So after our last article, you’re hopefully all read up about the benefits of sensory bins. But now that you know why they’re great for your little one, what are some good activities? Are they safe for your child if they lick or taste the things they’re playing with? What about the mess? What are the best sensory activities?

Sensory activities provide children with opportunities to explore their senses, especially touch and sight. But if you’re just starting out, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. So, we’ve compiled a list of some great activities that are safe for your little one to play with!

What do I need to start out?

Here is a list of everything you need to make your own sensory bin:

Storage bin (I prefer a 25L or 40L bin).

Blanket or towel.

The base (e.g. dry rice, macaroni, beans, oats).

Measuring cups.

Funnels.

Muffin tin.

Ice cube tray.

Plastic bowls.

Plastic cups.

Please remember that all activities should be done under adult supervision. Think of it as valuable bonding time for you and your little one to explore their senses together.

The next list of equipment will be split into taste-safe and not taste-safe. Younger children, or children who are more likely to try to eat the material, should start out with the taste-safe list. If your little one is older, or not likely to eat the material, you can test out the not taste-safe list.

The taste-safe list:

Uncooked rice.

Cooked spaghetti.

Cereal.

Water.

Cornmeal.

Crushed Ice.

Jelly.

Pudding.

Gloop.

Whipped Cream.

Dry Oats.

The not taste-safe list:

Dried Beans.

Pom-pom balls.

Water beads.

Ice cubed.

Dried chickpeas.

Mud.

Bubbles.

Slime.

Uncooked pasta.

Shredded paper.

Shaving cream.

Now, let’s have a look at some sensory bin activity ideas!

What are some great sensory bin activities?

RICE BIN

SUPPLIES: Uncooked rice, a storage bin, and various kitchen utensils.

HOW TO SET UP: Pour all the rice into the bin and add random kitchen utensils (such as measuring cups, scoops, and bowls - no metal knives and forks!).

WHY IT'S GOOD: It’s a sensory bin! Besides that, rice is awesome for teaching kids about capacity and cause and effect as they experiment with different pouring techniques.

WHAT ELSE: The rice bin is a blank canvas. Add in toys, use recycled items like egg cartons, try muffin tins or ice cube trays, and even try hiding pieces of chunky puzzles underneath. You can save the rice in a plastic bag or airtight container.

POURING STATION

SUPPLIES: Two storage bins, measuring cups, funnels, an ice cube tray, water, and food colouring (optional).

HOW TO SET UP: Set the larger bin on a towel. Fill a smaller bin with water and place it inside the larger empty bin. You can add a drop of food colouring, but that’s optional. Set up a variety of supplies for your child to pour water into.

WHY IT'S GOOD: Pouring is a life skill. Children can’t learn to pour without practice. This is a low-stakes way to teach the skill without orange juice spilling all over the kitchen floor (because how fun is that to clean up …).

WHAT ELSE: Pouring water is fun! Whenever your child “runs out of water,” carefully pick up the larger bin and pour the water back into the smaller bin. It doesn’t get old.

SHREDDED PAPER DINOSAUR BIN

SUPPLIES: Shredded paper, toy dinosaurs, and a large storage bin.

HOW TO SET UP: Pour all the shredded paper into the large bin and add in dinosaurs (or other toys just dying to play in this bin).

WHY IT'S GOOD: It’s unexpected and magical. The texture of the paper makes for a different sensory experience.

WHAT ELSE: Full disclosure—this is one of the messiest bins, but it vacuums up in a hot second.

OAT BIN

SUPPLIES: Container of oats, storage bin, and kitchen utensils.

HOW TO SET UP: Pour the oats into the bin. Add in a variety of utensils and let your child’s imagination take the lead.

WHY IT'S GOOD: Oats are a great, taste-safe material that move in a fun way. Kids will learn cause and effect, capacity, scooping, pouring, and measuring skills.

WHAT ELSE: You can save the oats in a plastic bag or airtight container.

SCOOPING & SPOONING

SUPPLIES: Storage bin, empty egg carton, scoop or spoon, and cornmeal.

HOW TO SET UP: Pour cornmeal into the bin and add an egg carton along with a scoop or spoon. Show your child how to use the scoop to fill each section of the egg carton.

WHY IT'S GOOD: Kids learn skills through experiences and this activity is full of them. It teaches children how to use a spoon and how to transfer materials, both of which are lifelong skills.

WHAT ELSE: Try varying the spoons for this activity—for example, use a soup spoon, formula scoop, and mixing spoon. Switch from an egg carton to bowls, from cornmeal to rice. It won’t be repetitive for a child. You can save the cornmeal or rice in a plastic bag or airtight container.

TOY WATER RESCUE

SUPPLIES: Favourite water-safe plastic toys, two storage bins, a slotted spoon, food colouring (optional), and water.

HOW TO SET UP: Fill the smaller bin with water, add a drop of food colouring (optional), and toss in a ton of your child’s favourite plastic toys. Set that bin inside the larger bin. Give your child a slotted spoon and have them rescue the toys from the water into the empty bin.

WHY IT'S GOOD: This activity gives children a chance to use their arm and hand muscles as well as grip strength to manoeuvre the slotted spoon through the water. It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and planning to rescue the toys.

WHAT ELSE: This activity can be done repeatedly by varying the toys to be rescued. Try themes such as cars, animals, and TV characters.

CLEAN THE CARS

SUPPLIES: Two storage bins, mud, toy cars, soapy water, and scrubbing brushes.

HOW TO SET UP: Fill the smaller bin with soapy water (use a tear-free soap). In the larger bin, add dirt from the yard and water to create mud. Toss in toy cars that are safe to get wet. Let your kids clean the now muddy cars.

WHY IT'S GOOD: Not only does this activity promote sensory play with mud and water, it gives children a clear purpose: clean the cars. Working independently to achieve a goal is an important life skill for kids to grow and develop.

WHAT ELSE: Use this basic setup to clean all sorts of outdoor toys: construction vehicles, plastic animals, and gardening tools. Kids love cleaning their muddy toys.

ICE BIN

SUPPLIES: Storage bin, ice cubes, various kitchen utensils, and food colouring (optional)

HOW TO SET UP: Add several scoops of ice cubes to a sensory bin. Then add a bit of water and food colouring (optional), and provide some kitchen utensils to play with. Let your child experiment with touching the ice for a chilly sensory experience.

WHY IT'S GOOD: This activity is great for using so many senses. The sound the ice cubes make in the bin as they clang around is especially inviting. Make sure to talk about any changes to the ice cubes during play (melting).

WHAT ELSE: Remember, large ice cubes are a choking hazard. Stay close to your child while they play and avoid whole ice cubes for kids who are likely to try to eat one.

FOAM BATH SUPPLIES

SUPPLIES: Tear-free soap, water, an electric mixer, food colouring (optional), and various bowls and other kitchen utensils

HOW TO SET UP: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups water with ½ cup tear-free soap (add in a few drops of food colouring if desired). Blend on high with a stand or hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Repeat for additional colours. Place your child in a bathtub with the foam and provide some kitchen utensils for them to play with.

WHY IT'S GOOD: This is such a fun sensory activity for kids and is a great indoor or outdoor activity. Foam is almost magical for kids. It’s fluffy fun!

WHAT ELSE: In a bathtub, this activity is very slippery. Kids will need to stay seated the entire time.

What are some great sensory bin activities?

Unii shares how to offer your child the type of activities that can support their language and cognitive development.