Some days I find it hard to allow my 16 month old to explore her world when all she wants to do is put things in her mouth. Sound familiar? There are a ton of sensory bin ideas out there, but so many include small choking hazards. I wanted to create sensory bins that she could explore independently without me hovering over her making sure she didn’t eat the filler inside. If you’re looking for an easy, cheap, and safe activity for your toddler check out the steps below to create your own sensory bins at home.
First, pick out your sensory bin.
The bigger the bin, the more you can add to it. Make sure your bin is shallow enough so those little arms can reach the bottom. If you’d like to keep all of these items in this bin long-term, consider finding one with a lid for easy storage. I wanted to go cheap, so I simply purchased an open bin from the Dollar Store.
Choose a theme for your sensory bin.
Choose a theme around your child’s interests or keep things simple and just provide tools and a filler. You’d be surprised how many young toddlers just want to fill up a cup and dump it back out over and over again. Here are some ideas for themes:
- Garden with flowers, pots, and a shovel
- Bug garden with bugs, large rocks and a magnifying glass
- Ocean with fish and a net
- Beach with large seashells and starfish
- Construction zone with trucks and large rocks
- Snowy day with marshmallows, a sled and a shovel
- Zoo with different animals, fences and trees
- Mystery bin- hide pictures of family members, foam letters/numbers, or objects with different shapes, sizes, and textures for your toddler to find
Choose your edible filler.
There are endless options here. To make it even more fun, play with the texture by using your food processor and add color using food dye. Below are ideas for edible fillers:
- Cereal- looks just like sand or dirt when you put them in the food processor! Our favorites are Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Cocoa Puffs
- Cookies or animal crackers
- Goldfish or crackers
- Sprinkles
- Cooked pasta or rice
- Water- Add food coloring!
- Cooked beans
- Pudding
- Jello
- Whipped cream
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Oatmeal
- Mashed Potatoes
Pick out some toys that match your theme.
Remember less is more especially if your bin is on the smaller size. I’ve found that the Dollar Store is a great place to find items for your bin, but don’t rule out things you already have in your house. You can even skip this step and go to the next.
Choose tools for your sensory bin.
Think about tools that are age-appropriate and will keep your child engaged. For my daughter, I like to use cups, spoons, and shovels. For children that are working on more advanced fine motor skills, consider using tongs, kid-safe tweezers, funnels, or eye droppers. Check out this tool kit. Don’t forget to look around your own kitchen for tools before going out to buy something you already have.
Create an area for sensory bin play.
This may be at your kitchen table, on the floor, or in the backyard. Your toddler will not keep all of the sensory fun inside the sensory bin, so expect a mess. I like to use this mat that we typically use during meal times. When she’s finished playing I take the mat outside and shake it out or throw it in the washer.
Share your sensory bin creations below or on Instagram and tag @boogersandcrumbs
