Sensory Bins for Kids FREE PRINTABLES — Keeping My Kiddo Busy (2024)

Sensory Bins for Kids FREE PRINTABLES — Keeping My Kiddo Busy (1)

Sensory bins are hands-down our favorite center or quiet time activity.

I have used them both in my classroom with my students and at home with my own kiddos.

I have so many fun themes to share with you, and I will be adding more to this post soon. I have made really fun “I Spy” printables that go with these sensory bins.

We like to print and laminate them, and the kiddos hunt for the little objects and match them to their cards.

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I will walk you through exactly where I have found these mini toys/objects as well as the best fillers and plastic boxes I use.

I have made countless sensory bins over the years, and I am sharing the best supplies I have found with you on this blog post!

So many places have ready to go, pre-made sensory bins that you can order, but at $50+ each plus shipping, I decided to just make my own.

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Why do my kids and I love sensory bins?

So many reasons…. but to name a few I would have to say:

  • These bins are perfect for encouraging their little imaginations to flourish. I love seeing the pretend play and different games they come up with.

  • They are so engaging for little minds and hands because they appeal to so many senses.

  • I can put them away. I order these bins with lids and as soon as they are done playing, we clean up and they go in the cabinet. Gone! No toys or little pieces everywhere for me to pick up all day long.

  • The kids don’t see them all the time, so they are super excited when we get them out again (think: a new, long lost toy!)

  • These sensory bins are educational and children are learning animal and object names, matching skills and so much more.

  • They are portable, so on nice days we take them outside.

  • I can change them up and add new things to each bin.

  • I create holiday bins too, and I’ll be adding those to this blog post soon!

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!

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DINOSAUR THEME

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The dinosaur themed sensory bin is always such a huge hit with little ones.

There are so many ways to switch this one up too, but I had so much fun putting this kit together.

My four and six year old asked to play with this very single day for two weeks straight.

They had fun searching for the “I Spy” items too!

HOW TO MAKE THIS BIN:

Everything you need to make a fun, engaging dinosaur themed sensory bin for your little ones.

They love burying the eggs in the sand, building fences around the dinosaurs, planting the trees for camouflage and so much more.

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I made these adorable printables to match this dinosaur kit.

Children can learn the dinosaur names and practice matching the mini dinosaurs to this I Spy mat.

All free printables are linked at the bottom of this blog post.

CONSTRUCTION THEME

How fun is this construction theme sensory bin?

If my kiddos are working on learning their letters or numbers, I add plastic alphabet pieces for the dump trucks to pick up and move around.

This bin is super quick to make, and it is always a hit. I love listening to the noises and sound effects the kids make with this one.

HOW TO MAKE THIS KIT:

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I love these plastic bins because the lid stays attached and the kids bring the vehicles and toys on the other side and spread it out even more. It makes everything super easy to clean up and store.

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I made these adorable printables to match this kit perfectly!

The kids can match the vehicles to this I Spy mat and learn the names.

I also made a cute fine motor activity to go with this kit as well.

All the printables are free at the bottom of this blog post.

ZOO THEME

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Every kiddo loves a day at the zoo. This sensory bin gives them a chance to make pens and set up an area for each group of animals. The possibilities are endless.

This kit is also fun to switch up, and the lid can fold open which gives more room for the animals to spread out.

Kids love playing zoo keeper and taking care of the animals.

HOW TO CREATE THIS KIT:

  • I use steel cut oats as a filler - kids love to run their fingers through this and it makes a soft pen bedding for their animals

  • The free printable I Spy mat coordinates perfectly with this animal kit - kids can match the animals to the picture mat

  • This kit comes with the fencing, grass mat, trees and panda bears

  • Plastic Bin

I love watching the kids play I Spy and matching all the little animals to the printable chart.

This works on so many skills and keeps them so engaged. You can give them a dry erase marker too so they can check each one off as they find them.

What is so fun about these bins is that the possibilities are just endless. They keep their attention for a really long time.

OCEAN THEME

This sensory bin uses a filler that the kids could sit and play with for days. I will warn you that this is a little higher maintenance, and if you are using it with toddlers, be sure they do not put things in her mouths.

That being said, you kiddos will absolutely love this kit. Have you used water beads before? You’re in for a treat!

HOW TO CREATE THIS KIT:

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  • I purchased THESE water beads in blue - and you can get several uses out of each bag as they go a long way!

  • This adorable sea animal kit matches coordinates with my I Spy printable perfectly, plus it has five complete animal sets

  • Rocks (I used some from our garden)

  • Plastic Bin

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Kids love running their fingers through the water beads. They make the animals “dive down” and swim through them and have the walrus and grabs playing on the rocks.

I use a little plastic tupperware to separate the rocks.

You could also add a toy boat and shells to this sensory bin.

The animal set listed above comes with sixty mini animals, so you can make multiple sets of the I Spy mats so a few kids can play at once.

FARM THEME

Who doesn’t love to play down on the farm? This theme is always a class favorite! It is perfect in the fall before our pumpkin patch field trip.

I love to add things to this bin to switch it up. The kids love adding the beans to the bins and mini wheelbarrow, and make pens and feed the animals.

There is a lot of fencing with the kit, so they set it up on the lid for more room.

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HOW TO CREATE THIS KIT:

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The mini animal kit also comes with sixty animals (like the ocean theme) so multiple kids can play and it is more like a real farm.

The kids love matching the mini animals to their I Spy farm mats.

The sand will take up about half of the bin and the beans the rest.

I add the tools that the sand kit comes with so kids can build and mold with the kinetic sand. They absolutely love this stuff!

ARCTIC ANIMALS

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Kids love learning about arctic animals. I am still on the lookout for sparkly snowflakes to add to this bin, so I will keep you updated!

But they love playing with the white animals and camouflaging them into the cotton balls. The kids also love to have the animals dive down into the pasta.

To dye the pasta, I just add hand sanitizer and food coloring to a bag of pasta and mix!

HOW TO CREATE THIS KIT:

I just ordered more plastic bins to make a few more bins because these have been such a hit.

I have used so many different kinds of plastic bins over the years, and these are by far my favorite. They come in a pack of three, have attached lids that they kids can easily use and they stack so easily in my cupboards.

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Use my FREE printable to make sensory bin time even more fun! Kids love matching the mini animals to the mats.

These kits are well worth the investment and time to make. They provide hours of educational fun, and as a mom I just love that they only come out for an hour at a time and then they are stored away.

In the classroom, my kids couldn’t wait for center time… they just love these bins! I add seasonal bins too, and hope to take photos and share more soon!

free I spy animal printables

Free construction printables

free dinosaur printables

Be sure to follow me as I often share these bins in my stories!

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Sensory Bins for Kids FREE PRINTABLES — Keeping My Kiddo Busy (2024)

FAQs

What age is sensory bins good for? ›

Sensory bins are good for children over 18 months of age. Before they're 18 months old, sensory bins are not developmentally appropriate because the possible hazards outweigh the benefits.

How to make a sensory box for kids? ›

What You'll Do
  1. Lay out a sheet, tablecloth or towel. Not only does this protect the floor, but it makes cleanup much easier.
  2. Fill the bin or bowl with dry pasta, rice or beans.
  3. Add spoons, scoops, toys and whatever else you have on hand into the bin.
  4. Play!

How do you organize sensory bin items? ›

Keep the base materials separate from the goodies. This saves space and allows you to create new combinations of sensory bins. Use zip top bags to store your themed materials.

What are sensory bins for toddlers? ›

Essentially, a sensory bin is a container filled with materials specifically chosen to stimulate the senses, allowing the child to explore and interact with the items as they choose. Sensory play is a great way to expose your child to a variety of textures, facilitate communication, and actively engage with your child.

What are the learning outcomes of the sensory bin? ›

By engaging their senses, these bins provide children with valuable hands-on experiences that promote cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. From exploring different textures to enhancing fine motor skills, sensory bins offer endless opportunities for growth and discovery.

What containers are best for sensory bins? ›

You could also use dish tubs or shoebox storage containers. Water tables would be perfect outside if you are using messy materials and want easy clean-up. You can even find sensory tables that have two side-by-side tubs that would be good if more than one child at a time is using it.

Do kids need sensory bins? ›

Sensory bins provide children with the opportunity to explore and learn through hands-on tactile play that engages their senses. These bins encourage and support various types of development and are great activities to have in your home.

How to make play rice? ›

Instructions
  1. Put 1 cup of rice in a resealable bag.
  2. Add in ½ tsp of vinegar and some food colouring. ...
  3. Seal up the plastic bag or container and shake it well.
  4. Repeat this step until you have different colours of rice.
  5. Spread the coloured rice on a backing tray to dry overnight.
Mar 20, 2023

How do you fill sensory bags? ›

Fill a resealable plastic bag with tactile materials like hair gel, pumpkin seeds, shaving cream, or marbles. Reinforce the seal with strong tape, then use painter's or washi tape to secure the edges of the bag to the floor or a table where your baby can play.

How do kids play with a sensory bin? ›

Encourage your children to sort and categorize items by color, shape, and size. Play I-spy with the sensory bin and have your children search for hidden items. Create a counting game by counting the amount of items in the bin.

What do you put in a sensory area? ›

Common Components of a Sensory Room
  • Bubble tube.
  • Fiber optic sprays, or lighting.
  • Beanbag chairs.
  • Interactive Wall Boards.
  • Rocking chairs.
  • Stereo or MP3 Player with Headphones.
  • Therapy balls.
  • Lighting/projector that can display various colors & patterns.

Do 3 year olds like sensory bins? ›

Short answer: yes. Creating sensory bins for toddlers allows them to build skills and understanding through play-based, hands-on learning. Sensory bins are easy, in-expensive, and effective for supporting toddler in their growth and development – but (spoiler alert) they don't have to be messy to be fun.

Are sensory bins safe for 2 year olds? ›

Short answer: yes. Creating sensory bins for toddlers allows them to build skills and understanding through play-based, hands-on learning. Sensory bins are easy, in-expensive, and effective for supporting toddler in their growth and development – but (spoiler alert) they don't have to be messy to be fun.

What age are sensory classes for? ›

Classes are designed specifically for babies aged from birth to 13 months, and the resources and equipment used in class are not designed for older children.

Are sensory bins good for 5 year olds? ›

Sensory bins can boost your child's motor skills. Additionally, adding toy tools such as shovels, spoons, and tweezers can help develop coordination as well. Actions like scooping, digging, and pouring toys and materials will all help improve motor skills. Sensory bins can be a great tool to help your child learn!

Are sensory bins good for 6 year olds? ›

Sensory Bins for big kids is a great gift idea to bring sensory activities to kids in kindergarten and older. Combine it with some letter, number and sight word practice for an extra educational boost!

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