Sensory Bins are so easy and versatile
If you haven’t made a sensory tub or bin for your child, what’s holding you back?
Check out the beginning of my post here for more information on why you need to make a sensory bin for your toddler!
Sensory bins are easy ways to provide HOURS of easy, open-ended entertainment for your toddler. You can make them feel fresh and new just by changing out a few of the scooping or filling materials. See our color sorting sensory bin here.
Open-ended activities are activities with no real structure. Your kiddo can choose how he wants to play. This is perfect for teaching independent play and for developing imagination.
We know two things:1. The hardest part of keeping your kids entertained at home is starting a new routine and keeping with it. 2. It's super difficult to come up with a new routine when life is chaotic, and you don't know where to start.The Activity Playground is meant to take you past those two obstacles.
GET STARTED!
How We Did It: Setting up the Popcorn Kernel Sensory Bin
I just love these plastic IKEA bins. They are the perfect size for just about everything (measures approx. 15″L x 11″W x 5.5″H) . This particular one happened to fit perfectly inside a wider bin.
For my sensory bin filler, I used a pack of gorgeous ruby red popcorn kernels, two packs of regular old yellow popcorn, and a pack of “white,” which is really a pale yellow color. I have about four pounds of popcorn here.
The bigger your bin, the more contained your mess will be. In theory…
I put in an ice cube tray for Ella to fill and added a rake, measuring cups, and a little shovel.
A few leaves and glittery squashes make the bin feel fall-like. And buttons add a little more texture and color contrast.
Playing with the Popcorn Kernel Sensory Bin
Ella was so excited to try out this sensory bin. She’s been eyeing my decorative pumpkins and squashes for a couple months now. Surprisingly, she hardly touched them as she played. She was more interested in scooping and pouring with the measuring cups and shovel.
After lots of scooping and pouring and feeling the kernels, Ella picked out the buttons and put them into individual compartments in the ice cube tray. And then buried them with more kernels.
It was also fun to drop kernels from above and hear them clatter.
Try our other sensory bin ideas here.
Sensory Play for Baby Too!
I feel a little guilty sometimes when I do more activities with Ella than with Mia. She’s only four months old, so she won’t remember that I originally made this popcorn kernel sensory tub for Ella and not for her…
Before starting this blog, I never would have done anything “fun” like this with my baby.
Now I’ve got ideas and sensory tubs everywhere!
Why should toddlers get all the fun? Baby wants to play too!
While Ella took a nap, Mia and I decided to play.It’s easy for babies to get their feet in the sensory tub and explore.
DO NOT let them grab anything and put it in their mouths!! Feet only 🙂
Mia loved stomping around and hearing the sounds she could make with her feet.
I loved seeing the kernels stuck between her tiny toes.
This sensory play only lasted a few minutes, but we both had a great time playing and learning together!
Disclosure: We, at Entertain Your Toddler, use affiliate links. This simply means that when you buy through our links, we could earn a small commission, which helps make this blog possible. Thank you for your support!
Your Turn!
Supplies
–unpopped popcorn kernels (I used a rainbow mix of ruby red, yellow, and white; about 4 lbs total because we’d already eaten some of it 🙂 )
-large buttons
-fall leaves and pumpkins (optional)
–plastic measuring cups
-small shovel and rake
-ice cube tray
–plastic bin and another large container
Instructions
- Fill the bin you’re using as your sensory bin with the popcorn kernels, buttons, leaves, and pumpkins (if using).
- Place the bin in a larger bin to contain the mess, if desired.
- Set out the measuring cups, shovel, rake, and ice cube tray.
- Invite your toddler to scoop, pour, sort, and bury!
Supervise your little ones at all times when using this sensory bin. Unpopped popcorn kernels are fun to play with, but not at all fun to eat!
Try our other easy sensory bins with your toddler!
Color Sorting Sensory Bin
Spooky Halloween Sensory Bins
If you like this activity, be sure to pin it so others can find it and enjoy it, too!
It was back when our youngest turned one, when we realized we needed to do something differently. Like every toddler with newly found mobility, she was curious and constantly getting into things we didn't want her to.Whining. Tantrums. You name it. We were frustrated. She was bored. We knew her developmental skills were rapidly changing, but how do you even go about keeping a toddler entertained?! Back then, we had no idea what kinds of things she would enjoy, and we were tired of playing with the same toys over and over again. That's when we started doing planned activities with our toddler. It was like a switch flipped. Days went smoother. There were far fewer tantrums. There were many more giggles!There was a new sense of excitement waking up each day. What were we going to do next?! When you think about spending time with your toddler, we want you to have that bubbly, excited feeling in your belly, not a feeling of dread. And we want to make it easier for parents to do just that.That's why we created the FREE 5-Day activity challenge.
- Break out of your current routine.
- Get the most impact out of your time together.
- Stop feeling guilty about using electronics to entertain your kids, because you won't need them anymore!
- Start the path to becoming the parent you've been wanting to be!
- Did we mention it's 100% FREE?!
JOIN THE FREE 5-DAY ACTIVITY CHALLENGE!
Looking for more Sensory Play activities?
Building Your Own I-Spy Jar
Sensory Snow Trucks
