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DIY Summer Sensory Bin for Toddlers

Make this super easy DIY summer sensory bin for toddlers! It is one of the easy sensory bins that will keep your toddler busy for hours on end!

Need some summer sensory play ideas for your little ones? Try these summer sensory bin ideas!

Get your child ready to embark on an exciting journey of sensory exploration and fun in the sun. It’s time to sprinkle some extra magic onto your little one’s summer days with this summer theme sensory bin!

A summer sensory bin is the perfect way to capture the essence of this wonderful season and create a sensory wonderland for your child to dive into.

Whether you’re a parent, a caregiver, or an enthusiastic educator, get ready to unlock the secrets of sensory play and create unforgettable moments of discovery and learning.

Here is how to make your own summer sensory tray, along with the benefits of these sensory boxes.

Summer sensory bin pin image

Benefits of Summer Sensory Bins for Toddlers

Engaging children in summer sensory activities offers so many great benefits for their overall development. Let’s explore some of the top benefits of these summer sensory bins for toddlers:

Sensory Stimulation: Play bins provide a wide range of sensory experiences that stimulate a child’s senses, including touch, sight, sound, smell, and sometimes taste.

By engaging with different textures, colors, and materials, children develop their sensory processing skills and enhance their ability to perceive and interpret sensory information.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Manipulating various objects within a sensory bin promotes the development of fine motor skills.

Scooping, pouring, grasping, and transferring objects improve hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and overall control of hand movements.

These skills are crucial for tasks such as writing, drawing, buttoning clothes, and tying shoelaces, which is why I love preschool sensory bins to help develop these crucial skills.

child playing with sensory bin

Cognitive Growth: Sensory play encourages cognitive development by fostering problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity.

Children use their imagination to explore, experiment, and find solutions within the sensory bin. They learn about cause and effect, spatial relationships, and develop the ability to think outside the box.

This is why I love sensory bins for kids!

Language and Communication Skills: Sensory bins create opportunities for language development and communication. As children engage in sensory play, they naturally describe their experiences, talk about the objects they discover, and engage in conversations with peers or adults.

This enhances vocabulary, sentence structure, and expressive language skills.

So when you have some summer themes for toddlers during your preschool, these bins would be great!

scoops and sensory toys in summer sensory bin

Emotional Regulation: Sensory play in summer sensory bins can have a calming and soothing effect on children, promoting emotional regulation and self-control.

The tactile experiences and repetitive motions involved in sensory play can help reduce stress, anxiety, and frustration, allowing children to regulate their emotions more effectively. It is one of the best self regulation activities for toddlers to enjoy.

Social Interaction and Cooperation: Sensory bins are excellent tools for promoting social interaction and cooperation among children. When engaging in sensory play together, children learn to take turns, share materials, and collaborate on imaginative scenarios.

This cultivates important social skills such as empathy, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

Sensory Integration: Sensory bins support the process of sensory integration, which refers to how the brain organizes and makes sense of sensory information.

By engaging in sensory activities, children learn to process and integrate multiple sensory inputs simultaneously, leading to improved focus, attention, and overall sensory integration abilities.

Close up of summer bin

Imaginative Play: Summer sensory bins spark imaginative play and storytelling. Children can transform the sensory bin into a beach, a garden, or any other summer-themed setting, creating narratives, scenarios, and adventures.

Imaginative play enhances creativity, narrative skills, and the ability to think symbolically. This is another one of my favorite benefits of these summer activities for toddlers! Kids can always have more creativity time!

Relaxation and Mindfulness: Sensory play provides a sensory-rich and calming experience, allowing children to unwind and practice mindfulness. Engaging in sensory activities can help them connect with the present moment, fostering relaxation, and promoting a sense of well-being. 

Check out the top calming sensory activities for toddlers!

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How to Make a Summer Sensory Bin

Here is how to make your summer themed sensory bin!

Materials

summer sensory bin materials

Instructions

  1. Fill the bin mostly with the sand. Leave a small section for the blue glass beads to represent the water and place the gems next to the sand.
Sand and beads in the bin
  1. Add the scoops, spoons, and cups, mini umbrellas, and bowl with lei flowers.
  2. Add the flamingo and palm tree stirring sticks to the bin.
  3. Have your child enjoy the sensory bin!
summer sensory bin all made

Summer Sensory Bin Ideas

If you want more summer themed sensory bin ideas, here are a few we have created:

Summer Sensory Bin

summer sensory bin all made

Materials

  • Sensory bin
  • Kinetic sand
  • Flamingo stir sticks
  • Palm tree stir sticks
  • Blue glass beads
  • Sensory play tools (scoops, spoons, cups, etc.)
  • Lei flowers
  • Mini drink umbrellas

Instructions

    1. Fill the bin mostly with the sand. Leave a small section for the blue glass beads to represent the water and place the gems next to the sand.
    2. Add the scoops, spoons, and cups, mini umbrellas, and bowl with lei flowers.
    3. Add the flamingo and palm tree stirring sticks to the bin.
    4. Have your child enjoy the sensory bin!

Summer Sensory Bin FAQs

Can I incorporate learning concepts into summer sensory bins?

Absolutely! Summer sensory bins provide an excellent opportunity to integrate learning concepts such as colors, shapes, counting, or even science experiments. Tailor the activities to align with your child’s educational goals.

What can I fill a sensory bin with?

You can fill a sensory bin with just about anything! From sand to water beads, gems, shredded paper, water, and more, sensory bins can be full of tons of equipment you probably already have at home.

Are sensory bins worth it?

Yes sensory bins are absolutely worth it! Young toddlers thrive with sensory bins as they can enjoy this creative outlet. It has helped me toddler be okay with messy play and developed their fine motor muscles like crazy!

What are the best ages for sensory bins?

I personally think young toddlers are best for sensory bins. There are plenty of great sensory bins for 1-2 year olds, but my 3 to 5 year old toddler loves them too! Preschoolers can also enjoy sensory bins.

Summer Sensory Bin Wrap Up

Creating a summer sensory bin is a fantastic way to engage your child in a world of sensory delights during the warm and sunny months.

By incorporating various materials, textures, and summer-themed objects, you provide your child with a rich and immersive sensory experience that promotes their overall development.

When preparing a summer sensory bin, ensure the materials are safe and age-appropriate. Encourage your child to explore, experiment, and use their imagination. Supervise their playtime to ensure their safety and maximize the learning opportunities.

So, dive into the world of summer sensory bins and watch your child’s excitement and curiosity come alive. Allow them to embark on beach adventures, garden explorations, ice cream shops, and more within the confines of a sensory bin. Create memories and learning experiences that will last a lifetime.

Embrace the summer season with sensory fun, and let your child’s senses be ignited with joy and discovery!

Check out these other sensory bin ideas:

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