You gotta have these in your home! They are so much fun and filled with learning. You can try a couple of these out or come up with some of your own. The combinations and themes are endless.
So, what is a sensory bin?
It’s a bin that holds items that engage the senses. They can also develop so many skills like pouring, scooping, transferring items. It helps them calm down and focus. I like to use these bins while I am preparing meals in the kitchen. They stay entertained while I get dinner done. We have sensory bin Saturdays and take out a couple bins and let them play.
The best part is…they are soooo inexpensive!!! You can use stuff you already have or purchase some at your local dollar store! Almost everything, with the exception of a few things like water beads, can be purchased at your local dollar store!
DINO Bin
Bag of rice, bag of beans, add some dinosaurs, and done! Have your child feed the dinosaurs!
Water Beads Bin
Water beads and some farm animals. Just pour some water in a container and add desired amount of water beads. After a few hours the beads expand. The more water you use the bigger the beads. Have your child save the animals!
Shredded Paper Bin
A couple bags of shredded paper and some soft puzzles of letters and numbers. You could also fold up some construction paper and then cut it to get a similar texture. As your child finds the letters/numbers they can place them in the right slots. Have your child call out the letters and numbers as they find them!
Water Bin
Add some cut up sponges, funnels, spoons, sea creatures, and WATER! This one is messy but so much fun! You can place a towel underneath the bin. Have your child take their sea buddies for a swim!
Bubble Duckies Bin
Just need cotton balls and rubber duckies! I added some numbers to the bottom of the duckies to make it extra educational. Have your child line up the duckies! Or add a small measuring spoon and have them scoop up the “bubbles!”
Bug Bin
My 3 year old is obsessed with bugs. This bin might be one of her favorites! Hide the bugs under the rocks and have your child search for bugs! Eww!
Race Car Bin
Cut up some straws and add some cars! Have your child make a race track with the straws and have a race! Vroom Vroom!
I have always wanted to try a sand sensory bin! That would be fun! Or you could try some theme bins like a Halloween bin or a Christmas bin. It’s really endless. Take a look around your home and see what items you could spare. You could make these bins or similar ones for under 30 bucks! The water beads are the most expensive item but you can use them to color sort, count, pour, scoop, and transfer. That’s money well spent!
I let both of my daughters (3 and 7 months old) play with these bins together. If you want something baby friendly or mess free, use some resealable plastic bags. Always monitor little ones when playing with small objects.
Want to avoid fighting and crowding? Use any large container like a kitty litter box! Of course a new one! Or try cutting up a cardboard box so that it is shallow (use only for bins that do not contain water). Or simply divide the contents of your bins by the number of kids you have.
I’d love to hear what combinations you have come up with!
