Dollar Store Sensory Bins
You still have work to get done with a child who is craving entertainment or you need a few minutes to recharge, having sensory activities that require one time preparation can be a lifesaver. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or always changing, something simple is more likely to keep their attention longer. All it takes is a few items from the dollar store.
To make 3 sensory bins for less than $25 you will need:
(3) Plastic Storage Boxes with lid
(2) Green Crinkle Cut Decorative Paper Shreds
12 - 16 oz bag of pinto, great norther, or black beans
1lb bag of uncooked Rice
Food Coloring
(2) Plastic Scoop Sets
(2) Clear Plastic Serving Tongs Sets
Plastic sauce cups/ plastic shot glasses
Craft pom-poms
Felt or paper flowers
A set of toy construction cars
A set of Sea Creatures/ mini rubber ducks
To Assemble:
Construction dig
Black or pinto beans to be dirt/gravel
A set of construction toy cars
Clear shot glasses or sauce cups for them to transfer the beans to
Garden
Add green crinkle cut paper for grass.
Add felt or paper flower and mix them into the paper.
Add tongs, shovel/scoop, and sauce cups for them to use to find and collect the flowers
Ocean
Dye some white rice blue to be your ocean
Add a set of ocean creatures or mini rubber ducks and pom-poms
Add tongs and sauce cups for them to use to find and collect the creatures and pom-poms
Holiday based ideas
Easter
Dye your rice multiple easter colors and mix them together
Add easter eggs and scoops for them to fill the eggs
Add felt or paper flowers/chickens
Valentines day
Dye your rice red or pink
Use pink or red tongs, sauce cups, and scoops
Add paper or felt hearts
Christmas
Dye your rice red and green
Add felt christmas trees and felt circles, your child can dig for them and then place the circle son the tree like christmas ornaments
Use red or green tongs, sauce cups and scoops
Warning: Please make sure you understand your child’s tendencies for putting things in their mouth and understand the choking hazards associated with each item listed and do not leave them to play with these unattended.