Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere! It’s that time of year again, and I have to admit — I love it! With Autumn gathering momentum and our favorite PSL drink back in the coffee shop, it’s time to pull out the Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin for playtime. Watch your child light up when a new sensory bin comes out to play!
I don’t know about your kids, but sensory bins are something we get excited about around here. They provide just the right amount of sensory stimulation, without overwhelming. The mess is contained, and the exploration is fun. When we are done, it’s so easy to put away! Most of the supplies for this sensory bin were purchased at Dollar Tree so it’s a very affordable project.
Dollar Store Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin Supplies
- Brown Decorative Shred (Dollar Store)
- Mini Pumpkins (Dollar Store) – I got mine in orange and white
- Pumpkin Seeds (bulk store or grocery store)
- Silicon muffin tins from Amazon
- Mini Hay Bales (Dollar Store)
- Plastic Trays (Amazon)
What Else Can I Add to A Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin?
If you want more volume or more variety, consider adding one or more of these things:
- Cinnamon Sticks – will add an olfactory (smell) sensory component
- Small Green Leaves like the leaves on a pumpkin
- Put Pumpkin Patch related stickers on the bottom of the plastic tray for your child to discover.
- Honestly sometimes just walking through the Dollar Store, you will find something that is perfect to add that I completely missed on my shopping trip! If you find the perfect add, be sure to mention it in the comments.
How to Make Your Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin
Set out the tray and add the various supplies, adjusting the quantity of each as needed to get a nice blend of content. Add child-friendly scoops, cups, spoons, and tongs to encourage fine motor work. It’s that simple!
Why Kids Need Sensory Bins
Having sensory feedback allows a child’s nervous system to settle down and reset. If your child is sensory-seeking, this kind of activity can be a life-saver for the family, giving your child some much needed quiet, focused play-work and bringing more calm to your evenings.
These bins also give your child a chance to learn more about their world. They explore textures and shapes, talk about seasons and colors and themes, and more!
As your child uses tongs, scoops, spoons, and cups to move and sort and organize the contents of a sensory bin, they are also problem solving, organizing, and improving fine motor skills.
Add encouragement for your child to count, sort, and discuss the various components of the sensory bin and now you’ve brought even more value to the activity.
What to do with the Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin
Ask questions like these:
- How many white pumpkins are in there?
- How many orange pumpkins are there?
- Which are there more of – orange pumpkins or white pumpkins?
- How many hay bales can you stack before they tumble?
- How many pumpkins or pumpkin seeds fit in a silicone cup?
Rotate it out with other Fall-themed sensory bins to keep the interest high. We also have a Taste-Safe Pumpkin Pie Sensory Bin and a Pumpkin Spice Latte Sensory Bin.
Add other pumpkin-related activities to keep the learning momentum going!
Pumpkin Patch Extension Activities
Since you already have the supplies, make up a pumpkin patch sensory bottle to take on the go!
Help your kids make pumpkin muffins or pumpkin bread or cookies as a special treat.
Visit a pumpkin patch and bring home a pumpkin. If you can, add in a hayride while you are there!
Play this Pumpkins Emotions Game.
Have fun making Pumpkin Slime.
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with your family. If you do this, you might add some Peanuts related items into your sensory bin for a day or two. We thought these Charlie Brown Stress Balls were a cute choice.
Read Pumpkin Related Books. We’ve highlighted a few books below, but I do highly recommend asking your local kid’s librarian — they love to help! Sometimes you can also find seasonal puzzles and other activities to check out at the library.
Pumpkin Theme Books For Kids
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons. Mrs. Gibbons always has the most interesting books, and you can usually read just the first sentence or two to your small child and as your children get older add more and more of the detail on each page.
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin by Margaret McNamera. Delve into STEM and actually take a pumpkin apart to explore it’s parts!