Creating a sensory bin or bag is a great way to stimulate the senses while learning new concepts and observing different objects and textures. These DIY sensory bins/bags are calming for many children who are living with autism. There are many different ways to make these bins and there are an endless number of items you can put in them. In this blog, we highlight our favorite options. To make your own DIY sensory bin or a DIY sensory bag with your child follow the below steps:
- Get a small bin or heavy-duty gallon-sized sealable bag.
Grab a small tote bin or sealable bag. If using a bag, we recommend using a heavy-duty gallon size as they allow for more room and will be more durable (making this a portable DIY)!
- Add liquid or background substance of choice.
We recommend using dry items such as beans or rice for sensory bins, which you can dye fun colors. The sensory bags are great for the liquids to keep everything contained. Again, be creative; you don't have to stick to this list use whatever you think would be fun.
- Shaving cream
- Clear glue
- Hair gel
- Water
- Paint
- Baby oil
- Dry rice
- Dry beans
- Sand
- Dry pasta
- Sugar
- Add sensory objects of your choice
The nice part about this DIY, is that you can use whatever you might have laying around the house. There are SO MANY options to choose from, be creative and test out a few different options!
- ABC tiles
- Number beads
- Googly eyes
- Pom poms
- Seashells
- Dry flower
- Glitter
- Buttons
- Water beads
- Foam shapes
- Pasta shapes
- Mix everything
- Now you're done!
If you are making a sensory bag, seal the bag tightly and reinforce it with duct tape.
- You can put the bin on the floor or a table and let your child play with it for hours.
For sensory bags, you can tape them to a table for your child to play with or let them carry them around.
Making sensory bins or bags is a great way to experience new textures and explore new items. While your child is having fun playing with their new activity, they are also developing fine motor skills, exploring their senses, and hand-eye coordination. Share your sensory activity with us in the comments or tag us on social media.