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.
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
POM POM VALENTINE’S DAY SOUP PLAY SET IDEA
VALENTINE’S DAY SMORES PLAY SET IDEA – ADD FOAM HEARTS
GREEN EGGS PLAY SET – USE CRAFT FELT, POM POMS AND PLASTIC EGGS
USE DRY NOODLES AND BROWN KINETIC SAND TO MAKE HEDGEHOGS
USE BROWN KINETIC SAND AS “DIRT” FOR FLOWER PLAY
POM POM ICE CREAM SENSORY BIN IDEA FOR STORY TIME
CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT
BIRD NEST PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER, PLASTIC EGGS AND PAPER CUPS
ST. PATRICK’S DAY SENSORY BIN IDEA
POPCORN SENSORY BIN IDEA – USE COTTON BALLS AND POM POMS
CARROT GARDEN PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER FOR THE DIRT
HATCHING DINOSAUR EGG SENSORY BIN – USE PLASTIC EASTER EGGS
UPCYCLED PLASTIC EASTER EGGS TO MAKE BIRDS OR CHICKS
CARDBOARD AND FELT SMORES PLAY SET
KINETIC SAND AND MR. POTATO HEAD SENSORY BIN
CARROT GARDEN PLAY – BROWN KINETIC SAND AND CARROT ERASERS
DINOSAUR DIG – CRINKLE PAPER AND DINOSAUR BEACH TOYS
BIRD NEST SENSORY BIN WITH CRINKLE PAPER
CUPCAKE BAKING – USE THICK CRAFT YARN, POM POMS AND PLASTIC CUPS
ICE CREAM PARLOR – CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC CONES
RAINBOW KINETIC SAND SENSORY BIN
CRAFT FELT & POM POM COOKIE IDEA
TISSUE PAPER ICE CREAM SCOOP IDEA
USE PLAYDOUGH AND COOKIE CUTTERS TO MAKE EASTER EGGS
PETE THE CAT GROOVY BUTTONS – BLUE KINETIC SAND AND LARGE BUTTONS
FARM DRAMATIC PLAY – KINETIC SAND, CRINKLE PAPER AND PLASTIC ANIMALS
FAIRY GARDEN – USE KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES FROM DOLLAR TREE
BUG PLAY – KINETIC SAND AND PLASTIC BUGS SENSORY BIN
LEMONADE STAND – ICE TRAYS, PLASTIC ICE CUBES AND FAKE LEMON SLICES
GNOME GARDEN – KINETIC SAND AND DECOR PIECES
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE PLAY – KINETIC SAND & POM POMS
USE POPSICLE STICKS, KINETIC SAND, PLASTIC FROGS AND ROCKS FOR THIS FROGS ON A LOG IDEA
POOL NOODLE LAZY RIVER SENSORY BIN IDEA
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC PLAY TRAY – GREEN GRASS PLAYDOUGH AND PICNIC NAPKINS
STRAWBERRY PIE PLAY – GRAB FAUZ STRAWBERRIES FROM HOBBY LOBBY
KINETIC SAND SMORES W/ CARDBOARD & COTTON BALLS
WATERMELON SLICE PLAY – GREEN FELT, PINK KINETIC SAND AND POM POMS
PIZZA PLAY – YELLOW KINETIC SAND AND RED BUTTONS
ICE CREAM PARLOR PLAY – CHOCOLATE KINETIC SAND AND EMBELLISHMENTS
PATRIOTIC PIE – USE CRAFT FELT AND POM POMS
PATRIOTIC SMORES – USE CARDBOARD, FELT AND RED, WHITE & BLUE POM POMS
FALL PUMPKIN FAIRY GARDEN – USE KINETIC SAND & EMBELLISHMENTS
COOKIE CUTTER DALMATIAN PLAY – USE WHITE PLAYDOUGH AND BLACK POM POMS
POPCORN SENSORY TABLE IDEA – USE POM POMS & PLASTIC POPCORN BOXES
DRAMATIC PLAY IDEA FOR “IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE” – USE CRAFT FELT TO MAKE THE PANCAKES
ICE CREAM SHOP – USE RAINBOW COLORED CRINKLE PAPER FOR A FUN TWIST!
SNOW CONE SHOP – USE PAPER CONES AND LARGE POM POMS
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS PLAY IDEA – USE CRINKLE PAPER AND FELT TO MAKE TACOS
POM POM ICE CREAM CONE SHOP FOR A SUMMER STORY TIME EVENT
PETE THE CAT SHIRTS – USE PLAYDOUGH, BUTTONS AND SHIRT COOKIE CUTTERS
PENGUIN ON VACATION – USE KINETIC SAND, PLASTIC PENGUINS AND OCEAN ELEMENTS
CATERPILLAR PLAY – USE FELT LEAF CUTOUTS AND POM POMS
CLOUDLY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS – USE CRAFT YARN, POM POMS AND PLASTIC FOOD
GATHER ROUND CAMPFIRE – USE BATTERY OPERATED TEALIGHTS & BUNCHED UP TISSUE PAPER TO MAKE THE “CAMPFIRE”
PATRIOTIC CHERRY PIE -USE FELT, POM POMS AND FAKE CHERRIES
CACTUS DESSERT PLAY -USE KINETIC SAND & PLASTIC ICE CUBE CACTUSES
BLUE KINETIC SAND AND PLASTIC FROGS BRING THIS “POND” TO LIFE!
PATRIOTIC CUPCAKE PLAY – USE KINETIC SAND, SMALL PANS AND EMBELLISHMENTS
SMORES PLAY SET IDEA – ADD BUNCHED UP TISSUE PAPER FOR THE “FIRE”
USE PLASTIC UNICORNS AND KINETIC SAND FOR THIS MAGICAL IDEA
POPCORN SENSORY BIN IDEA – USE COTTON BALLS AND CRINKLE PAPER
TACO PLAY SET – VARIOUS COLORS OF CRINKLE PAPER AND A FELT “TACO” SHELL
PIGEON WON’T COUNT TO TEN – GRAB THE COUNTER VIA OUR AFFILATE LINK
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!
