Sensory bins are an easy activity to set up for your kids. They’re engaging, hands-on, and so much fun! Let’s talk more about it.
What Is a Sensory Bin?
So what exactly is a sensory bin?
In a nutshell, a sensory bin is a container filled with some kind of fun-to-touch base.
With a sensory bin, you can provide a simple, hands-on, sense-engaging experience in a contained area.
Who can Use A Sensory BIn?
Kids aged 2 and up. Basically whenever they stop trying to eat everything, they can start playing with sensory bins.
However, some sensory bins can be made with taste-safe or edible materials, so toddlers younger than 2 can get involved.
To be on the safe side, I’d recommend using a sensory bag or bottle for toddlers under 2.
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Benefits to Sensory Play
Kids learn best when they can touch and interact with something.
Sensory bins provide them with opportunities for:
- open-ended play
- sensory stimulation and exploration
- language development
- learning early concepts of measurement
- creativity and imaginative play
- fine motor skills
- critical thinking skills
- practicing independent play
*Do you want to dig a little deeper into sensory bin play? Sneak a peek at our sensory bins online course here.*
Why Use Bins for Sensory Play?
Sensory play isn’t limited to bins. For example, play dough, slime, playing outside, and even cooking together in the kitchen can provide kids with sensory stimulation.
But what I particularly like about sensory bins are that they’re:
- easy to make and inexpensive
- compact and easy to pack away
- super versatile (change them up easily)
- contained (the only rule I enforce during sensory bin play is to keep the filler inside the bin)
- easy to put together indoors when you can’t go outside or leave home
How Do I Make a Sensory Bin?
There’s only two steps! Pick a container, then fill it with stuff.
Let’s break that down for you.
Step One: Pick a Container
First you’ll need a container. Nearly any wide, open, waterproof container can be used as a sensory bin.
This is where you can make your sensory bin as fancy or as cost-effective as you’d like.
I like using a clear 3 gallon plastic storage container (roughly 15″Lx11″Wx5″H) for our everyday sensory bin, but I’ve also used a smaller, shallower galvanized metal tray for special sensory bin set-ups.
We also typically put our sensory bin inside a larger bin or a full-size baking sheet to help contain spills. Other options include a large concrete mixing tray or even kiddie pool.
Sensory Bin Options
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Here are a few good beginner options to get you started:
- underbed storage bin
- medium-sized storage bin
- square craft storage bin
- large plastic food containers
- large baking sheet
- waterproof decorative tray
- aluminum tray
This short list is just a starting point. Be creative. You may already have something at home to use as a dedicated sensory bin. If so, use it!
When you are ready to upgrade, your kids might really enjoy a full-fledged sensory table.
Also, check out this DIY sensory table option.
STEP TWO: Fill Your Bin
At this point, you can decide on a theme (fall, ocean, farm, etc.). (Also, you don’t have to do a theme! Sometimes just having a fun filler or fancy tool is enough.)
Pick a sensory bin filler that goes with your theme, or one that you just happen to have or want to try. Pour that in your bin.
Then add a few tools and extras, like animal figurines, trucks, natural objects, or whatever goes with theme.
Sensory Bin Fillers
Check out this post for a huge list of sensory bin fillers.
Sensory Bin Tools and Extras
It’s great to have a few tools and extras in your bin for kids to manipulate the filler and be inspired to play.
These are some ideas to get you started:
- scissor scoops
- tongs or tweezers
- beginner chopsticks
- shovels
- scoops
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- colored bowls
- whisk
- potato masher
- cookie cutters
- small figurines
- small cars or trucks
Safety Tips For Sensory Bins
Supervise. Always supervise. Sensory bin playtime is a perfect time to sit back with a cup of hot coffee and just watch the kids play for a minute.
Use non-choking hazard fillers if your kid likes to mouth. Or, you can always put the filler in a bag and make a sensory bag.
If a child has had an infectious disease recently, dispose of filler and sanitize all other materials.
Of course, it goes without saying, make sure the filler you’re using isn’t moldy and gross. Playing with stale cereal and reusing dry rice is OK in my book, but if a filler has gotten smelly or weird-looking, then it’s NOT OK anymore!
*Do you want to dig a little deeper into sensory bin play? Sneak a peek at our sensory bins online course here.*
9 Tips for Storing and Cleaning up
These are my top tips for storing and cleaning up messy sensory bins.
Most of these clean-up tips are preventative!
If you can prepare for the worst ahead of time, clean up will be a breeze. Even our messiest sensory bin (see muddy farm) takes me less than 5 minutes to clean up.
- Put a blanket down under the bin for dry fillers. You can shake the spills right back into the bin when finished, or into the trash for easy clean up.
- Put a shower curtain liner down for wet stuff. Shower curtain liners are also machine washable!
- Keep individual fillers in separate zip-top bags in your sensory bin so all your stuff is together. I also have another bag with all our sensory bin tools.
- Set out small amounts of filler until you feel comfortable with larger amounts. Less filler = less to clean up if it all gets dumped on the floor.
- The vacuum is your friend. Use it well. We recently upgraded our old vacuum to this awesome cordless one. And I have to say it has gotten way more use than our old plug-in vacuum.
- Take the bin outside whenever possible.
- Be smart about location. The bathroom or another tiled floor area are easy clean-up spots for wet sensory bins. Whatever you do, don’t choose an area filled with white furniture or expensive rugs.
- Keep rags nearby for quick clean-ups during wet and messy sensory bin play.
- Ask kids to help you clean up. Keep a little dustpan and broom for them to use. Toddlers love to “help,” and we really need to take advantage of this stage before they figure out that cleaning is a chore!
Keeping Kids from Going Wild
It’s impossible to let kids explore and create without any mess at all. So first, have the expectation that a little mess is going to happen and try to be OK with that! Messy play is awesome for kids.
Next, set ground rules for sensory bin play and actually enforce them.
With the exception of pom poms (don’t ask how pom poms got excluded, it was a moment of weakness!), our girls are not allowed to throw any of the sensory bin items.
If they disobey, the bin gets taken away for the rest of the day.
The first few times kids disobey and you have to take the sensory bin away, it’ll be really hard not to give in and give it back, especially if you both have been waiting to try it.
But stay strong, and they’ll eventually see that your rules are not to be messed around with!
Keep in mind that the first (and possibly second and third) times you do this, will likely be the messiest. Kids will learn to self-regulate and hold themselves back a little better each time they play.
Supervise! Even if it’s from afar, do NOT leave them all alone with a sensory bin. You know why.
Or join in on the fun and make some memories. Some of our best times are when the girls and I experience some messy fun together.
How To Engage Kids with a Sensory Bin
There are many ways to engage and interact with your kids using a sensory bin.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Be elaborative and descriptive when you speak.
- Use sensory bin as a backdrop for your child’s favorite story.
- Make up new stories together.
- Talk about using senses and describe what you see, feel, hear, etc.
You can also just let them play. Let them create, discover, and just be kids.
The best part about open-ended play is that the world seems to slow down for kids. Just this once, they can go at their own pace without being rushed or controlled.
They’re free to immerse themselves in their imagination and just play.
Kids are great at entertaining themselves if we provide them with the opportunity and teach them how to play.
*Do you want to dig a little deeper into sensory bin play? Sneak a peek at our sensory bins online course here.*
Sensory Bin Ideas from Entertain Your Toddler
Hope you’re ready to get started with sensory bins!
If you’re a total beginner, start with a water-based bin! My next favorite for beginners would be dried beans or pasta.
Browse through this list of our best sensory bin ideas. Each photo is linked to the full post.
Dino Dig with Salt Dough Fossils
Floating Pom Poms and Color Sorting
Valentine’s Day Colored Moon Sand
Cereal Safari for Toddlers
Pom Pom Eggs in the Grass Sensory Bin
Fill-an-Ornament Sensory Bin
How to Make Bubble Soup
Snowballs and Snowplows Play Tray
Colorful Pasta Sensory Bin
Halloween Fine Motor Sensory Bin
Cereal Sensory Bin
Oatmeal Farm Sensory Tray
Construction Rock Quarry Sensory Bin
Ice Cream Parlor Dramatic Play Activity
Water Play: The Ultimate Free, No-Setup, Indoor Activity
How to Make Cookie Dough for Sensory Play
Build Your Own Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin
Alphabet Wash: Indoor Water Play
Peppermint Jingle Bells Sensory Bin
Popcorn Kernel Sensory Bin for Kids
Color Sorting Sensory Bin for Kids
13 Spooky Sensory Bins for Halloween
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Sensory bins are a popular activity for kids that provide a hands-on and engaging experience. They involve using a container filled with various materials that are fun to touch and explore. Sensory bins offer several benefits for children, including open-ended play, sensory stimulation, language development, learning early concepts of measurement, creativity, fine motor skills, and critical thinking skills. They also promote independent play and can be easily customized with different themes and fillers.
Sensory bins are suitable for kids aged 2 and up, although some bins can be made with taste-safe or edible materials, allowing toddlers younger than 2 to participate. For toddlers under 2, it is recommended to use a sensory bag or bottle instead of a bin to ensure safety.
Sensory play is not limited to bins alone. Other activities such as play dough, slime, playing outside, and cooking together in the kitchen can also provide sensory stimulation. However, sensory bins have certain advantages. They are easy to make, inexpensive, compact, versatile, and can be set up indoors when going outside is not possible.
To make a sensory bin, you only need two steps. First, pick a container. Almost any wide, open, waterproof container can be used as a sensory bin. You can choose a clear plastic storage container, a galvanized metal tray, a concrete mixing tray, or even a kiddie pool. Second, fill the bin with various materials that match a theme or simply provide a fun sensory experience. Examples of sensory bin fillers include dried beans, pasta, salt dough fossils, pom poms, colored moon sand, cereal, rocks, ice cream sprinkles, and many more. You can also add tools and extras like scoops, tongs, measuring cups, figurines, and vehicles to enhance the play experience.
When using sensory bins, it is important to supervise children at all times, especially for younger kids. Safety tips include using non-choking hazard fillers, disposing of fillers and sanitizing materials after a child has had an infectious disease, and ensuring that the fillers are not moldy or in poor condition.
Cleaning up after sensory bin play can be made easier by taking some preventative measures. Placing a blanket under the bin for dry fillers allows spills to be easily shaken back into the bin or into the trash. Using a shower curtain liner for wet fillers provides an easy-to-clean surface. Keeping individual fillers in separate zip-top bags and having designated storage for sensory bin tools can help with organization. Additionally, having rags, a vacuum cleaner, and involving kids in the cleaning process can make cleanup more efficient.
While a little mess is expected during sensory bin play, setting ground rules and enforcing them can help keep things under control. It is important to supervise children and not leave them alone with a sensory bin. Engaging with kids during sensory bin play can be done by asking open-ended questions, being descriptive, using the bin as a backdrop for storytelling, and encouraging imaginative play.
If you're interested in exploring sensory bin play further, there are online courses available that provide more in-depth information and ideas. Additionally, there are numerous sensory bin ideas and themes available online, ranging from water-based bins to themed bins like dinosaur digs, flower teas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, and more.
Overall, sensory bins are a versatile and enjoyable activity for kids that promote learning, creativity, and independent play. They can be easily customized and offer a wide range of sensory experiences.
