sensory bin

Garden Sensory Bin

The kids are interested in learning about gardening right now because we are reading The Secret Garden and they are fascinated by it. Their current interest has been further peaked by Snuggle Puppy’s science fair project on plants. Given this, I thought this would be a good week to make a Garden Sensory Bin.

I used only what I had around the house although I had so many ideas of what could have gone into this (gardening gloves, seed packets, mini watering can, etc.). What I ended up using was a pail filled with dry black beans to look like dirt, a few small utensils for scooping and digging, and some felt and plastic vegetables. A little tip: because the pail was deep, I wadded up a few paper towels and put them at the bottom so that I wouldn’t have to use so many black beans.

The reason I chose to make this bin in a bucket is that I thought it would be fun for the kids to be able to bring it out on the deck on warmer days to play with it out there. The kids are excited to dig in!

If you are looking for more sensory ideas or information, you may be interested in my book and by following my Sensory Bins board on Pinterest.

Our Best Sensory Bins

By Sharla Kostelyk

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

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:

Christ-Centered Easter Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

This was a very simple sensory bin to make. I used four colours of Easter grass as the base and added a cross shaped cookie cutter, a wooden cross the kids had painted gold, and a stained “glass” cross. I am also adding Resurrection Eggs as we complete them. We use Resurrection Eggs every year, but this is a new way to use them.

After we discuss the item in each egg and how it relates to the Easter story, I add that egg and its item to the sensory bin and the kids can then play with them when they play in the sensory bin and reinforce their learning.

Check out my book of sensory activities!

Join me for a free 5 part email series Sensory Solutions and Activities and get your Sensory System Behaviours Easy Reference Cards.

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

One of the great things about all the just for fun holidays when you’re a mom with kids who have sensory issues is that it’s a lot easier to create your sensory bins! For our St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin, I kept it very simple.

Simple St. Patrick's Day Sensory Bin for kids I used a green plastic bin to go along with the theme and filled it with a shamrock garland, homemade green playdough in a plastic container, gold and green St. Patrick’s coins, and plastic Leprechaun hats. I purchased all of the items at the dollar store other than the playdough.

st-patricks-day-sensory-bin I also used the extra coins to create a treasure hunt for the kids.

If you are looking for a fun way to start your day, you can read how to make and easy St. Patrick’s Day breakfast.

If you are looking for information on making sensory bins, you may be interested in my book.

I Spy Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

To make this I Spy sensory bin, I used dry black beans (one bag) and various items from around the house. For my reading kids, I made a list of items for them to find so this also becomes an opportunity to practice their reading. For my non-readers, I included a sheet of visual cues for them to search for the items (as my artistic skills are lacking, I will not be including a picture of that sheet!).

As I used things we already had, the entire bin cost just over $1 as I was able to pick up the bag of black beans on sale. This was a simple, inexpensive and versatile sensory bin and the kids loved it!

If you are looking for information on making sensory bins, you may be interested in my book.