Sensory Bins Made Easy
If you follow us on Instagram you’ll know that I have a love for sensory bins. I absolutely love putting them together and sometimes, ahhhhh well, all the times, I even enjoy getting my hands in there and playing. I like messy play. Don’t hate me. But I really don’t mind the paint everywhere or the ooey gooey chia seed “slime.” I can’t remember if I was always that way as a mom, but one thing is for sure, Christopher has changed the “ohmygoshthatsabigdeal” feelings in my life. A little extra clean up is really no big deal to me. I’ve had BIG deals. We live a big deal. So, a little shaving cream on my dining room floor isn’t gonna hurt anyone. Am I right?!
I put a list together with some suggestions of sensory bins and/or messy play for anyone interested! Hope you find something you can dig your hands into….or, ummm, your kids can dig their hands into. 😉
- Colored dry pasta. Easy peasy. I pour noodles into a ziploc bag with a squeeze of liquid tempera paint, shake it up, then lay out on parchment or a cookie sheet to dry.
- Colored dry rice. I have colored this the exact same way I do the noodles. Now, you can do taste safe options using vinegar and food coloring, but I don’t usually since my boys don’t put these in their mouths. Thankfully.
- Water. Water. Water. I am telling you, I have just put a bin of water out on the floor with a moving blanket underneath and it has kept our youngest busy forever! Water, scoops, spoons, plastic bowls, strainers, ice cube trays, funnels….any kitchen gadget and I promise the kids will be entertained!
- Soap foam. This is a lot more slimy than regular foam. I use 1/4 cup warm water, 2 tbs Dawn dish soap, 2 tbs corn starch, and whatever food coloring you choose. Then mix with your hand mixer until a fluffy foam starts growing in your bowl. Making the primary colors is fun! You get a two-for-one with some sensory play and a color mixing lesson. Win!
- Water and shaving cream with all the gadgets. I put warm water in a bin and top it with a bunch of the 0.98cent shaving cream, and voila, over an hour of fun for less than a $1.00.
- Chia seeds soaked overnight. Plain or with food coloring. It goes without saying that adding a little color makes it more fun, right? And scoops. Spoons. Rubber molds or trays too. I am positive our youngest learned how to scoop and transfer early on just because of his sensory bin play.
- Cereal. Taste safe and super fun! You can usually find an O type of cereal or flakes at the dollar store. Pour into a bin, add some scoops, and you’re good to go! Sensory play meets snack time.
- Graham crackers. These I like to crush and roll with a rolling pin to make a taste safe sand sensory bin. You can add cars, construction vehicles, and, dare I say it again, scoops to this bin for some added fun.
- Flour and oil. Another taste safe option, but definitely do this one when you’re in a superhappydontcareaboutthemess mood. ha! It’s flour. Need I say more?
- Beans. Dry beans with the usual…scoops. Beans are really fun to hide things in and dig for them. This was one of the very first sensory bins that Christopher actually really liked. He still plays with them outside on the deck, the beans sprouting between the boards are proof. Again, you can always find these at the dollar store for a easy inexpensive sensory experience.
There’s plenty more…but I’ll start with 10.
But wait.
Add ons for your bins.
Spoons, bowls, plates (love the plastic sets from Ikea)
Measuring cups and spoons (these are the best to find at garage sales for 5 cents, but there’s always the dollar store)
Ice cube trays or any silicone mold
Cupcake liners
Pom poms or cotton balls
Small animal figures to dig out or scoop out
Cars, dolls, or anything your child really likes
Paint brushes for the soap/foam
Theme items….oh don’t get me started. Spider rings for a Halloween themed bin, turkey erasers for Thanksgiving, bells for Christmas…you get the picture.
Happy playing. Have fun getting a little messy. Promise. Itsnotabigdeal.
