Looking for easy-to-set up sensory bins?
Take a look at these 15+ fun sensory bins! You’ll find Spring, Duplo, rice, pom-pom, play foam category and a lot more to please your little ones!
RELATED: How to Dye Rice tutorial
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#1: Patriotic Sensory Bin
This Patriotic Sensory Bin is an easy way to keep kids busy.
MATERIALS:
- Dyed red and blue rice (recipe)
- Un-dyed rice (you can dye rice white, but I just kept it as is)
- Storage bin (something likethisworks great for sensory bins)
Add ins:
- Pom-poms
- Candy scoops
- Cups
- Spoons
- Ice cube tray
- Letter/number manipulatives
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Make the rice ahead of time. I usually like making dyed rice overnight so it can dry real well on a baking sheet.
- Place the rice and all of the add-ins to a storage bin (or any other bin you have that is deep enough). I made this patriotic sensory bin as an American flag real quick, but if you don’t want to bother, simply arrange the red, white and blue rice in 3 rows.
#2: Pom-pom Sensory bin
ThisPom-pom Sensory Binis one of the easiest sensory bins you can set up!
MATERIALS:
- Large bin(storage bin)
- Pom-poms(assorted sizes are fun)
- Scoops(linked similar)
- Play pots and pans (linked exact)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Into the bin, add the pom-poms, a little bit of water and all of the scoops and pots/pans.
TIP– Try freezing the pom-poms by placing them in water to soak and laying them out on a tray to freeze. Perfect for summer sensory bins!
#3: garden sensory bin
ThisGardening Sensory Binis a really fun one! It’s super easy to set up and you can literally use anything you have around the house!
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Arrange everything into the bin and it’s ready to go!
#4: play foam bin
This Play Foam recipe is simple and easy! It’s a wonderful base for any sensory bin. With an addition of a few fun fillers, you can turn an ordinary sensory play idea into an extraordinary one!
MATERIALS:
- Blender(linked exact one)
- 1 Tbsp dish soap (usedthis non-toxic)
- 1/2 water
- Food dye (we’re usingthis natural food dyemade from veggies)
- Tub
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Into the blender, add water, dish soap and food dye. Blend for 1-2 minutes until all foam. Pour into a tub and have a go!
RELATED: Play foam recipe
#5: Dinosaur Oobleck Sensory Bin
ThisDinosaur Oobleck Sensory Binis an easy and entertaining sensory play idea for kids.
MATERIALS:
- Oobleck(try our super easy oobleck recipe, it’s taste-safe!)
- Toy dinosaurs(similar)
- Tray with rims or bin
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Prep the oobleck if you haven’t yet, it will only take a few minutes to mix it up.
- Pour the oobleck into your tray or bin and add the dinosaurs, greenery and rocks.
RELATED: Oobleck REcipe (taste safe)
#6: duplo + kinetic sand sensory bin
ThisDuplo + Kinetic Sand Sensory Binis an easy sensory play idea that will keep your toddlers at play for a long time!
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Place the kinetic sand and Duplo pieces into the tray and done!
#7: insect sensory bin
INSECT SENSORY BIN- A SWEET WELCOME OF SPRING!
MATERIALS:
- Tray
- Rocks
- Beans (we used black)
I’ve also linked the exact insects we used below
Book optional, but totally recommended. My kids love this flap book with so many colorful illustrations about nature!
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Simply dump the beans into the tray you’re using and arrange the rocks, artificial flowers and insects.
#8: water beads number find
This Water Beads Number Find is super fun and quick to set-up. We’re talking 1 minute (not including the water bead prep)!
MATERIALS:
- Numbers (anything works; magnets, buttons, notions)
- Water Beads (tweezers included in the one I’ve linked)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Prep the water beads according to the instructions on the package.
- Place the numbers inside the water beads and hide them a bit and prep the tweezers.
#9: crinkle paper soup activity bin
ThisCrinkle Paper Soupsensory activity is the perfect sensory invitation to play and create. It’s quick and easy to set-up with no huge list of materials. You can use anything you have around the house and it will certainly work!
MATERIALS:
- Crinkled tissue paper
- Play pots
- Mini tongs
- Mini whisk
- 2 bins, one with water
- Bath towel
INSTRUCTIONS:
Set up is super easy. I like to place a large bath towel underneath the set-up, which will make cleaning up a breeze. Place a bit of water into one bin and top with the crinkle paper. In the other bin place all of your play pots and utensils.
RELATED: 50+ Recycled Crafts
#10: spring sensory bin
Spring is in the air and thisSpring Sensory Binis the perfect way to celebrate!
MATERIALS:
- Bin (we love this Ikea bin, comes with a lid too!)
- Beans (for the ground)
- Old flowers
- Plastic birds eggs,butterfly,dragonfly
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump the beans into the bin and arrange them so they’re covering half of the bottom. Add the withered flowers and leaves on top. Lastly add the plastic birds eggs, butterfly and dragonfly.
RELATED: Springtime Books
#11: holiday sensory bin
Easy and fun sensory bin to help toddlers explore circles!
MATERIALS:
Add-ins:
- Small shatter-proof ornaments
- Beads
- Holiday pom-poms
- Gold foam balls for crafts
- Kid-safe scissors (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump all of your add-ins into your flat bin.
#12: thanksgiving sensory bin
This sensory bin is super east to create!
MATERIALS:
- Bin
- Dry corn
- Metal condiment cups
- Gelato spoons
- Fall finds (such as pine cones, floral arrangements, leaves, etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump the corn into the tray and place all of your add-ins right into the tray. That’s it!
#13: scooping sensory bin
Kids love it and did you know scooping, pouring and dumping activities are all great in many ways, though they might seem simple and boring? Scooping takes skill and requires lots of concentration and hand-eye coordination. And the best part (my favorite part!) is that they stay busy with activities, such as this Scooping Sensory Bin, for a loooong time!
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump your rice, peas and beans into the bin and place the bottles and scoopers right into it as well. And voila! Done!
#14: creative play sensory tray
Easy to set up, nature sensory play idea.
MATERIALS:
- Tray
- Child-safe scissors
- Toys pots and pans (I’ve linked the one’s we have)
- Leaves, twigs, berries, pine needles, dandelions, clover flowers, misc. flowers, etc.
- Water if doing soup
INSTRUCTIONS:
Collect as many things as you can; leaves, twigs, pine needles, acorns, clover flowers, etc. and arrange on your tray. Now, you can let your kids get creative and do whatever they would like with all of their little treasures. Create an art by gluing, painting, cutting or do a soup with all of the ingredients (and get a little messy, because mess is play too, right?).
#15: ice age bin
This Ice Age Bin is PERFECT for hot days (it’s still super hot where we are!). Kid’s find ice so fascinating and adding safari animals to the bin is a super fun idea! My kids had such a great time feeling the slippery, cold ice and playing with their safari animals trying to place them on each ice cube.
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump the ice into your flat bin, add the safari animals and that’s it!
#16: safari sensory bin
Sensory bins! Aren’t they the trend and you’ll love this Safari Sensory bin too!
MATERIALS:
- Safari Animals Toys
- Flat storage bin
- Rice (I used brown)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump the rice into the bin and set up your safari animals. Endless fun!
17: Lego Duplo + Beans Sensory Bin
This LEGO DUPLO + Beans Sensory Bin is a must!
MATERIALS:
- Flat container, large flat box or lid
- 3 packages dried beans
- LEGO DUPLO
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dump the beans into your container and let the kids enjoy some excavating and digging with their Duplo construction trucks!
ENJOY THESE SENSORY BINS!
