The Chaos and the Clutter

Sensory Bin Starter Kit

By

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

Sensory bins are simple to put together but provide a big “punch” in terms of benefits. Improved fine motor skills, sensory input (tactile, visual, proprioception, and sometimes auditory and/or gustatory), communication skills, and hands-on learning are just some of the opportunities that are presented to a child with sensory bin play.

If you’re new to creating sensory bins for your child or classroom, I’ve put together a Sensory Bin Starter Kit guide for you. green and blue water beads and toy frogs on top. Red filler and heart shaped erasers on the bottom.

Here are some ideas to help you put together your own sensory bin starter kit:

Sensory Bins eBook

Sensory Bins ebook

The Sensory Bins book includes idea lists, storage tips, money saving hints, information on sensory processing in how it pertains to sensory bins, and sensory play recipes. It’s a great place to start.

Pluffle

This stuff is so fun! It kind of moves which is just super neat. I discovered it just last year. It makes a great sensory bin filler and is so versatile. You can see a video below of the pluffle in action.

Learning Resources Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set 

Sensory bins are a wonderful way to improve fine motor skills. This tool set includes large Gator Grabber tweezers, a Handy Scooper, Twisty Dropper, and Squeezy Tweezers. These are all designed for fine motor skill development. four plastic toys for fine motor skills

Adding one or more of these into a sensory bin will offer more ways to play and explore. I especially like the Handy Scooper for water bead sensory bins. 

For similar effects, you can also add kitchen tools such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, tongs, scoops, ladles, strainers, small bowls, and spatulas. These are great for scooping, pouring, measuring, moving, pinching, and grabbing. 

Water Beads

Water beads are such a versatile sensory item. They make an easy sensory bin filler. I’ve used them in so many of our sensory bins. 

Small Toys or Items for Play

One of the things I use most in my sensory bins are little toys found in these things called Toobs. I’ve used the space set, human organs, ocean animals, in the sky, arctic, insects, fruits and vegetables, penguins, dinosaur skulls, and many others.

Small toy cars, miniature trees, pompoms, and mini figures are other common items we often use in our bins. If you have all of these basic components and add them to a bin, you can create all kinds of wonderful sensory bins for your child to explore!

As with all sensory play, adult supervision should be used at all times.

Other Sensory Bin Resources:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Maryrose Molnar says

    I love these ideas! I have made sensory bottles in the past but nothing like these.
    Awesome

  3. Pat Goudreau says

    I use sensory bins in my classroom. The kids love them and they are so effective for sensory input, fine motor skills, and helping kids to self-regulate, Of course, with all the covid concerns, I’ve had to get creative and make smaller individual bins, but the plus is that I can tailor them to each kid’s unique needs and preferences.

    I LOVE the “Minute to Win IT” ideas in your email!

    • Steph says

      What a great idea to create individualized smaller bins for kiddos! More work, for sure, but safer!

  5. Cindy Cline says

    Great ideas for sensory bins. These are thing that can be used at home during remote therapy sessions. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Sabrina says

    These are all amazing. My 3yo is special needs and always looking for new ideas to help him develop. Thank you for today’s chance. We’d love to give them a try 🤗 good luck to everyone 💫
    Have a Beautiful day!!!!

  7. Debra Miller says

    We could always use new ideas for sensory bins. Would love the book to use with my kiddos in class! Thank you

  8. Dana Lloyd says

    I hadn’t thought of using mostly pompoms in a sensory bin but I have your fine motor tools for picking them up!! We’ve just used rice or beans and I have water beads ready to play with now!!

  10. Lynda says

    Sensory bins are so valuable to our special Ed classroom. We have kinetic sand and bean boxes but I would love to have other things for my students to try too. Thank you for offering us this information!

  13. Natalie Wahl says

    My favorite sensory bin tools are easy to clean up. I learned to put a mat like the ones used for sun bathing underneath and have scoops and small brushes and dust pans. We like small balls with different fillings, shapes and densities, cute erasers and play dog tools for just a few other suggestions.

  18. Erin says

    Thanks for introducing me to pluffle! I am always looking for new ideas for sensory bins. My kids love water beads and kinetic sand.

  24. Catie Barker says

    I love sensory bins! I try to have one for every month and the students LOVE them! I have never heard of Pluffle, something new to add to my sensory toolkit.

  25. Heather says

    I made “touch boards” on manila folders this year for each student to have in their desks since we are limiting shared equipment this year. I glued various things to each folder: lace, wax paper, sandpaper, duct tape, felt, velcro, rhinestones, etc that all have different textures. I introduced it during our lesson on the sense of touch.

  33. Jeannie says

    We had fun in the fall with acorns we found outside and fake fall leaves. My boys also really love the instant snow!