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Sensory Bin Ideas For Story Time Fun!

When engaging in craft activities, it is important for young children to have adult supervision at ALL times. It is also recommended to use supplies that are suitable for your child’s age. Feel free to modify materials or steps to meet your specific requirements.

Sensory Bin Ideas For Story Time Fun!

Every parent wants their child to grow with a healthy mix of creativity and learning. That’s why sensory bins are becoming a popular choice among parents and educators.

These simple but effective tools engage children in hands-on play, helping them explore textures, colors, and shapes while developing essential skills.

In this blog post, we’ll explore over 30+ sensory bin ideas inspired by books, that will captivate your child’s imagination and support their developmental milestones. Whether you’re new to sensory bins or looking for fresh inspiration, this guide has got you covered!

OCEAN FUN – ALL YOU NEED IS BLUE CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC FISH

RAIN BIN – THIS ONE IS BLUE CRINKLE PAPER {RAINDROPS} AND WOOD PIECES

PIZZA PLAY SET {CHECK OUT OUR TUTORIAL} THEN ADD A TAKE-OUT CONTAINER FOR ADDED FUN

PRETEND BEEHIVE – A $1 SILICON ICE TRAY FROM DOLLAR TREE AND SOME BEE SHAPED PIECES

COFFEE SHOP PLAY SET – CUPS, EMPTY CREAMER BOTTLE, BEANS, COTTON BALLS AND CURLING RIBBON

WORM PLAY – PIPE CLEANERS BENT INTO WORMS AND BEANS FOR THE “DIRT”

SPAGHETTI FUN – YELLOW YARN {NOODLES} RED YARN {SAUCE} AND POM POMS {MEATBALLS}

FIRE STATION PLAY TRAY – ADD BLUE GEMS FOR THE WATER, WOOD PIECES, POM POMS FOR THE “FIRE” AND TEA LIGHTS

DINOSAUR DIG – ROCKS, PLASTIC DINOSAURS, PLASTIC EGGS AND A BONE COOKIE CUTTER

OUTERSPACE FUN – STARS, POM POMS, KINETIC SAND AND WOOD SHAPES

ICE CREAM SHOP – POM POMS, BEADS, SLIME, SPOON AND CONES

FAIRY TALE FUN – KINETIC SAND, GEMS, PLASTIC FROGS, WANDS AND RED ROSES

FARM PLAY – GREEN CRINKLE PAPER {GRASS} BLUE GEMS {WATER} PLASTIC ANIMALS AND WOOD PIECES

BIRTHDAY CAKE PLAY – CANDLES, BOWS, POM POMS AND EMBELLISHMENTS

PIRATE PLAY – GEMS, PLASTIC FISH, COINS, WOOD AND PLAYDOUGH

BEACH FUN – PLASTIC FISH, GEMS, SEASHELLS, ROCKS AND HAWAIIAN FLOWERS

ANOTHER PIRATE TRAY IDEA – STARS, GEMS, PIRATE COINS AND KINETIC SAND

HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SET – POM POMS, PLAYDOUGH AND VARIOUS PRETEND FRUIT

MERMAID PLAY SET IDEA – PLASTIC BEADS/FISH AND KINETIC SAND

BUBBLE BATH IDEA WITH RUBBER DUCKS, BLUE CRINKLE PAPER AND KITCHEN SPONGES

PETE THE CAT – LETTERS, BUTTONS AND WIGGLE EYES

CAMPFIRE – POM POMS, BUTTONS, COTTON BALLS, CRINKLE PAPER, WOOD CRAFT STICKS AND TEALIGHTS

TACO PLAY SET – VARIOUS COLORS OF CRINKLE PAPER AND A FELT “TACO” SHELL

BUGS – PLASTIC BUGS, CRINKLE PAPER, KINETIC SAND, FLOWERS AND ROCKS

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS – CRINKLE PAPER AND LARGE POM POMS

TURKEY AT THE BEACH – KINETIC SAND, PLASTIC FISH, GEMS, FEATHERS, WIGGLE EYES AND BEADS

ICE CREAM SHOP – PLAYDOUGH, EMBELLISHMENTS AND ICE CREAM SCOOP

MERMAID FUN – GEMS, BEADS AND PLAYDOUGH

PATRIOTIC – GEMS, STARS, FLAG TOOTHPICKS AND BEADS

BEACH FUN – KINETIC SAND, ROCKS, STAR FISH AND GEMS

PIRATE FUN – GEMS, COINS, PLASTIC FISH AND PLAYDOUGH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FUN – PLAYDOUGH, EMBELLISHMENTS, KITCHEN UTENSILS AND CANDLES

CUPCAKE PLAY SET – EGGS, PLASTIC CUPS, COTTON BALLS AND CRINKLE PAPER

COOKIE PLAY SET – FELT SHAPES, POM POMS, UTENSILS, TAKE OUT CONTAINER AND PIZZA TRAY

PUMPKIN PATCH – BEANS, FAKE PUMPKINS AND ACCESSORIES FROM HOBBY LOBBY

THE DAY IT RAINED HEARTS PLAY SET IDEA

THE DAY IT RAINED HEARTS PLAY SET IDEA

POM POM VALENTINE'S DAY SOUP PLAY SET IDEA

POM POM VALENTINE’S DAY SOUP PLAY SET IDEA

VALENTINE'S DAY SMORES PLAY SET IDEA - ADD FOAM HEARTS

VALENTINE’S DAY SMORES PLAY SET IDEA – ADD FOAM HEARTS

Use plastic eggs, craft felt and pom poms to make GREEN EGGS for story time

GREEN EGGS PLAY SET – USE CRAFT FELT, POM POMS AND PLASTIC EGGS

USE DRY NOODLES AND BROWN KINETIC SAND TO MAKE HEDGEHOGS

USE DRY NOODLES AND BROWN KINETIC SAND TO MAKE HEDGEHOGS

USE BROWN KINETIC SAND AS "DIRT" FOR FLOWER PLAY

USE BROWN KINETIC SAND AS “DIRT” FOR FLOWER PLAY

POM POM ICE CREAM SENSORY BIN IDEA FOR STORY TIME

POM POM ICE CREAM SENSORY BIN IDEA FOR STORY TIME

CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA - USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT

CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT

BIRD NEST PLAY IDEA - USE CRINKLE PAPER, PLASTIC EGGS AND PAPER CUPS

BIRD NEST PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER, PLASTIC EGGS AND PAPER CUPS

ST. PATRICK'S DAY SENSORY BIN IDEA

ST. PATRICK’S DAY SENSORY BIN IDEA

POPCORN SENSORY BIN IDEA - USE COTTON BALLS AND POM POMS

POPCORN SENSORY BIN IDEA – USE COTTON BALLS AND POM POMS

CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA - USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT

CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT

DINOSAUR EGG SENSORY BIN - USE PLASTIC EASTER EGGS

HATCHING DINOSAUR EGG SENSORY BIN – USE PLASTIC EASTER EGGS

UPCYCLED PLASTIC EASTER EGGS TO MAKE BIRDS OR CHICKS

UPCYCLED PLASTIC EASTER EGGS TO MAKE BIRDS OR CHICKS

CARDBOARD AND FELT SMORES PLAY SET

CARDBOARD AND FELT SMORES PLAY SET

KINETIC SAND AND MR. POTATO HEAD SENSORY BIN

KINETIC SAND AND MR. POTATO HEAD SENSORY BIN

CARROT GARDEN PLAY - BROWN KINETIC SAND AND CARROT ERASERS

CARROT GARDEN PLAY – BROWN KINETIC SAND AND CARROT ERASERS

DINOSAUR DIG - CRINKLE PAPER AND DINOSAUR BEACH TOYS

DINOSAUR DIG – CRINKLE PAPER AND DINOSAUR BEACH TOYS

BIRD NEST SENSORY BIN WITH CRINKLE PAPER

BIRD NEST SENSORY BIN WITH CRINKLE PAPER

CUPCAKE BAKING - USE THICK CRAFT YARN, POM POMS AND PLASTIC CUPS

CUPCAKE BAKING – USE THICK CRAFT YARN, POM POMS AND PLASTIC CUPS

ICE CREAM PARLOR - CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC CONES

ICE CREAM PARLOR – CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC CONES

RAINBOW KINETIC SAND SENSORY BIN

RAINBOW KINETIC SAND SENSORY BIN

CRAFT FELT & POM POM COOKIE IDEA

CRAFT FELT & POM POM COOKIE IDEA

TISSUE PAPER ICE CREAM SCOOP IDEA

TISSUE PAPER ICE CREAM SCOOP IDEA

USE PLAYDOUGH AND COOKIE CUTTERS TO MAKE EASTER EGGS

USE PLAYDOUGH AND COOKIE CUTTERS TO MAKE EASTER EGGS

PETE THE CAT GROOVY BUTTONS - BLUE KINETIC SAND AND LARGE BUTTONS

PETE THE CAT GROOVY BUTTONS – BLUE KINETIC SAND AND LARGE BUTTONS

FARM DRAMATIC PLAY - KINETIC SAND, CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC ANIMALS

FARM DRAMATIC PLAY – KINETIC SAND, CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC ANIMALS

FAIRY GARDEN - USE KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES FROM DOLLAR TREE

FAIRY GARDEN – USE KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES FROM DOLLAR TREE

BUG PLAY - KINETIC SAND AND PLASTIC BUGS

BUG PLAY – KINETIC SAND AND PLASTIC BUGS SENSORY BIN

LEMONADE STAND - ICE TRAYS, PLASTIC ICE CUBES AND FAKE LEMON SLICES

LEMONADE STAND – ICE TRAYS, PLASTIC ICE CUBES AND FAKE LEMON SLICES

GNOME GARDEN - KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES

GNOME GARDEN – KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE PLAY - KINETIC SAND & POM POMS

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE PLAY – KINETIC SAND & POM POMS

USE POPSICLE STICKS, KINETIC SAND, PLASTIC FROGS AND ROCKS FOR THIS FROGS ON A LOG IDEA

USE POPSICLE STICKS, KINETIC SAND, PLASTIC FROGS AND ROCKS FOR THIS FROGS ON A LOG IDEA

POOL NOODLE LAZY RIVER SENSORY BIN IDEA

POOL NOODLE LAZY RIVER SENSORY BIN IDEA

TEDDY BEAR PICNIC PLAY TRAY

TEDDY BEAR PICNIC PLAY TRAY – GREEN GRASS PLAYDOUGH AND PICNIC NAPKINS

STRAWBERRY PIE PLAY - GRAB FAUZ STRAWBERRIES FROM HOBBY LOBBY

STRAWBERRY PIE PLAY – GRAB FAUZ STRAWBERRIES FROM HOBBY LOBBY

KINETIC SAND SMORES W/ CARDBOARD & COTTON BALLS

KINETIC SAND SMORES W/ CARDBOARD & COTTON BALLS

WATERMELON SLICE PLAY - GREEN FELT, PINK KINETIC SAND AND POM POMS

WATERMELON SLICE PLAY – GREEN FELT, PINK KINETIC SAND AND POM POMS

PIZZA PLAY - YELLOW KINETIC SAND AND RED BUTTONS

PIZZA PLAY – YELLOW KINETIC SAND AND RED BUTTONS

ICE CREAM PARLOR PLAY - CHOCOLATE KINETIC SAND AND EMBELLISHMENTS ICE CREAM PARLOR PLAY - CHOCOLATE KINETIC SAND AND EMBELLISHMENTS

ICE CREAM PARLOR PLAY – CHOCOLATE KINETIC SAND AND EMBELLISHMENTS

Sensory bins provide a myriad of benefits for young children. Primarily, they stimulate the senses—touch, sight, and even smell—creating a rich experience that encourages exploration.

Sensory play aids in the development of motor skills as kids manipulate small objects, pour rice, or dig in the sand. Additionally, sensory bins help improve focus and concentration.

When children engage in such activities, they naturally practice mindfulness, which can be incredibly calming. Lastly, these bins offer endless opportunities for imaginative play, allowing kids to create their own little worlds.

On that note, we hope these ideas inspire YOU and your little one today! Be sure to bookmark this post because it WILL be growing as the year goes by and we don’t want you to miss the inspiration!

stacey-signature-2023


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