and pouring skills, which are fantastic practical life skills!

RELATED: Halloween Activities for Kids

Activity #22: Snowy Letter Search

I am a HUGE fan of bringing learning into sensory play. The kids are always engaged and ready to learn when they see activities like this.

In this sensory bin, I made some fake snow and placed in some of our favorite letters!

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How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab your FREE Snow Letter Match.

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2. Set-up

Create fake snow by dumping in a little powder and adding some water! Then, add in the letters. Lastly, print off my worksheet and place it into a dry erase folder!

3. Activity

Have your little ones use kid-friendly tweezers to pick out the letters and match them up on my worksheet! Talk about what each letter is with your child.

RELATED: Teaching Resources

Activity #23: Stuff the Turkey

Stuff the Turkey is a great fine motor activity! Preschoolers need to practice fine motor skills to do everyday tasks like buttoning a shirt, zipping their jacket, or tying their shoes.

How cute is this idea for Thanksgiving? It kept him busy for such a long time too! He wanted to do it again and again.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Print off the turkey face from the download and tape it to a red solo cup. Dump your poms out into a bin and add in some fine motor tools like tweezers or scoops.

C. Activity

Have the kids use tweezers to pick up the pom-poms and place them inside the water bottle to “stuff the turkey.” They can also use their fingers if they are too little to use the tweezers!

RELATED: Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Activity #24: Mermaid Sensory Bin

This mermaid bin was the biggest hit with my daughter! The colors are just beautiful! But what made it perfect was the colored glitter added in.

I used Crayola Play Sand as the filler for this bin. We got multiple colors, and I knew I just had to make this for her.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Add blue, green, and purple sand into the bin. Sprinkle-colored glitter in each section.

Add in your gems, shells, and mermaid toys!

C. Activity

In another bin, add water if you want; they can combine the water and sand!

Let them imagine, play and explore!

Activity #25: Ocean Oobleck

Oobleck is just an amazing sensory experience! My kids always enjoy playing with it!

This ocean-themed set-up is perfect for helping teach your children about ocean animals!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

To make oobleck, combine 2 cups of cornstarch, 1 cup of water, and a few drops of blue food coloring.

Dump that into the tray, add some sand onto the other side. Add all the other supplies in!

C. Activity

Play with the ocean animals in the sand and the oobleck! Your kids will love the consistency of oobleck. It’s part liquid and part solid.

Talk about what animals live in the ocean while playing!

Activity #26: Moon Sand Space Themed Bin

Space is one of our favorite themes! The kids always want to learn more about the planets, the moon, and what’s in outer space.

This astronaut-themed moon bin is the perfect way to have some conversations about the moon!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Set-up

In a sensory bin, add 5 cups of flour and 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil. Then, mix it up! It should form little crumbles everywhere- if it doesn’t, you can always add more vegetable oil (just don’t add too much, or it’ll be too wet).

Add those space-themed toys inside the bin!

C. Activity

Discuss some facts about the moon with your little ones! Talk about the different toys and astronauts heading up into space!

This moon dough is the perfect way activity for this theme!

Activity #27: Jungle Sensory

Jungle animals are some of our favorite animals! This bin was SO much fun since we had two different fillers inside.

Yes, they did mix- there’s no way they wouldn’t mix; if that bothers you, this may not be the bin for you!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

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B. Set-up

Color the rice by dumping 2 cups of rice into a plastic bag. Add a few drops of liquid watercolors, shake it, then dump on parchment paper to dry!

Add the play dirt on one side of the bin! It’s that easy!

C. Activity

Grab those jungle animal toys and place them in both areas of the sensory bin. Talk about what animals you would see in the jungle!

You can also talk about what those animals would eat and the things they like to do. It’s a great way to explore this theme.

Activity#28: Fruit Loop Color Sort

Looking for a sensory activity to do with a toddler who loves to put everything in their mouth? This is the one for you!

You won’t have to worry if there is just cereal in the bin! Work on some color sorting with my FREE Fruit Loops printable.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab your FREE Fruit Loop Sort.

B. Set-up

Print off my Fruit Loop labels and tape them on each cup!

Dump Fruit Loops in a sensory bin. It’s that EASY!

C. Activity

Have your little one start sorting the colors in the cups! Make sure to review the different colors.

This is a great way for your kids to explore colors, have a fun snack, and work on those fine motor skills!

Activity #29: Shark Learning Sensory Bin

Kids love sharks! This set-up won’t disappoint and it’s super easy to put together!

Plus, I have some FREE printables for you to go along with this sensory bin.

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab your FREE Shark Learning Pack

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View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

In a bowl, mix some foam shaving cream and blue food coloring together! Scoop it out into your sensory bin. Add some blue rock if you want!

Throw in your shark toys. The mini shark toys we grabbed for this were PERFECT!

C. Activity

Have the kids play with the shaving cream pretending that the sharks are swimming through it. Shaving cream is a great sensory filler and it’s super easy to clean up.

Use my printables to have further conversations about sharks!

RELATED: Teaching Resources

Activity #30: Alphabet Magnet Play

Have you ever used magnetic wands? They are a blast for the kids!

It’s so fun to pick up magnetic objects! It’s a great experiment to go around to see what is magnetic and what is not!

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How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab your FREE Letter Search mats

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View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

For a filler for this bin, I used rainbow rice. Below are directions on how to make this!

Place magnetic letters inside the rice upside down so the kids can pick it up with the wand.

*How to create rainbow rice*

a. Dump 1 cup of rice into a ziplock bag.

b. Add in a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolors.

c. Close the bag and shake it up until it’s covering all the rice

d. On a baking sheet, place parchment paper down and dump the rice onto the paper to dry.Make sure to spread it out to dry quicker.

e. Repeat this process for all the colors you want to do!

C. Activity

The kids will use magnetic wands to pick up the letters. Once they get one, they will identify the letter and then match it to the letter on the worksheet!

Review each letter of the alphabet this way!

RELATED: 40 Amazing Sensory Activities

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Sensory bins are fun and exciting for kids to explore and learn about different themes!

Do you enjoy doing sensory activities with your kids? I’d love to hear what your favorite activity was on this list; comment below! I’m looking forward to some more in the future!

Happy Learning

Deena

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FAQs

Are sensory bins open ended? ›

A sensory bin is an open-ended style of game that essentially involves a container, some loose contents, and toys or tools to play with those contents.

What is the deal with sensory bins? ›

Essentially, a sensory bin is a container filled with materials specifically chosen to stimulate the senses, allowing the child to explore and interact with the items as they choose. Sensory play is a great way to expose your child to a variety of textures, facilitate communication, and actively engage with your child.

What do you put in a sensory tray? ›

These items are great to use in sensory bins for toddlers once they can understand not to eat them. If you're hoping to create a sensory bin for babies, look to safer options like large, tactile balls, large pasta shells, age-appropriate plastic toys, linking rings and, most simply, water.

Will sensory issues go away? ›

Occupational therapy can help kids cope with sensory issues. They learn ways to give themselves the right amount of stimulation, maybe with a heavy vest, a fidget toy or ear plugs. Some kids grow out of these issues completely. Some kids, especially autistic kids, have them their whole lives.

What age do kids like sensory bins? ›

Sensory bins are good for children over 18 months of age. Before they're 18 months old, sensory bins are not developmentally appropriate because the possible hazards outweigh the benefits.

Why do autistic people use sensory toys? ›

Sensory devices provide a host of mental, emotional, physical, and social benefits for children on the autism spectrum. They stimulate the brain, helping to create new neural pathways for processing, understanding, and reacting to sensory information. They help autistic children to: Calm down and relax.

Are sensory bins necessary? ›

Sensory bins provide children with the opportunity to explore and learn through hands-on tactile play that engages their senses. These bins encourage and support various types of development and are great activities to have in your home.

Are sensory bins good for autism? ›

Sensory bins are growing in popularity—and for good reason! Parents are realizing sensory play is crucial toward enhancing child development. Sensory play is great for neurotypical children and children with sensory processing disorder and autism.

What containers are best for sensory bins? ›

You could also use dish tubs or shoebox storage containers. Water tables would be perfect outside if you are using messy materials and want easy clean-up. You can even find sensory tables that have two side-by-side tubs that would be good if more than one child at a time is using it.

What is the difference between a sensory table and a sensory bin? ›

The difference between a sensory bin and a sensory table is the size. Sensory bins can be plastic tubs that can be put on a table or even the floor. While a table is stand alone. You can purchase sensory table or if you are looking for a different option, I have a DIY Sensory Table tutorial.

How do you make a sensory Ziplock? ›

Here's how: Fill a resealable plastic bag with tactile materials like hair gel, pumpkin seeds, shaving cream, or marbles. Reinforce the seal with strong tape, then use painter's or washi tape to secure the edges of the bag to the floor or a table where your baby can play.

What is a homemade sensory bin? ›

Lay out a sheet, tablecloth or towel. Not only does this protect the floor, but it makes cleanup much easier. Fill the bin or bowl with dry pasta, rice or beans. Add spoons, scoops, toys and whatever else you have on hand into the bin. Play!

What are open-ended materials for sensory play? ›

Some examples of open-ended materials are sand, water, blocks, play dough, paint, etc. Open-ended materials support development: Cognitive: Because there are endless possibilities for the ways that open-ended materials can be manipulated and used, children will practice critical thinking as they experiment and create.

What is open-ended sensory play? ›

Open-ended play is an unstructured, imaginative form of play that allows children to independently explore the world around them. Engaging in this type of play encourages creativity, problem-solving, language development, and social-emotional intelligence.

What are open-ended toys? ›

An open-ended toy is a type of toy that does not have a specific predetermined use or outcome, allowing for creativity and imagination in play. These types of toys can be used in a variety of ways, encouraging kids to experiment, create and explore. Examples include building blocks, art supplies, and dress-up clothing.

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