Sensory bins are a fantastic way to engage your toddler's senses while fostering creativity, fine motor skills, and problem‑solving abilities. They're a fun, hands‑on activity that allows little ones to explore textures, colors, and shapes in a safe and controlled environment. And the best part? They're incredibly easy and affordable to make at home with just a few materials. Here's how to DIY sensory bins for toddlers that are both fun and educational.
1. What You'll Need
Before you start, gather the following basic materials for your sensory bin:
- Container : A plastic bin or shallow storage container works best. Look for one with a lid for easy storage.
- Filler : This is the base of your sensory bin. Some common options include rice, pasta, dry beans, sand, or water beads. Choose one based on your toddler's age and what sensory experience you want to create.
- Tools & Toys : Consider adding plastic scoops, small containers, plastic animals, figurines, or textured objects like fabric scraps, sponges, or foam shapes. These help to create different experiences and promote imaginative play.
- Extras : Depending on the theme, you might also need food coloring, glitter, fabric, or seasonal items like leaves, pinecones, or shells.
2. Rice & Pasta Sensory Bin
This is one of the easiest and most popular sensory bins to create. Here's how to do it:
- Materials : Uncooked rice or pasta (preferably colorful or dyed for extra fun), plastic scoops or spoons, small plastic animals, and tiny cups or containers.
- How to Create : Fill the bin with rice or pasta, and add your toddler's favorite small toys. You can even hide small treasures inside for them to find. To color the rice, add a few drops of food coloring to a plastic bag with rice and shake until it's evenly coated.
- Benefits : This bin helps toddlers with fine motor skills as they scoop, pour, and sift through the rice or pasta. Plus, the texture is soothing to touch!
3. Water Bead Sensory Bin
Water beads are smooth, squishy, and fascinating to play with. While they are a bit messier, they offer an entirely new texture and sensory experience for your toddler.
- Materials : Water beads (these can be purchased online or at most craft stores), a shallow bin, plastic spoons or cups, and small toys.
- How to Create : Hydrate the water beads according to the instructions on the package, then pour them into your sensory bin. Add a few plastic figurines or other small objects for your toddler to discover.
- Benefits : The squishy texture of the water beads helps toddlers develop tactile sensitivity. Plus, this activity is perfect for teaching cause‑and‑effect as toddlers learn how to roll, squish, or pour the beads.
4. Nature Sensory Bin
Take advantage of the outdoors by incorporating natural materials into your sensory bins. This can be a great way to explore the textures and scents of nature.
- Materials : Leaves, acorns, pinecones, rocks, sticks, and dirt. You can also add small plastic animals to create a little "wildlife adventure."
- How to Create : Gather the items from your backyard or a local park. Place them into the sensory bin, and let your toddler explore the natural elements. You can make it more interactive by asking your toddler to sort items by texture or size.
- Benefits : This sensory bin connects your toddler to the natural world while allowing them to engage their sense of touch, sight, and smell. It's also a great way to discuss the environment and nature with your child.
5. Shaving Cream Sensory Bin
For a super‑soft and smooth sensory experience, a shaving cream sensory bin is perfect for toddlers who love messy play.
- Materials : Shaving cream, plastic spoons, small toys, and food coloring (optional).
- How to Create : Fill your bin with a generous amount of shaving cream. Add a few drops of food coloring if you'd like to make the cream more colorful. Let your toddler use spoons, hands, or even toy animals to explore the shaving cream.
- Benefits : Shaving cream is light and fluffy, providing a totally different tactile experience. It's excellent for sensory exploration, and the mess is easy to clean up with a quick wipe‑down.
6. Oatmeal & Flour Sensory Bin
If you're looking for a bin that mimics the feel of sand but is safer for toddlers, try combining oatmeal and flour. The powdery texture will encourage scooping, pouring, and sifting activities.
- Materials : Oatmeal, flour, small toys, measuring spoons, and containers.
- How to Create : Mix equal parts oatmeal and flour in the sensory bin, and add small figurines or construction vehicles for your toddler to play with. You can also use different types of measuring cups and spoons to scoop and pour.
- Benefits : The combination of oatmeal and flour gives toddlers the tactile sensation of sand without the rough texture. It's perfect for pretend play and helps develop their fine motor skills.
7. Snow Sensory Bin (for Winter Play)
If you're missing the winter season, you can create a snow‑like experience indoors that's perfect for snowy day fun.
- Materials : Fake snow (you can find this at craft stores or online), small snow‑themed toys like plastic snowmen, sleds, and trees, or even cotton balls to mimic snowflakes.
- How to Create : Pour the fake snow or cotton balls into a bin, and add the winter toys for some snowy fun. You could also include small figurines like polar bears or penguins to make it feel like an arctic adventure.
- Benefits : This sensory bin is great for imaginative play and can teach toddlers about the seasons while letting them enjoy the feeling of winter indoors.
8. Color Sorting Sensory Bin
Introduce your toddler to the world of colors by creating a sorting activity within the sensory bin.
- Materials : Various colored materials such as pom‑poms, beads, buttons, or even colored pasta, small containers or bowls, and a color chart or color‑coded toys.
- How to Create : Fill the bin with colorful items. Then, challenge your toddler to sort the items by color into different containers. You can also make it a game by calling out colors and encouraging your child to find them.
- Benefits : This sensory bin promotes color recognition, sorting, and classification. It's also a great way to build vocabulary and cognitive skills.
9. DIY Foam Sensory Bin
Foam provides a soft, squishy texture that's perfect for sensory exploration, and you can easily make your own foam with just a few ingredients.
- Materials : Dish soap, water, and a hand mixer or whisk to create the foam, plus small toys or scoops.
- How to Create : Mix dish soap and water together, then use a whisk or hand mixer to create fluffy foam. Pour the foam into the sensory bin, and add toys like animals or vehicles for play.
- Benefits : The foam is fun to touch and helps toddlers work on their hand‑eye coordination as they play with the foam and toys.
Conclusion
Creating sensory bins for toddlers is a fantastic way to introduce new textures, colors, and concepts in a fun and engaging way. Whether you choose rice, water beads, or nature‑inspired materials, these easy DIY bins encourage exploration, creativity, and learning through play. Best of all, they're an affordable and simple way to bring sensory experiences right into your home. Get ready for endless hours of fun!