Kinetic sand is such a versatile sensory play material. I wanted to demonstrate just some of the many easy ways you can create a sensory bin using kinetic sand. Store bought kinetic sand can be expensive, so I usually make my own using this homemade kinetic sand recipe.
I wanted to show how easily you could create an interactive sensory experience using only kinetic sand and a few items that you may already have around your house. So for this, I used one package of purchased kinetic sand.
Kinetic Sand Sensory Bins:
The possibilities really are endless. You can reuse the same base over and over and create a new experience each time by changing what you fill it with. I also used a few different bin options including one with a lid so that it is a portable sensory bin. Plus if you have cats, the lid keeps them from thinking it’s a litter box!
Kinetic sand looks similar to regular sand but acts more like wet sand as it can be moulded and can hold shapes. Those properties make it an ideal tool for sensory play.
Bring the Beach Home Sensory Bin:
This one is especially appealing at the moment given the temperature outside! Create your own mini beach scene at home no matter how far you live from the beach.
Supplies needed:
- kinetic sand
- shells
- glass beads
- small wood slices
- rocks
Sandcastle Building Sensory Bin:
Recreate the feeling of playing in the sand while at home. Dig, build sandcastles, create moats.
Supplies needed:
Sea Turtle Sensory Bin:
Explore the life cycle of green sea turtles with this kinetic sand bin.
Supplies needed:
Cars Sensory Bin:
Use characters from the Cars movie or any toy cars you have on hand.
Supplies needed:
- kinetic sand
- toy cars
Rainforest Animals Sensory Bin:
Create an interactive learning station at home or in a classroom.
Supplies needed:
- kinetic sand
- Rainforest animals Toob
- optional: sticks or leaves
Construction Sensory Bin:
This theme is especially popular with boys! They can dig, scoop, move, build, and imagine.
Supplies needed:
- kinetic sand
- small construction vehicles
- construction mini erasers
- small wooden blocks
Dinosaur Sensory Bin:
This activity can be just for fun or to pair with a dinosaur learning unit.
Supplies needed:
- kinetic sand
- plastic dinosaurs
- optional: leaves or sticks or small toy trees
Alphabet Sensory Bin:
It’s amazing how much you can do with just a set of alphabet letters and kinetic sand!
Supplies needed:
With this sensory activity, here are some things you can do to help kids work on their letter recognition, reading, and spelling:
- have kids spell out words of their choosing
- have them recreate words from a spelling list
- allow them to seek out and read words that you make in the sand
- have them match a letter with its imprint and say the name of the letter
- imprint the letters of the word and take the letters out of the bin and have your child find the corresponding letter that matches the imprint like a puzzle.
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