The Best DIY Sensory Swings for Kids

DIY sensory swings: find out how to make a DIY sensory swing for cheap with these awesome tutorials.

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Of all the sensory hacks that I have done myself, the homemade sensory swings are my favorite. Both for me and my boys.

My oldest J is a vestibular sensory seeker. He loves to spin and swing around so swings are practically our best friend, especially during the long cold winters. And trust me, our winters are cold and long!

Anyway, I thought I would round up a collection of amazing DIY sensory swings for kids. They're perfect for autistic kids or kids who need a bit of extra support with sensory integration.

So, if you're wondering how to make a DIY sensory swing for your child, then you're in the right place! You're going to love these awesome tutorials. They come in all shapes and sizes and are good for a wide variety of skill levels.

This post was updated on April 17, 2024. New tutorials were added, dead and broken links were removed, and more details were provided.

What You Might Need to Hang a DIY Sensory Swing

Before we even make a homemade sensory swing, you have to make sure you even have the space to hang one up. And then you have to find the right tools and hardware to do so.

Where you will hang up a DIY indoor sensory swing will determine what kind of hardware you might need. For instance, you might need some of the following supplies:

• Hammock Hanging Kit

• Hammock Hanging Kit Heavy Duty 360 Rotate Swing

• Jungle Gym Kingdom Heavy Duty Swing Hangers

You might opt to hang your swings in a doorway like we did. The doorway pictured below is wider than most doorways, which allowed us to even fit a round platform/saucer swing with ease.

To hang our swings, we just used some eye bolts and carabiner clips. Here's a look at our set up:

A Few Safety Notes About Hanging these DIY Sensory Swings Indoors

Make sure that whatever hardware you use can support the right amount of weight. Especially if you go the eye bolt and carabiner clip route like we did. Both our clips and our bolts could each support over 300 lbs or something.

You'll also want to mount the hanging hardware into a stud or support beam of some kind. Obvious, I know, but it's still important to point out.

Another thing to check is that your child will have enough room to swing once it is mounted. Make sure your child won't hit any furniture, walls, or even the ceiling while swinging. It's important to make sure there is enough clearance.

After you mount the swing, check that it can support your weight and that it's hooked up properly. Check that nothing is twisted, that the clips are fully hooked up and closed, that the swing is the correct height off the ground, etc. I personally always sit in the swings myself first after hanging them up. If it can support me, then it can easily support both of my boys.

Finally, keep the area around the swing safe by using a mat of some kind underneath. Just in case your child wants to hang upside down on the swing (which they will, I'm sure!) or they fall off.

You can find additional safety guidelines for sensory swings here.

But, now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at some of these DIY sensory swings for kids.

Sensory Swings for Kids: DIY Tutorials that You've Got to Try!

1. Homemade Taco Sensory Swing (pictured below) - Even if you can't sew straight, I promise that you can still whip up this swing in about an hour. It's inexpensive to make too. Just grab some clearance fabric like I did.

2. Hanging Cocoon Swing with Free Knitting Pattern from Craft Passion - This knitted swing is absolutely stunning! It makes me wish I knew how to knit. Seriously, if you know how to knit, you should pop over and grab the free pattern and get knitting.

3. DIY Woven Wrap Swing (pictured below) - Find out how to easily convert a baby wrap into a sensory swing with this quick and easy DIY tutorial.

4. DIY Ball Swing (pictured below) - This swing is tricky to stay balanced on, but it's super easy to put together for an quick afternoon swing. Perfect for a little vestibular sensory input.

5. DIY Skateboard Swing from mousehouse - Skateboard swings are great for working on balance. And this tutorial makes it look really easy to make one of your own!

6. Easy DIY Round Platform Swing (pictured below) - You might be surprised at how simple this tutorial is. And you'll be even more surprised by what is used for the base of the swing!

7. DIY Hammock Chair Swing (pictured in collage) from A Beautiful Mess - This DIY hammock chair swing is gorgeous! It looks really comfy too. It's definitely a perfect one for reading in!

8. DIY Platform Swing Tutorial from Reese Dixon - Love this colorful platform swing tutorial! You'll also find a tutorial for making your own swing frame too.

9. Rope Swing from Preschool Powol Packets - If your kid loves climbing, pulling, or hanging upside down, then give this rope swing a try. It's super simple to make and provides lots of great sensory input.

10. Homemade Bolster Swing from Sensory Processing - This DIY version of the "hotdog swing," as we like to call it, looks great. It looks pretty straightforward to make too.

11. DIY Bungee Swing from Holly's Art Corner - Bungee chairs are a neat sensory experience on their own, but turning one into a swing is such a fun idea. In fact, this swing was the inspiration for our DIY round platform swing tutorial that was further up in this list.

12. DIY Rope Disc Swing (pictured in collage) from Dukes & Duchesses - Disc swings are super tricky to stay balanced on, but they're a great way to build core strength and give kids some vestibular sensory input. Thankfully, this tutorial looks easy!

13. DIY Indoor Sensory Swing from Teach Me Mommy - If you're looking for a more classic sensory swing, then you'll love this simple tutorial. I know that my kids love stretchy swings like this!

14. DIY Platform Swing from Therabyte - This tutorial looks very detailed and includes lots of pictures. So if you've been wanting to make a traditional carpeted platform swing, then check out this tutorial.

15. DIY Platform Swing from The DIY Village - This particular swing is made from 2" conduit and rope. it's not a solid platform swing like the tutorial above and reminds me a bit of the bungee swing from a few suggestions above.

There are so many beautiful options on this list! Which of these DIY sensory swings will you be making first?

11+ Sensory Bottle Benefits for Kids

Sensory bottles aren't just for infants or toddlers. They're great for kids of all ages. Here are some sensory bottle benefits you should know about.

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You likely already know that sensory play is good for kids. Or maybe you've heard it's good for kids. You just don't really know why.

But seriously, you might be wondering how a bottle filled with sensory materials could possibly be that beneficial. Especially beyond the infant and toddler years. 

I mean there has to be a reason why there are so many cool sensory bottle ideas on Pinterest, right? So...what's the deal exactly?

Well, there are actually a lot of reasons why making your own DIY sensory bottle can be great for your child's development. And hopefully after reading through these benefits, you'll be convinced of their awesomeness and give it a try.

Obviously, there's the sensory exploration piece. Or, in the case of calm down sensory bottles, there's the added benefit of improving emotional regulation skills. 

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, as they say. There's more to sensory bottles than that, as you'll soon see.

Below you'll find a list of 11+ sensory bottle benefits as we explore why this type of sensory play is great for kids of all ages. You might be surprised by how helpful a discovery sensory bottle can be.

11+ Sensory Bottle Benefits for Kids

1. They offer safe and mess free sensory rich experiences. There's no mess to worry about and choking hazards are contained, which is one of the big benefits of sensory bottles for infants and toddlers, in particular. They can safely explore items that might be otherwise too small for them.

2. Sensory bottles are fun and engaging to play with, regardless of the age. Kids love to shake them, squeeze them, and roll them, among many other things. 

3. They're designed to stimulate and engage the senses and can provide lots of great sensory input. Makes sense given that the word sensory is in the name, right? Here are some examples of their sensory benefits:

• Kids can get proprioceptive input (definition here) by shaking or squeezing the bottle. Their sense of touch is engaged here as well.

• The items inside the bottle may make noise as it's turned, twisted, and shaken, engaging the auditory sense. Especially if the bottle uses materials such as rice, beans, or jingle bells.

• Obviously, the visual sense is actively used as kids look at how the bottle changes as it's moved around.

4. Another benefit of sensory bottles is that they're portable. Kids can bring them on the go. And parents don't have to worry about a piece going missing or the kids making a big mess since everything's contained inside.

5. They're great for emotional regulation by promoting relaxation. Many sensory bottles, such as glitter jars in particular, can be used to help kids practice deep breathing and mindfulness.

6. Sensory bottles are great for language development. They can be used to:

• Build vocabulary and practice core vocabulary words

• Practice labeling and describing

• Work on answering and asking WH questions, which is something many hyperlexic kids need help with

• Model specific gestalts or scripts for gestalt language processors

• Practice articulation

7. They're also great for social skills development. Kids can use sensory bottles to practice turn taking, following directions, problem solving, and a variety of other social skills.

8. Another benefit of sensory bottles is that they can be used to teach math, science, and literacy. Depending on the theme of the sensory bottle, a child could be working on:

• Pre-reading skills, including letter recognition or sight words (e.g.: alphabet sensory bottles or a name recognition sensory bottle)

• Math skills such as counting or shapes (e.g.: I spy sensory bottles)

• Color learning (e.g.: rainbow sensory bottles or a color mixing sensory bottle)

• Scientific concepts such as viscosity, magnetism, or life cycles (e.g.: butterfly life cycle sensory bottle), but also skills such as making an observation, making predictions, testing a hypothesis, etc.

9. Sensory bottles can help stimulate curiosity, exploration, and a desire to learn. I spy sensory bottles in particular draw kids in. They wonder what else might be floating or hiding inside the bottle. So they'll twist and turn and shake to discover what else is inside.

10. They can be used to improve attention and focus. Kids will focus purely on the bottle and what's inside, ignoring other distractions around them. There's just something about sensory bottles that suck kids in (okay, adults too!).

11. Sensory bottles are also great for developing motor skills. They can be used to help improve fine motor skills, especially if your child assists in making the bottle itself. Kids can also work on gross motor skills by shaking, rolling, squeezing, turning, and twisting the bottle as they play.

A Quick Recap of the Benefits of Sensory Bottles for Kids

As was covered above, there are lots of benefits of sensory bottles for kids. These benefits include:

• Safe and mess free sensory exploration

• They're fun and engaging to play with

• Sensory stimulation and input

• They're portable and great for on the go

• Emotional regulation skills

• Language skills

• Social skills

• Early learning in areas such as math, science, and literacy

• Stimulate curiosity

• Improve attention and focus

• Motor skills development

Now that you know some of the sensory bottle benefits, you might as well go try making your own. Find ideas and inspiration here.

What is a Sensory Bottle? The Basics Explained

Curious about sensory bottles, what they are, and who they are for? Below we'll answer the question: what is a sensory bottle?

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Lots of parents are a bit hesitant when they're first trying out some sensory activities at home with their small children. Especially if all they know about are sensory bins, slime, or some other messy activity (ahem...giant shaving cream rainbow anyone?!). 

As I've alluded to, one concern might be the mess that usually accompanies sensory activities. 

You might picture rice thrown everywhere as if it's confetti and dread the idea of cleaning it up. You might imagine play dough colors mixed together (the horror!) or slime embedded in the carpet (that's the worst!). These are totally valid concerns to have, by the way. 

But, remember, sensory play doesn't necessarily mean messy. 

Another concern might be related to the age of their child. How do you safely do sensory activities with a baby or young toddler? Choking hazards are a valid concern so the idea of using sand, water beads, or rocks might not be your idea of fun. And glitter with a baby? You'd have to be nuts! Naturally, you'd prefer a safer alternative.

When it comes to sensory play, you don't have to start with a rice sensory bin or a tray full of shaving cream. 

However, a great first introductory activity you could try is making a sensory bottle. Especially since this type of play addresses the above two concerns that you might have. 

But what is a sensory bottle exactly? Well, that's what we'll dig into below! And hopefully you'll be excited to make a cool sensory bottle of your own for your child.

What is a Sensory Bottle?

Sensory bottles are containers of sensory materials that children can use to safely play, observe, and explore their senses. They're like sensory bins, but in bottle form. Except, in this case, the mess is contained and there's no risk of choking on small objects, which makes them great for even the littlest of kids.

As the name implies, it is often a bottle, but it can sometimes be a jar. As a result, sensory bottles can come in all shapes and sizes. There are lots of different sensory bottle options out there. Although, more often than not, people tend to use the VOSS style water bottles because of their shape, size, and durability.

A basic sensory bottle is filled with materials that can move up, move down, or swirl around. Kids can shake them up and then watch the materials settle down to the bottom. 

As I've already mentioned, kids can safely explore materials without the mess or without worrying about choking hazards too, which is always nice.

Other Names for Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles go by a variety of names. You might hear them referred to as: 

• Calm down bottles

• Glitter jars

• Mindfulness jars

• I spy sensory bottles

• Glitter sensory bottles

• Sensory discovery bottles. 

There are probably a handful of other names too. Regardless of what you call them though, they are great tools for kids and there are a lot of benefits to using a sensory bottle.

Most often, sensory bottles are used as a visual sensory aid to help kids self-regulate their bodies and calm down. Hence, why they are often referred to as calm down bottles. Watching the glitter settle in a slow moving sensory bottle is so mesmerizing and regulating. That's why they're a great tool to add to a child's calm down kit.

Who are Sensory Bottles for? What Ages are They Good for?

As cliché as it may sound, sensory bottles are great for all ages. They really are! There is no age limit or boundary when it comes to this type of sensory play. Especially if you're using them as calm down bottles.

Babies, young toddlers, and preschoolers can use these discovery bottles to experience materials that might usually be off limits because of their size. There's no risk of choking as the items are contained and sealed inside the bottle. The size and weight of the bottles are also great for little hands to hold onto and carry. Or you can opt for small bottles to fit their hands.

What I love about sensory bottles is how accessible they are. Not only are they great for kids of all ages, but they're great for kids of a wide range of abilities (sensory or motor wise).

Someone with limited mobility or motor delays can enjoy a sensory bottle. They can bump or roll the sensory bottle as it lays on its side. Someone can shake the bottle up for them and then the child can enjoy watching the objects swirl and settle.

They are also great for anyone who might still be mouthing things, regardless of age. After all, there are lots of older kids (and even adults!) who chew on everything. As a result, some sensory play exploration might be off limits due to choking hazards or even pica. So sensory bottles are a great alternative.

There are also lots of kids who have tactile sensory sensitivities and avoid touching anything. The tactile avoiders, if you will. A sensory bottle can give them a chance to explore different materials without having to actually touch them directly.

Sensory bottles are also great for kids who are visual sensory seekers. Kids can sit and watch glitter (or other objects) swirl and fall over and over, which is really calming. Which leads me to my next point...

Finally, they're great for anyone who needs a bit of extra support when it comes to emotional regulation. Anyone who needs some help calming themselves down. As you can tell, we're talking specifically about calm down bottles here. 

Part of the reason why sensory bottles are so commonplace these days is because of how beneficial they are for self regulation. That's why Pinterest is full of fun calm down sensory bottle ideas, such as the ones found here. They're really a great tool to have on hand for kids.

To Wrap Up Our Discussion of Sensory Bottles...

Hopefully I've answered your question: what is a sensory bottle? Assuming you read everything above (I know that was a lot), you should now understand that sensory bottles, no matter what name you give them, are great for kids of all ages and abilities and can be a great way to get started with sensory play. So be sure to try making one for your kids.

The Best Easter Sensory Bins for Kids

25+ egg-cellent Easter sensory bins for toddlers and preschoolers!

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It's almost Easter, which means it's time to break out the bunny and egg activities.

But let's focus specifically on sensory bins for toddlers and preschoolers because sensory bins are awesome. They're also a great way to keep kids busy while you prep Easter dinner with the family.

So here are 25+ egg-cellent (you know I had to say it hahaha) Easter sensory bins for kids. There's something for everyone on this list whether you want to keep it simple, get messy, go big, incorporate some letters, or just try something new. 

The Best Easter Sensory Bins for Kids

1. Easter Sensory Bin Play with Scented Water Beads (pictured below and in collage) - This sensory bin is just bursting with a variety of sensory experiences. There's the smell of lavender, the wet and squishy water beads, and the combination of smooth and glittery plastic Easter eggs. Tons of fun!

2. Glowing Water Beads Easter Egg Sensory Bin from Learn Play Imagine - You could go a step further and make the eggs and water beads glow with this fun idea. It looks so cool!

3. Easter Sensory Bin with Colorful Chickpeas from Fun-A-Day - Using our rainbow dyed chickpeas as inspiration, this Easter spin is absolutely gorgeous. I love the metallic Easter colors in this activity!

4. Easter Bunny Sensory Bin with Water (pictured below and in collage) - Super easy sensory play that uses foam bunny shapes from the dollar store paired with water. It lead to some patterning and math exploration for my youngest.

5. Bunny Tail Sensory Bin from Modern Preschool - Continuing with the Easter bunny theme, I love the little cotton tails mixed with the see-through eggs in this activity. I also love all the fine motor practice this sensory bin offers.

6. Quick Easter Sensory Bin with Oats & Plastic Eggs from Happy Toddler Playtime - Want to keep things super simple? This bin is just oats and plastic eggs. It's also taste safe for toddlers.

7. Simple Easter Sensory Bin with Cereal & Funnels from Toddler Approved - Here's another taste safe sensory bin idea. This one uses cereal. But I really love the use of funnels in particular with this activity. Regardless, it's super simple to put together.

8. Beans & Easter Eggs Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - And speaking of simple, here's another easy idea that's super engaging. I personally love all the different bean colors and textures in this one. 

9. Super Easy Easter Sensory Bin Water Play Activity from Active Littles - Keeping with the super simple theme, pair the eggs with some water and give this sensory activity a try.

10. Easter Egg & Colored Water Sensory Play from Share & Remember - Take the water and egg combo a step further by making the water colored and adding some glass gems. This activity is engaging for kids of all ages as you'll see.

11. Easter Basket Sensory Soup from Simple Fun for Kids - Continuing with the water theme, don't just add plastic eggs. Why not add some Easter grass too?

12. 3 Easy Easter Themed Sensory Bins from Twin Mom Refreshed - Another example of water and eggs, as well as an idea for using bubbly water with plastic eggs and a bin with green rice and eggs (sounds like a Dr. Seuss spin off haha).

13. Easter Egg Wash Sensory Play from Little Bins for Little Hands - Let's take the water play one step even further by adding some bubbles, rags, sponges, a loofah, a spray bottle, etc. to set up an egg washing station. Super fun!

14. Simple Easter Egg Sensory Bin with Shredded Paper: 6 Ways to Play - Lots of different suggestions for how to play with just shredded paper and plastic eggs. Plus, a busy bag idea.

15. Shredded Paper Easter Sensory Bin for Toddlers from Finding Myself Young - Swap the eggs for some bunnies and carrots from the dollar store to make this sensory bin. 

16. Easter Sensory Bin with Shredded Paper from ABC Creative Learning for Pre-K Pages - You could try adding mini bunny erasers to shredded paper to recreate this activity.

17. Life-Sized Easter Basket from Fun at Home with Kids - Or you could take the shredded paper sensory play to the extreme with this full body Easter sensory bin. You'll need a small kiddie pool or a huge container to make this happen though. Go big or go home, right?

18. Giant Easter Sensory Bin for Toddlers from Toddler Approved - Speaking of big, here's another giant sensory bin idea (just not as big as the last one!). It uses Easter grass instead of shredded paper though.

19. Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin from Mama. Papa. Bubba - Here's another one big enough for a toddler to sit in. 

20. Simple Easter Bunny Sensory Bin from Rainy Day Mum - But if you would prefer a small sensory bin with Easter grass, give this one a try. It uses Easter grass, green pom poms, and little foam eggies and is really cute.

21. Rainbow Rice Easter Sensory Bin from Busy Toddler (pictured in collage) - This sensory bin is bursting with color with the rainbow rice and colorful plastic eggs. It's also a great activity for kids who love to scoop and pour.

22. Easter Egg Sensory Bin for Kids with Rice from Active Littles- Now swap the rainbow rice for some Easter pastel colored rice. I also like the use of an ice cube tray in this sensory bin.

23. Rainbow Egg Letter Matching Easter Bin from The Kindergarten Connection - Take the rice and egg combo a step further by writing letters on the plastic eggs. Then kids can practice matching uppercase and lowercase letters together. Perfect way to entice hyperlexic kids!

24. Easter Egg Sensory Bin Letter Find Activity from The Kindergarten Connection - Sticking with the letter theme, this sensory activity looks fun. It uses kinetic sand, plastic eggs, and letters.

25. Taste Safe Easter Cloud Dough Sensory Bin from My Bored Toddler - If you don't mind a bit of a mess, then this cloud dough sensory bin might be up your alley.

26. Shaving Cream & Easter Eggs Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - Or if you want to get really messy, then try this simple and engaging activity. The fun is totally worth the mess, in my opinion.

27. Fizzing Easter Sensory Bin for Toddlers from My Bored Toddler - If you want something a little different, then try this science spin. I mean you can never go wrong with a little baking soda and vinegar play, right?

28. Magnetic Easter Egg Hunt Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - Speaking of science, how about a magnetic sensory bin idea? I think this idea is brilliant!

29. Colored Sand Easter Sensory Bin Activity from Teaching Second Grade - If you want to try something other than rice or water or shredded paper as the base, then this idea might appeal to you. It uses colored sand, pom poms, and colorful Easter eggs and looks like a lot of fun.

So whether you want to go big or small, keep it simple or go messy, use eggs or bunnies, there are tons of ideas on this list to keep your kids busy this Easter. Which of these Easter sensory bins will you try first?

The Best Pumpkin Sensory Bins for Kids

Looking for pumpkin sensory bins for kids? Well, try these awesome pumpkin sensory bin activities! They're great for toddlers and preschoolers.

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Between Thanksgiving (the Canadian one at least!) and Halloween, October is the perfect month for doing all of the pumpkin theme activities. That might mean carving a pumpkin or two together. Or it might mean a trip to the pumpkin patch, some pumpkin pie (yum!), and/or enjoying a little pumpkin sensory play.

It's that last part that we're obviously going to focus on here. The title does say pumpkin sensory bins after all.

Below you will find lots of great pumpkin sensory play ideas to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy. I focused primarily on bins that used pumpkin manipulatives or real pumpkins versus ones that showed you how to make pumpkin spiced fillers like cloud dough and whatnot. That would have made this list gigantic otherwise!

Your Kids are Going to Love these Pumpkin Sensory Bins!

1. Acorn & Pumpkin Sensory Bin with Water (pictured below and in collage) - Super simple to set up, but loads of fun. Perfect for kids who love to scoop and pour.

2. Pumpkin Scoop Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - Similar to my sensory bin above, but with real mini pumpkins. My kids would love this!

3. Pumpkin Wash Sensory Bin from Busy Toddler - Bubbles, water, pumpkins. Need I say more? My nieces just tried this activity out on Thanksgiving weekend and had a blast. It's so simple, yet engaging.

4. Washing Pumpkins Sensory Bin from Elated Momma (pictured in collage) - This activity expands on the idea above. However, instead of just using soapy water, this activity uses colorful soap foam (a favorite around here!). So it provides a neat texture alongside the pumpkins.

5. Pumpkin Guts Sensory Bin from Childhood Beckons - This activity is exactly what you think it is...The inside of a pumpkin as a sensory bin! While it might get a bit messy and many kids might not enjoy the texture, it looks like tons of fun! Plus, it's a great way to reuse the waste when it's pumpkin carving time.

6. Pumpkin & Kinetic Sand Sensory Bin from 3 Dinosaurs - We're huge fans of kinetic sand around here. It's just one of those sensory bin fillers that is great for kids of all ages. This activity pairs it with some little acrylic pumpkins, which happen to be perfect for stamping in the kinetic sand too.

7. Letter Pumpkin Sensory Bin from Planning Playtime - The inclusion of letters in this sensory activity make it perfect for hyperlexic kids. I also love the creative DIY pumpkins that were used for this idea.

8. Pumpkins & Oobleck from Busy Toddler - Here's another messy sensory activity to try, if you're up for it.

9. Mini Pumpkin Scented Sensory Play from Fun-A-Day! - Here's an adorable fall twist on my rainbow dyed chickpeas. I love that they're scented too!

10. Pumpkin Boats Fall Sensory Play from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls - I think this idea is so adorable and perfect for kids who love boats. It's also a great way to explore science concepts.

11. Pumpkin Sensory Bin with Rice from 3 Dinosaurs - This activity is super easy to set up. It uses plain white rice so no extra prep or setup required.

12. Harvesting Pumpkins Sensory Bin from Preschool Toolkit - Your hyperlexic kid will love that numbers are included in this activity.

13. Sight Word Pumpkin Path Sensory Bin from Simple Fun for Kids (pictured in collage) - I love the combination of textures and colors in this bin. It looks so inviting! Plus, the words will make it extra enticing for hyperlexic kids. Too bad there isn't a free printable included.

14. Pumpkin Path Sensory Bin from Views from a Step Stool - Such a cute way to bring the pumpkin patch indoors at home.

15. 3 Pumpkin Sensory Bins (& Other Activities) from Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten - If you scroll down, you'll find 3 different sensory bins to try. There's one that has black and orange shredded paper as the base. There's another that uses glowing water beads. And then there's one with black beans. All of them look awesome!

16. 5 Little Pumpkins Sensory Bin from I Heart Crafty Things - This bin is great for working on fine motor skills.

17. Pumpkin Sorting Sensory Activity from Fun-A-Day! - Work on color sorting with another fun twist on my rainbow dyed chickpeas. This activity is great for working on fine motor skills!

18. Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin for Matching from Life Over C's - I like that there is a specific purpose for this activity so the items included are selected intentionally.

19. Edible Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin from Our Five Ring Circus - This activity is perfect for kids who are still in the mouthing stage or like to chew on everything (even beyond the toddler years!). I also love the base for this sensory bin.

20. Pumpkin Water Bead Sensory Bin from 3 Dinosaurs - I love the contrast between the clear water beads and the colorful pumpkins in this activity. Looks fun!

21. Pumpkin Patch Small World Sensory Play from Buggy and Buddy - This pumpkin activity is great for imaginative play. The kids will love telling stories with it while playing.

22. Muddy Pumpkin Patch Sensory Play from Nerdy Mamma - This idea is cute and I bet it smells amazing!

Which one of these pumpkin sensory bins are you going to try out first? Are you going to start simple or try something messy? Either way, have fun!

The Best Halloween Sensory Bins for Kids

From bats and spiders to eye balls and jack-o-lanterns, here are the best Halloween sensory bins for kids!

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When it comes to Halloween sensory play, there are a wide variety of themes you could use. You could try something with bats or spiders. Or you could try something with pumpkins or cauldrons. Or you could stick to Halloween colors like black and orange. The possibilities are endless as you will soon see.

So if you're looking for fun sensory bin ideas for Halloween, then you're in the right spot!

Let's dig in and check out these awesome, not-so-spooky Halloween sensory bins for kids, shall we?

30+ Fun Halloween Sensory Bins for Toddlers & Preschoolers

1. Spooky Ghost Sensory Bin for Halloween (pictured below) - This sensory bin is eerie, but so simple to set up!

2. Black Rice Sensory Bin for Halloween from Busy Toddler - This sensory bin is great for scooping and pouring and looks fantastic.

3. Halloween Themed Sensory Bin with Black Beans from Fireflies & Mud Pies - I absolutely love the skeleton salad tongs that were used for this activity. I know that my kids would enjoy playing with them!

4. Halloween Black Bat Sensory Bin from Pre-K Pages (pictured in collage) - Dyed pasta and dyed rice make up this easy sensory activity extra inviting.

5. Halloween Sensory Bin with Yarn & Pom Poms from My Bored Toddler - This is probably the easiest sensory activity ever to set up! Just grab some yarn and some pom poms (Halloween colored, of course!) and you're good to go.

6. Halloween Sensory Soup Bin with Water (pictured below) - Sensory soup bins are one of our favorite activities all year round. Here's a simple Halloween themed one with black water and little pumpkins to scoop.

7. Witch's Brew Halloween Soap Foam Sensory Bin from Views from a Step Stool - Here's a fun soap foam sensory bin. This one uses purple soap foam and mini cauldrons.

8. Halloween Spider Sensory Bin from Busy Toddler - I love the combination of orange rice and black plastic spiders in this sensory bin. Be sure to pair it with some tongs to sneak in some fine motor practice.

9. Magical Witches Potion Sensory Bin from Taming Little Monsters - Make your own potion with some green soap foam and fun items from the dollar store with this cute idea.

10. Googly Eye Soup Sensory Bin from Fun at Home with Kids (pictured in collage) - This Halloween activity is ridiculously simple to put together, but loads of fun! What kid wouldn't have a blast scooping up googly eyes?

11. Halloween Ghost Sensory Bin from My Bored Toddler - This sensory activity is really cute. I especially like the addition of the letters on the ghosts. Makes it perfect for hyperlexic kids, right?

12. Halloween Shaving Cream & Spider Sensory Bin from My Bored Toddler - This simple activity uses orange shaving cream as the base so prepare to get a bit messy with this one.

13. Spider Sensory Bin (pictured below) - While this activity was shown on the light table, it can also be done off of the light table too. Your kids will have a blast with it!

14. Halloween Cloud Dough Sensory Bin from Simple Fun for Kids - Cloud dough is a really neat sensory material to play with. I know your kids are going to love this Halloween colored cloud dough!

15. Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Bin for Toddlers from Happy Toddler Playtime - I love the use of recycled plastic containers for this activity. It's great for working on fine motor skills and perfect for kids who love to scoop, pour, and dump.

16. Halloween Bubble Foam Bin from Busy Toddler - We love soap foam (aka bubble foam) and have done our fair share of bins with this material. But I love this Halloween spin on it!

17. Spooky Halloween Sensory Tub from No Time for Flash Cards - This bin is filled with black beans, white beans, skeletons, and little jack-o-lanterns.

18. Spiderweb Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - I love that the base of this sensory bin is a big stretched out spiderweb.

19. Eye Ball Sensory Bin for Halloween from Busy Toddler - You can find most of the supplies for this activity at the dollar store. And I bet your kids will love scooping up the eye balls and creepy, crawly bugs.

20. Candy Corn Sensory Play (pictured below) - This sensory bin is inspired by a popular (but, in my opinion, gross!) Halloween treat. You can try this activity on the light table or off. It's tons of fun!

21. Black and White Halloween Sensory Bins from Fantastic Fun & Learning - I love these two complimentary sensory bins. The ghosts are hidden amongst Epsom salt, while bats and spiders are hidden amongst the black beans. They're both super cool!

22. No Mess Halloween Sensory Bin from Fun at Home with Kids - This activity is ridiculously simple, but so much fun! And you'll love that it is mess free.

23. Easy Halloween Sensory Bin with Black Water Beads from Fantastic Fun & Learning - The colorful creepy crawly toys really pop amongst the black water beads in this activity bin.

24. Halloween Sensory Bin with Balloon Pumpkins from Teaching Mama - This sensory bin has dried beans, DIY pumpkin sensory balloons (kind of like stress balls), and glowing decorations.

25. Halloween Sensory Bin with Dollar Store Finds from What Can We Do With Paper and Glue - I love the addition of Halloween themed mini erasers, spider rings, and googly eyes in this sensory bin.

26. Easy Halloween Sensory Bin for Kids from The Educators' Spin On It - Colorful Halloween gems form the base for this bin.

27. Halloween Spider Sensory Rice Bin from My Bored Toddler - I love the giant spiders and spiderweb in this activity bin.

28. Halloween Sensory Bin with Orange Water Beads from Pre-K Pages - This sensory bin is so bright and inviting! I love the orange water beads in it. It's like you're collecting tiny little pumpkins or something.

29. Halloween Eye Spy Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime - Play I spy with my little eye using this sensory bin. It's a great way to work on building vocabulary and language skills.

30. Halloween Sensory Spaghetti Bin from Pre-K Pages - The slimy colorful noodles are like digging into a big pile of worms. Perfect for Halloween, right?

31. Spaghetti & Eyeball Halloween Sensory Bin from Simple Everyday Mom - Here's another idea that uses dyed spaghetti as its base. But what is really cool about this bin is the glowing eyeballs! What kid wouldn't love that?!

32. Giant Eyeballs Sensory Bin for Halloween from Fun at Home with Kids - These giant eyeballs are so cool and easy to make too. Your kids will love squishing them.

33. Edible Eyeballs Sensory Bin for Baby and Toddlers from Fun at Home with Kids - Here's a taste safe version of the giant eyeballs found above.

34. Water Bead Halloween Sensory Bin from The OT Toolbox - You'll want to grab some purple water beads and pair them with some Halloween items from the dollar store to recreate this activity at home.

35. Eyeballs & Pom Poms Sensory Soup from Happy Toddler Playtime - Need something simple? Try this fun water based sensory activity this Halloween.

36. Halloween Rice Bin with Eye Balls from Busy Toddler - This activity pairs dyed rice with plastic eye balls from the dollar store. It's super simple to put together!

I know that was a lot, but there were just so many awesome Halloween sensory bins out there that I wanted to include on this list. Which one(s) are you going to try first?

Back to School Sensory Bins for Kids

Looking for back to school sensory bins? Your toddler or preschooler are going to love these ideas!

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It's that time of year again...It's time to get ready for school!

Now, some kids might be really excited to go back to school. Others, though, might feel nervous because it's something new and different. Maybe their school anxiety even starts to kick in.

So it's possible that your kid might need something fun to get them excited or even something calming to help them process their feelings and worries. And that's where these back to school sensory bins come in. They can help with that transition.

Fun Back to School Sensory Bins for Kids

1. Back to School Sensory Maze Activity from Lalymom (pictured) - This idea is really cute! Basically you have to help get the school bus from your house to the school. It's great for working on fine motor skills too.

2. Back to School Sensory Tub from Counting Coconuts (pictured) - This sensory tub starts with a base of shredded paper. But I know the numbers, ruler, and letter tiles would entice any hyperlexic child to play.

3. Magnetic Back to School Sensory Bin from Busy Bebes - This sensory activity uses magnetic letters. That means it's a great idea to try with your hyperlexic kid. after all, magnet letters are one of their favorite toys to play with.

4. School Sensory Bin with Painted Rocks from Views from a Step Stool (pictured) - I think this sensory bin is adorable! It has cute little peg people, painted rocks, and wood slices with the word school on it. Those letters would definitely grab the interest of your hyperlexic child.

5. Back to School Supplies Sensory Bin Idea from Blessed Beyond a Doubt - This bin is filled with corn and school supplies. And I know which item my boys would choose to pick out and play with first from this sensory bin...The calculator, for sure! 

6. School Sensory Bin with Colored Pasta from Views from a Step Stool - It's easy to recreate this activity at home. First, dye some pasta. Then pair it with any school themed toys, such as a school bus, that you might have.

7. Back to School Sensory Table from Random Thoughts and Polka Dots - Here's another cute idea using shredded paper as the base. I also love the giant paper clips they used. My kids would definitely want to play with those!

8. Preschool Back to School Sensory Bin with Corn from a pinterest user named Erica - There aren't any instructions to go with this bin, but it looks really cute. It uses corn as its base.

And that's it for the back to school sensory bins. Hopefully you found an idea (or two) that will help get your kids excited for school.

15+ Awesome Construction Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

You're going to love these awesome construction sensory bin ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. They're perfect for kids who love trucks and construction vehicles.

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If your kids are interested in construction trucks or even construction signs (hello, my hyperlexic learners!), then it might be time to try a little construction sensory play. After all, I'm all about leaning into and using your child's interests.

So go ahead and grab those trucks and get ready to pair them with a fun sensory base. Then just like that you'll have an instant construction site. However, I totally understand if you feel like you're not creative enough to just whip up a sensory bin like this. 

But that's where these construction sensory bin ideas come in though. They'll give you some inspiration to get started. And save you from having to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

Your Kids are Going to Love these Construction Sensory Bin Ideas!

1. Cinnamon Soap Foam & Trucks Sensory Play (pictured below) - Cinnamon soap foam is one of my all time favorite sensory bin fillers ever! You're going to want to whip some up. Then all you need to do is add some trucks. Then it's the perfect little construction activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Plus, it smells so good!

2. Construction Zone Sensory Bin with Alphabet Rocks from Modern Preschool (pictured in collage) - I love the addition of alphabet rocks to this sensory bin. It's a great way to get your hyperlexic kid interested in playing.

3. Construction Themed Taste Safe Sensory Bin from The Play Based Mom - This activity uses some stale food from the pantry as the base. It's really quite brilliant.

4. Simple Cornmeal Construction Site Sensory Bin from Busy Toddler (pictured in collage) - The cornmeal base really plays into the colors of the little yellow trucks. It looks like a lot of fun!

5. Construction Truck Sensory Bin from Frugal Fun For Boys & Girls - This idea uses black beans as the base. But what I really love is the cool cardboard ramp that they made to add to this bin.

6. Construction Zone Sensory Bin with DIY Road Signs from Mama. Papa. Bubba. - I love the addition of construction zone work signs and natural materials in this bin.

7. Shredded Paper Construction Site from Busy Toddler - Oh my goodness, this one would be so much fun! Shredded paper is such a cool sensory experience.

8. Construction Site Sensory Bin from Active Littles - This one uses black beans and colorful pom poms. It would be quick and easy to set up too.

9. Sand Foam Construction Sensory Play from Messy Little Monster - The sand foam base in this bin would provide such an interesting texture. Perfect for trucks to scoop up too.

10. Easy Construction Site Sensory Bin with Dry Pasta from Happy Toddler Playtime - This activity would take literally seconds to set up. Just dump and play.

11. Construction Sensory Bin with Real Pebbles from Mama. Papa. Bubba. - I love that this one uses real pebbles that are perfect for scooping and pouring. But obviously not great if your little one is still in the mouthing stage.

12. Chocolate Cloud Dough Construction Site Sensory Play from Powerful Mothering - I bet this smells amazing! And it's a nice alternative to play sand.

13. Construction Small World Sensory Play with Toddler Safe "Rocks" from Still Playing School - The base for this activity is really cool. And it's perfect for kids who still like to put things in their mouths.

14. Clean the Construction Trucks Sensory Play from Busy Toddler - How fun would this one be? Your kids can get the trucks all messy and then clean them all off.

15. Construction Site Sensory Play from Craftulate - The sensory bin filler in this one is a mix of sand, rocks, and old grains from the pantry so it would have lots of neat textures to explore.

16. Oobleck Construction Site Activity from NutureStore - If you're okay with a little bit of a mess - okay, a big mess! - then this sensory bin is the one for you to try.

17. Construction Site Activity Bin from Happy Hooligans - Have some construction worker toys on hand? Then this sensory activity is perfect for you!

18. Taste Safe Construction Bin for Toddlers & Babies from Messy Little Monster - Grab some trucks and some Cheerios for this activity. It's super easy to set up!

So hopefully you've got some fresh inspiration for some new sensory activities inspired by construction sites now. I mean there are some pretty awesome construction sensory bin ideas above. So, you're bound to find something your kid will love!