Sensory bins are a fantastic way to encourage hands on learning and exploration with your child! We kinda love them around here!
What is a Sensory Bin?
A sensory bin is a large tub or container that is filled with some sort of “filler” material and various objects that are intentionally picked out to stimulate different senses.Â
Typically sensory bins work to challenge six different senses:
- Tactile (touch)
- Auditory (sound)
- Visual (sight)
- Olfactory (smell)
- Proprioceptive (Pressure)
- Gustatory (taste)
What Can You Put in a Sensory Bin?
When it comes to filling sensory bins the skies the limit! I have thrown together two cheat sheets to help you when picking out your sensory bin fillers!
How to Create Materials for Your Sensory Bins
Below you will find all the tutorials we have shared on site on how to dye and create various materials.
Our Favorite Sensory Bin Tools
The affiliate links below lead to our favorite products we use when creating a sensory bin or tray.
- Fine Motor Tools
- Large Plastic Bin
- Sensory Tray
- Toobs
- Food Dye
- Storage Bin – this is the perfect size for storing smaller materials like manipulatives
How to Create an Intentional Sensory Bin
Before throwing items into a sensory bin for your kids to play with consider the following:
- What is your child passionate about?Â
- What skills does your child need to work on?
- Does your child have any sensory aversions? If yes then slowly introduce any materials they may be reluctant to explore.
These three questions will help you shape what items to include in your sensory bin to engage your child and help them learn while they play!
Sensory Bin Ideas
Investigating Sunflowers Fine Motor Activity
Hatching Fizzy Dinosaur Eggs
Make Your Own Dinosaur Fossil Dig Kit
Dinosaur Small World Imaginative Play for Kids
Frozen Ocean Animal Rescue Kids Activity
Sand and Water Ocean Themed Sensory Bin
Ocean Pollution Clean Up Science Activity
Simple Garden Sensory Bin for Kids
5 Little Pumpkins Sensory Bin
Blue Sensory Bin
Pokémon Icy Sensory Bin
Alphabet Beads Soap Foam
ABC Excavation Sensory Bin
Fizzy Fine Motor ABC’s
Red Fish, Blue Fish Sensory Science Bin
Letter Recognition Snow Search
Moon Excavation! Construction Sensory Bin with Exploding Frozen Stars
Bug Bin: A Simple Slimy Sensory Bin
ABC Car Wash Sensory Bin
Farm Sensory Math Game: Tilling for Numbers
Foam Block Building Sensory Bin
Shaving Cream and Water Beads Sensory Bin
Frozen Water Bead Sensory Bin
Letter Factory Mixed Up Letters Game!
Exploding Dinosaur Mud!
Excavating Dinosaurs from Ice!
Love Potion Number 9: Sensory Science Experiment
