Looking for a way to shake off the same old day to day activities? Sensory bins are one of the easiest ways to engage our preschooler and let them explore and play. Whether it is in a classroom or at home, the sensory bin or table is a fantastic way to help keep your child active and learning. Check out these fun, unique things you can use to fill your sensory bin.
Top Five Sensory Bin Ideas
Looking for a fun way to spice up your sensory bin? Check out these fun options to let your child explore and create. I have also included my favorite ways to use these fun fillers to add an educational element.
1. Snow
Sounds crazy to think of bringing snow into your house, but it is my favorite. It is a perfect way to let little hands enjoy playing with snow with out all of the cold gear and you can avoid cold noses. Throw in some measuring cups and other sand toys to complete the experience.
Educational Add On: Pair with different 3-D shape containers (plastic ornament bulb, tin can, plastic tupperware, etc.) and create "snowballs" in all the shapes. As you create them, talk about the names of the 3-D shapes and different number of sides.
2. Water and Bubbles
Throw a towel down below the bin and fill it up with some water and dish soap or bubble bath. You can add in some animals to have a bath time or even clean off some dirty toys. Give children a clean toothbrush to scrub the animals.
Educational Add On: Throw in some plastic letters and give the words a bath. Have children find the letters to sight words or starting sounds and have them wash and build the words.
3. Rice and Scoopers
Have any scoops lying around from old protein powder or other items? Throw them in your bin with rice and let the kids go to town. They will love scooping different scoops and filling containers.
Educational Add On: Grab some different sized bowls and have your preschooler count how many scoops it takes to fill up the bowl. Even better, then have them put them in order from least amount to most amount. Perfect counting and sequencing practice.
4. Toilet Paper Tubes, Tape, and Bouncy Balls
This one might work better for the older kids, but turn your sensory bin into a STEM table. Let your children tape the tubes together to create different courses for the bouncy balls to roll through. Even better, mark a start and end station and see if your child can work through the challenge.
Educational Add On: Keep the STEM challenges going! Challenge your child to reach different levels, lengths, or other areas. See if they can make the tube curve or have them try to connect without tape. The possibilities are endless.
5. Clothes Pins and Plates
This one is the most mess free option, but still one of my absolute favorites. Throw in some paper plates and clothes pins and let your children practice clipping the clothes pins to the plates. This is fantastic fine motor practice for your preschooler and it will help develop your child's muscles for writing and other activities.
Educational Add On: The possibilities are endless with this one. You can put numbers, letters, colors, or shapes on the clothes pins and you can match to the plates. You can also use the letters for your child's name to help them work on spelling their name, etc.
The sensory bin is truly one of my favorite centers in my classroom. It is one of the spaces that I am able to be the most creative and build a new wonderland for the students. With a little planning and the willingness to let them get messy, the sensory bin will give your child hours of fun and engagement!
