Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Fine Motor Snowflake Sensory Bin for Kids

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Need winter sensory bin ideas? Well, this snowflake sensory bin is a perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Your kids will love this peppermint scented winter sensory bin!

We have fallen in love with simple water sensory play or "sensory soups." They are so easy to put together and they encourage lots of fine motor practice.

Now I know playing with water might seem more like a summer sensory bin activity, but my kids love playing with water, regardless of the temperatures outside.

This winter sensory bin is a perfect way to work on fine motor skills while providing tactile and olfactory sensory input too!

Snowflake sensory bin for kids

Snowflake Sensory Bin for Kids: What You'll Need

As with most of the sensory bins I have made for my kids, I like to keep it simple with a dump and play kind of approach. Simply dump all the materials into a large plastic container and then it's ready for play time!

Fine motor winter sensory bin

For this peppermint scented snowflake sensory bin, I used:

  • Water
  • Foam snowflakes
  • Silver snowflakes - I cut up a cheap snowflake garland for these.
  • Kitchen utensils - We like to use a whisk, a ladle, a large spoon, and a plastic bowl. The boys eventually added some measuring cups and an ice cream container to extend the play.
I used a generous amount of metallic pearl white liquid watercolor to achieve this shiny white water. It hid the silver snowflakes perfectly as these snowflakes don't float. They just sit on the bottom of the sensory bin. The foam snowflakes, in blues and white, float perfectly on top of the water.

Winter sensory box

Winter sensory box

I also put in two drops of the peppermint essential oil for two reasons. First, we were all recovering from being sick with colds so we were all still a bit stuffed up. Second, I just associate peppermint with winter and Christmas time. Please note that peppermint extract may be used instead and is actually preferred for really small kids. Peppermint essential oil is not recommended for use with small children, but we have used small doses of it with my children with no ill effects.

Winter Sensory Bin: Time to Play!

The boys loved to scoop and pour the shiny snow-colored water and the different snowflakes.

Fun fact: K thinks snowflakes look like the maple leaf he sees on the Canadian flag so he kept saying, "Oh! A Canada flag!" every time he picked up a snowflake. I have tried correcting him, but he still insists that they're little Canada flags. Ha!

Winter sensory bin ideas with snowflakes and peppermint scented water

Winter sensory bin ideas with snowflakes and peppermint scented water

Winter sensory bin for toddlers and preschoolers

Other Sensory Bin Ideas You'll Love




Don't forget to check out these other Christmas and winter themed fine motor activities from my Fine Motor Fridays co-hosts!

Cute Mini Christmas Trees from Powerful Mothering
Invitation to Create: Christmas Ornaments from P is for Preschooler
Pouch Cap Wreath Craft from House of Burke
Christmas Scissor Skills and Craft from Little Bins for Little Hands
Christmas Lights on the Light Table from Still Playing School
DIY Fine Motor Kit from Stir the Wonder

Looking for winter sensory activities? You'll love this snowflake sensory bin. It's a perfect winter sensory bin for toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten!