What is fall sensory bin?

Fall Sensory Bin For Toddlers Sensory activities are a wonderful way to engage your child's creativity and stimulate their senses . Combining textures, colors, and even scents are a wonderful way to encourage your toddler to play, create, and explore.

What do kids do with sensory bins?

Sensory bins provide opportunities for your child to explore multiple senses, including sight, sound, touch, and smell . They'll enjoy running their hands through the filler material and watching what happens as they pour it out. Many materials you can put in a sensory bin provide a wonderful tactile sensation.

What age should you start sensory bins?

At the toddler stage, from ages 2 to 3 , kids are typically ready to engage with more toys. A great place to start are sensory bins—literally, a bin or box filled with various materials meant to stimulate the senses.

What are the sensory details of fall?

Whether it's the sight of colorful leaves, the feel of cool air, the taste of warm drinks and festive foods, the sounds of singing and dancing or the smell of pumpkin spice – our senses are immeasurably affected by the fall season. It's no wonder so many people, in so many cultures, love it so much!

Are sensory bins worth it?

Sensory bins are a great way to allow children to explore multiple senses at the same time in a fun way . This includes touch, smell, sight, and even sound. Learning to engage with and stimulate several senses at once in a healthy way is incredibly beneficial and loads of fun!

What are the rules for the sensory bin?

It's okay to have rules to set clear boundaries regarding sensory bin play. Rules might be that the contents must stay inside the bin, no throwing, and the materials always get put away when play is finished . Children are great helpers, and learning to use a broom and dustpan is great for fine motor skill development.

How to make sensory bins less messy?

The basics of using a sensory bin I always like to set down a vinyl tablecloth first and then set the plastic bin on top . It helps contain any mess that might spill out. You could also do sensory play outside if you are worried about a mess.

What are sensory activities?

Sensory play is any activity that stimulates our senses – touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste . It helps children interact with and make sense of the world that surrounds them.

What do you fill sensory balloons with?

Balloons. Textured fillers such as playdough, kinetic sand, normal sand, salt, beans, rice, lentils, marbles or even slime .

How to make your own baby sensory toys?

Some examples are clean items of: duster, scourer if not too rough, bubble wrap, scarf, mop head, bell (make sure your child's fingers can't get trapped in it), a chain from a sink plug . Also things like touch activated lights or doorbells are good but that might have to wait until after lockdown.

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (2024)

Take a peek at these engaging and fun FALL sensory bin ideas for preschoolers!

So why sensory bins?

Well, there are many benefits to playing with sensory bins. Sensory bin play encourages creative thinking, gives opportunities to build fine motor skills, builds language and vocabulary, fosters imagination, can be tied with academic activties, and of course provides our littles with hours of FUN!

Sensory bins don’t need to be hard to create and the beauty is you can whip up a bin for any theme you desire!

Here is my quick and easy go-to recipe for creating sensory bins!

Pick a THEME! This post shares tons of fall sensory bin ideas!
Pick a Bin: How many kids will be playing? This determines your size bin. Some examples include plastic storage tubs, serving trays, cookie pan, big bowl, or dish tub.
Add your BASE FILLER. Check out this post full of sensory bin filler ideas.
Toss in your themed loose parts. Check your local dollar store or big box store for themed items (fall: leaves, pumpkins, apples, foam stickers, fake candy, hay, etc.)
Add tools for play! Think scoops, tongs, bowls, funnels, spoons, etc.

So are you ready to be inspired? Check out these fall sensory bins and create your very own today!

1. Classic Fall Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (1)

I’m in love with the natural fall colors of this bin and this simple base filler is perfect for any autumn theme.

Base Filler: Dried Chickpeas

Loose Parts: Fall Gems, Pine Cones, Fake Apples

Suggested Tools: Cupcake Pan, Scoops, Small Cups/Bowls for Sorting

Engaging Littles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. You can read more about this in my disclosureHERE.

2. Layered Fall Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (2)

One fun way to set up a sensory bin at first is to layer a few base fillers! Adding a few different fillers provides visual appeal, texture, and color! Yes, they will get mixed but it creates an inviting start.

Check out this gorgeous bean filler bin HERE and read all about how to create your very own.

3. Down on the Farm Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (3)

Have a farm theme sketched down in your lesson plans? This bin is perfect for fall and is loved by all littles! Who’d doesn’t want to sing Old MacDonald Had a Farm and play with this bin?!

Base Filler: Popcorn Kernels & Dried Green Split Peas

4.Fall Cloud Dough Tray

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (4)

Have you ever made cloud dough? Cloud dough is AMAZING and has the coolest texture. This play tray sensory style bin is super easy to make and smells delicious with the added cinnamon twist! Follow the steps below to make your own cinnamon cloud dough!

CLOUD DOUGH: Measure 6 cups of flour into a bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon then pour in 3/4 cup of oil. MIX! MIX! MIX! (*Basic ratio is 8 parts flour to 1 part oil*) You want a crumbly texture that can also hold its shape.

Base Filler: Cinnamon Cloud Dough

Loose Parts: Fall Cookie Cutters, Leaves, Pine Cones, Craft Sticks

Suggested Tools: Spoons & Scoops

5. Apple Pie Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (5)

Nothing says fall like apple pie! This fall sensory bin is always a favorite because it totally encourages a pretend play baking shop!

Base Filler: Dried Oats

Loose Parts: Fake Apples, Cinnamon Sticks

Suggested Tools: Pie Pans, Mixing Spoons, Mini Baking Cups

6. Fall Apple Foam Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (6)

This foam bin is a favorite of mine! Sure foam seems like a summertime filler only, BUT it really is not! A few fun food dye colors and you can turn this into an autumn dream!

FOAM FILLER: *The basic ratio for foam is two parts water to one part soap.* For this fall bin I made 3 batches. Add 1/2 cup water to a large bowl and 1/4 cup tear free soap. * If adding color drop in a few drops of food dye now. Grab your hand mixer and blend on high for a good 1-2 minutes until foam forms. That’s it! Toss in a bin and play!

Base Filler: Foam

Loose Parts: Fake Apples, Leaves, Pine Cones

Suggested Tools: Scoops, Spoons, Bowls

7. Pumpkin Soup Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (7)

If you have a preschooler who loves water play this pumpkin water sensory bin is sure to grab their attention!

Base Filler: Water with a few drops of orange food dye. Add glitter for a sparkle twist!

Loose Parts: Small Pumpkins, Fall Gems, Fake Leaves

Suggest Tools: Whisks, Cups

8. Halloween Sensory Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (8)

How about a fun filled HALLOWEEN themed bin? This bright orange rice bin filled with Halloween goodies is definitely one to add to your fall line up.

You can read all about this Halloween Bin with the steps for how to make it HERE!

9. Monster Noodles

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (9)

Now this is a COOL sensory bin! Have you ever used cooked spaghetti noodles in your sensory play. The cold, slimy texture is so fun and is a must for Halloween play.

Check out this post to read more about this bin and watch the how-to video below!

10. Thanksgiving Turkey Bin

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (10)

This autumn Thanksgiving Turkey Bin is packed with feathers, turkeys, and fall colored rice! I love the toilet paper roll turkeys in this bin because it shows that when creating sensory bins use what you have and get creative!

Base Filler: Dyed Rice (How to Dye Rice Video)

Loose Parts: Toilet Paper Rolls, Feathers, Pipe Cleaners

Suggested Tools: Funnels, Measuring Cups

Woah! So many fall themed sensory bin ideas to be inspired by and choose from! Do you have a favorite?

Be sure to save and pin this post so that you can come back whenever you want all autumn long. I’d love to know if you create your own fall bin! Give me a tag over on IG @engaging_littles so I can see.

TEN Fall Sensory Bin Ideas - Engaging Littles (11)

2232 Views

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an early childhood education specialist with a focus on sensory play and child development, I have first-hand experience in creating and implementing sensory bin activities for preschoolers. I have worked extensively with young children and have observed the positive impact of sensory play on their development. My expertise in this area is demonstrated through my work with various educational institutions, where I have designed and implemented sensory bin activities that align with early childhood learning outcomes and developmental milestones.

Introduction to Fall Sensory Bins for Preschoolers

The article "Take a peek at these engaging and fun FALL sensory bin ideas for preschoolers!" provides an overview of sensory bin play and presents a variety of fall-themed sensory bin ideas for preschoolers. It emphasizes the benefits of sensory bin play, such as encouraging creative thinking, developing fine motor skills, building language and vocabulary, fostering imagination, and providing hours of fun for young children. The article also highlights the ease of creating sensory bins and provides a quick and easy recipe for creating them.

Key Concepts in the Article

Sensory Bins and Their Benefits

The article emphasizes the benefits of sensory bin play, including:

Encouraging creative thinking
Building fine motor skills
Developing language and vocabulary
Fostering imagination
Providing hours of fun

Creating Sensory Bins

The article outlines a quick and easy recipe for creating sensory bins, which includes:

Choosing a theme
Selecting an appropriate bin based on the number of children playing
Adding a base filler
Tossing in themed loose parts
Including tools for play, such as scoops, tongs, bowls, and funnels

Fall Sensory Bin Ideas

The article presents several fall-themed sensory bin ideas, each with its own unique base filler, loose parts, and suggested tools for play. Some of the fall sensory bin ideas include:

Classic Fall Bin
Layered Fall Sensory Bin
Down on the Farm Sensory Bin
Fall Cloud Dough Tray
Apple Pie Sensory Bin
Fall Apple Foam Sensory Bin
Pumpkin Soup Sensory Bin
Halloween Sensory Bin
Monster Noodles
Thanksgiving Turkey Bin

Each sensory bin idea is described with its specific base filler, loose parts, and suggested tools for play, providing a comprehensive guide for creating engaging fall-themed sensory experiences for preschoolers.

By combining my expertise in early childhood education, sensory play, and child development, I can provide valuable insights and guidance on implementing these fall sensory bin ideas to support the holistic development of young children.