20 Mess-Free Sensory Bin Ideas Your Kids Are Going To Love (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

Use visual supports to help your learners remember the rules for the sensory bins (use hands only, put on lid when finished, complete seek and find, raise hand if you need help, keep the materials in the box.) Use a visual timer to help your students transition when the time comes.

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!

In summary, messy play offers a wealth of benefits for young children's development, including sensory stimulation, fine motor skill development, creativity, cognitive growth, language development, emotional regulation, social skills, self-confidence, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Be specific about what a “messy room” is.

Just saying “Your room is a mess” doesn't tell kids what they need to do to fix it. Some kids need very specific instructions. When your child's room is tidy, walk through it together and point out what makes it neat: “There are no toys on the floor because they're put away.

Learning through sensory play is descriptive and provides many opportunities for children to learn new concepts and vocabulary words in a hands-on way. For example, sensory bin activities can help teach concepts like “empty and full”, “up and down”, “sort and pour”, or “above and below”.

Depending on how often your sensory bin gets used, we recommend cleaning your sensory bin at home about every 3 weeks. Food items like rice and beans should be thrown away and replaced.

Practical Life Skills: Sensory bins provide a safe and controlled environment for children to practice practical life skills. Pouring and scooping materials like liquid or grains using cups, spoons, or tongs helps develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and concentration.

If the child can play with a bin while seated on the floor, the depth might not be a big issue. But, if the child is sitting on an adapted chair at a table, be sure not to select a container that is too deep. Ideally, sensory bins should be wide and shallow.

How to keep sensory play clean? ›

Decide Your Sensory Play Setting

Keep the mess within its designated space! Whether it's a tub, a bin, or a special tablecloth that you put down just for messy play, having a well defined area will help keep the mess contained and ALSO help your kids to understand when and where messy play is okay in the future.

I usually throw new finds in a rubbermaid bins - I organized them into floral gems, glass pebbles, bead garlands and buttons and other bits and pieces because I was too embarrassed for anyone to see my mess! So, thank you! I also keep my eyes open for any scoops, shovels, spoons, tongs, tweezers that will work in bins.

No matter how many precautions you take (see No 1), chances are there will be a major mess waiting for you to clean up after your toddler has (happily) finished his play with sensory materials, all covered in flour and tired of sitting quietly.

Encouraging a student to play with a tactile object, such as play doh or a fiddle toy, rather than tapping the table. Reminding the child to clap their hands, rather than their face or another body part whilst 'flapping' to avoid them leaving marks on their body.