Sensory bins are a wonderful tool for use not only with special needs children, but also with toddlers, preschoolers and school aged kids. They can be used at home, in daycares, preschools, camps, homeschools, and classrooms. They can even be created to be portable and taken on trips.
Sensory bins need not be expensive or time consuming to make. So much learning, discovery and excitement can take place as a result of allowing your child or student to explore them.
Sensory bins are a big part of things for us around here. I thought it might be helpful for you if I put all of our most successful sensory bins in one place so that it’s easy to access. I will continue to add the kids’ new favourites as we make them.
For instructions on how to create a sensory bin, information about why they are so beneficial for children, relevant recipes, printable idea lists and more, get your copy of my ebook Sensory Bins: the What, the How & the Why.
You can click on any of the pictures or titles to go to each specific post and get details on what is in each bin and how I put them together.
Our Best Sensory Bins:
Seaside Sensory Bin using cut up pool noodles and a base of sand 
Dollar Store Sensory Bin and ideas for other inexpensive sensory items
Penguin Sensory Bin made especially for Granola Girl’s love of penguins
Christ-centered Easter sensory bin featuring Resurrection Eggs
The Calming Lavender Sensory Bin is simple and wonderful.
Our Coffee Sensory Bin uses actual coffee ground and beans to create an olfactory experience. 
Valentine’s sensory bin in red, white and pink
Winter sensory bin with many textures
Zoo sensory bin using dry chickpeas and lentils as a base
Thanksgiving sensory bin including scented candle
Puzzle sensory bin for Autism Awareness Day
Birthday party sensory bin for our birthday theme unit
Rainbow sensory bin which was obviously colourful and was one of the kids’ all-time favourites!
Pirate sensory bin complete with eye patch
Spring sensory bin with rice dyed green as a base
Magnet sensory bin with worksheets
St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin
Knights and kings sensory bin fit perfectly with our history studies at the time and with the letter “K” theme
Ice Cream sensory bin – if I were to do this one again, I would add some pompoms to add some variety in texture, but the kids did have hours of fun with this bin
Horse sensory bin using hamster shavings
Gingerbread sensory table with scented gingerbread play dough
Fall (autumn) sensory bin made using popcorn seeds as the base
Dinosaur sensory bin with triceratops bones for the kids to assemble
Bugs sensory bin made a great introduction to learning about bugs and exploring outside
Sensory bin for the letter “C” using things from around the house including chocolate chips just for fun
Frog sensory bin using dyed dry pasta as a base
I Spy sensory bin using dry black beans as a base with a corresponding list of items for the kids to find
Garden Sensory Bin in a plastic pail
Summer Sensory Bin in a small inflatable boat
Frozen Treasure Find made by layering items and water and freezing in batches in an ice cream pail
Monsters Sensory Bin using pompoms as a base
For instructions on how to create a sensory bin, information about why they are so beneficial for children, relevant recipes, printable idea lists and more, get your copy of my ebook Sensory Bins: the What, the How & the Why.
Join me for a free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities and get your Sensory System Behaviours Easy Reference Cards.
Looking for more sensory bin ideas? You can find all of our sensory bins (we are constantly adding new ones) here:
