Have your kids ever explored magnets for Christmas science? Do they love sensory bins? Here’s the perfect opportunity to create a Christmas magnetic sensory bin for holiday play and learning. Check out all of our easy to set up Christmas Sensory Bins!

Christmas Magnet Science Experiment and Sensory Bin PlayPin

Explore Magnets For Christmas Sensory Play

Magnetic science and sensory play all rolled into one! This Christmas theme activity is also awesome sensory play for early learning. A quick set up, a simple invitation to play, and an easy science lesson in one fun sensory bin! We love easy science play.

Sensory bins are perfect for young kids and we have quite a few fun Christmas sensory bins to choose from too. Click here to learn more about sensory bins and all the amazing benefits they provide plus easy set up tips.

The Benefits Of Sensory Bins

Are sensory bins or sensory tables worth it? Yes, they are worth it! The more basic you keep the sensory bin, the better off you are. Remember, you only need to create a tactile experience for your kids, not a Pinterest image. While we have fantastic pictures of sensory bins, they only stay that way for a minute!

Sensory bins are awesome hands-on tools for children to learn about their world and senses! Sensory play may calm a child, focus a child, and engage a child.

Here’s what children can learn from sensory bins:

Practical Life Skills ~ Sensory bins let a child explore, discover and create play using practical life skills (dumping, filling, scooping) and learn valuable play skills.

Play Skills {emotional development} ~ For both social play and independent play, sensory bins allow children to play cooperatively or side by side. My son has had many positive experiences with other children over a bin of rice!

Language Development ~ Sensory bins increase language development by experiencing all there is to see and do with their hands, which leads to great conversations and opportunities to model language.

Understanding 5 Senses ~ Many sensory bins include a few of the 5 senses! Imagine a bin of brightly colored rainbow rice: touch the loose grains against the skin, see the vivid colors as they mix together, and hear the sound of sprinkling over a plastic container or shaken in a plastic egg!

Helpful Sensory Bin Resources

There’s so much more to learn about sensory bins and sensory play.

Sensory Bin Tips and Tricks

Tip: Stand To Play

Due to various sensory needs, some kids may feel more comfortable standing to engage in the activity. Sitting on the floor or kneeling in front of a sensory bin may also be uncomfortable. My son’s sensory needs made standing the best choice for us.

Tip: Keep It Simple

When designing a themed sensory bin, consider how many items you put into the bin versus the size of the bin. Too many items may feel overwhelming. If your kid is playing happily with the sensory bin, resist the urge to add just one more thing!

Trick: How To Minimize Mess

It’s important for adults to model the appropriate use of sensory bins and to keep a close eye on young kids who may want to throw the filler and items. Keep a kid-size broom and dustpan handy to help them learn how to clean up spills.

Learn more about sensory bins here!

Hands-On Sensory Play Suggestions

Add accessories and tools that encourage fine motor practice for the young age group, which a sensory bin is designed for.

Scoop play items into a small container or basket and then transfer them into another container. For more difficulty, provide kitchen tongs to grab objects and transfer them to a container.

Add some sneaky math by rolling a die and counting how many things to scoop at a time. Or simply count the number of items put into the basket.

Get Your Free Quick Start Sensory Bin Guide

It’s as easy as 1-2-3-4 to make a sensory bin! Get started today with this simple sensory bin guide.

How To Set Up A Christmas Magnet Sensory Bin

To go along with our Christmas theme we used a lot of red and green items! But you could easily use this sensory bin idea any time of the year!

Supplies:

  • Magnet Kit
  • Polyfill Plastic Weighted Beads or filler of choice (see our sensory bin fillers)
  • Cut straws, pipe cleaners, large paper clips
  • Metal cookie cutters or mason jar rings
  • Jingle bells of varying sizes
  • Magnifying glass and tweezers
  • Containers for collecting and sorting
Christmas Sensory Bin Magnet Science Sensory Play Set UpPin

Christmas Sensory Bin Set Up:

Add your filler to a large bin and place a variety of items on top to explore. Use the magnetic wand to experiment with what items can be picked up.

It’s always fun to add some non magnetic items to increase exploration and curiosity. This also makes a great opportunity to model experimentation and create a dialogue with your child about what is happening!

I love how much these magnetic wands can pick up an item one at a time. Often he will even count out how many items he picks up to try and beat the previous attempt! A terrific way to incorporate science and math.

Want more ways to use a magnet wand? Check out these magnet activities for kids!

Christmas Sensory Magnet Science Sensory Play with magnetic wand jingle bells cookie cuttersPin

 Fun and simple magnetic play for any time of the year, but make it special with a Christmas theme! Sensory bins like this Christmas magnet bin are awesome for hands-on learning and play! Make one now to last all season.

Why not make these easy magnetic Christmas ornaments to hang on the tree!

Christmas Sensory Bin Magnet Sensory Play Close up of sensory bin fillerPin

More Fun Christmas Play Ideas For Little Ones

Check out more than 25 Christmas play ideas. Here are a few of our favorites…

More Christmas Fun…

Printable Christmas Activities Fun Pack

Countdown to Christmas with 25+ low to no prep activities!

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • 25+ Low-to-no-Prep Christmas activities include games, secret codes, paper crafts, and more!
  • Fun Christmas games include a 10-card bingo game, DIY board game, I Spy, word find, sodoku, and more!
  • Easy Christmas Projects include making a peppermint spinner, exploring gingerbread house tessellations, playing with homemade thaumatropes, creating 3D Christmas cards, and so much more!
  • Bonus! Includes the 12 days of Christmas Color by Code!

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