This simple sensory bin is one of the most straightforward sensory bins to create! It is also the least expensive. To top it off, our littles love it, and it occupies their attention for a good 20 – 30 minutes, if not more!
All you will need for this is the following:
- Two to three bags of either rice or beans (any type of dried beans work, keep in mind the age of your little when choosing something they may put in their mouths)
- A large container – I reuse the same container and store my materials (the rice or beans) in gallon zip lock bags. When it is time to play, we dump the bag into the container and take out the tools!
- Some tools and cups – I keep all of my tools separate in the container so we can use them for other bins. Also, I constantly fight the need to hold on to little things that we “might just use one day,” but many of those things are usually perfect little tools for these bins (i.e., packaging, little scoops from drink mixes)
- Play Area (rice tends to go everywhere no matter how many times you request everything stays inside)
Put your little in the play area with all of the above (minus the zip lock bag) and let them explore! I like to switch it up between the two (rice or beans) because it will give your little a whole new experience! I will also swap out the “tools” and give them different ones periodically. Anything to change up the experience and make it “new”! You will find it amazing what they do with something so simple, their imaginations are astounding at times!