Do you have a dinosaur-loving toddler or preschooler? Need a quick sensory activity for older kids? Kids love sensory play. Whether you want to explore a popular theme, like dinosaurs, or find a way to sneak in math skills, create a dinosaur sensory bin! With a few tips, tricks, and ideas, enjoy sensory play all year long! Grab free printable dinosaur color by number activity and our how-to-make-a-sensory bin guide!

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Dinosaur Sensory Bin

Dinosaur Sensory Activities

Kids love to dig their hands into a newly made sensory bin, scoop and pour, discover, and carry out storytelling. Creating a dinosaur sensory bin with moldable sand is a super fun theme for year-round play. We have fantastic dinosaur activities to try!

Below you’ll find many resources to help you assemble an entire dinosaur theme unit. Your kids will have so much fun with the hands-on activities below.

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Hands-On Sensory Play Suggestions

Add accessories and tools that encourage fine motor practice with the young age group for which a sensory bin is designed. This can be as simple as scooping the filler into a small container and then dumping it into another container. For a more complex activity, provide kitchen tongs to grab objects and transfer them to a container.

Try it: Count dinosaurs, rocks, and trees for simple number sense.

Try it: Add a dinosaur book and work on identifying the dinosaurs in the sensory bin.

Free How to Make a 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.

Dinosaur Sensory Bin Supplies

NOTE: This sensory bin uses moldable sand or moon sand. You can purchase this material but you can also make your own. We have moon sand, kinetic sand, and a cloud dough recipe you can try.

Optional Sensory Bin Fillers: You aren’t limited to the exact materials we have used for this sensory bin. Use the images below to guide the creation of a dinosaur sensory bin. Feel free to combine and explore materials that work for you in your setting.

Optional Sensory Bin Theme Items: Many items can be purchased through Amazon or at the local dollar store. Additionally, stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels Crafts are great resources for sensory bins!

The following links show a few suggestions from Amazon but go ahead and see what you have on hand! I am an Amazon Affiliate and receive compensation for items ordered through these links.

SAFETY NOTE: We do NOT recommend using water beads due to extreme health risks. Please DO NOT use this as a sensory bin filler.

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How to Set Up a Simple Dinosaur Sensory Bin

It’s pretty much a 1-2-3 process for setting up a sensory bin. Remember, it will never look quite as pretty as the moment before your kids dig into it! Don’t make it too complicated.

STEP 1 FILLER: Moldable sand is a fantastic and highly reusable sensory bin filler for various themes. Spread it around the base of your sensory bin. Want to know more about choosing a sensory bin, keep reading!

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STEP 2 THEMED ITEMS: Place the other items on top, including dinosaurs, rocks, and trees.

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STEP 3 BIG ITEMS: Add a scoop, kitchen tongs, and a container if desired.

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ENJOY! All that’s left is to invite the kids to explore the contents of the garden sensory bin! 

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TIP: Always add a few themed books, games, or puzzles to the side of the bin as a nice transition between activities. Grab the free dinosaur color by number pack!

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Free Dinosaur Color By Number

More Fun Dinosaur Activities to Try

The Best Sensory Bin, Tub, or Sensory Table To Use

Please note I am sharing Amazon Affiliate links below. I may receive compensation through any purchases made.

Start with the right sensory bin or tub when creating a sensory bin for kids of all ages. With the right size bin, kids will be at ease playing with the contents, and the mess can be kept to a minimum.

Is a sensory table a good choice? A more expensive, heavy-duty sensory table, such as this one, allows one or more kids to stand and play comfortably. This was always my son’s favorite sensory bin, and it works just as well for home use as it does in the classroom. Roll it right outside!

If you need a sensory bin set on a table, make sure the sides are not too tall so kids do not feel like they are struggling to reach into it. Aim for a side height of around 3.25 inches. If you can place it on a child-size table, that makes it much better. Under the bed storage bins also work well for this. Grab a plastic kitchen sink dish pan from the dollar store if you need a quick, cheap alternative!

Unless you have space restrictions, try to pick a size that gives your kids room to play around without continually knocking the contents out of the bin. These more compact sensory bins with lids are a good alternative.

Sensory Bin Tips and Tricks

TIP: 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: 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: It’s important for the adult 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!

Homemade Sensory Play Recipes

Printable Dinosaur Project Pack & Early Learning Activities

Get ready for Di-november, summer fun, or anytime play! Perfect for Pre-K, K, 1st-grade ages, and any kiddo that loves dinosaurs.

What’s Included:

  • Frozen Dino Egg Discovery
  • Hatching Fizzy Eggs
  • Dino Egg Slime
  • Dino Dig Activity
  • Making Fossils
  • Dino Dirt Cups Snack Recipe (pictures)
  • Video of each dino science activity
  • Supplies and set-up information for each activity

Dino Early Learning Pack Includes:

  • Paleontologist I-Spy
  • Paleontologist Mini Book
  • Fossil Matching
  • Dino Skeleton Matching
  • Dino Trivia Cards
  • Dino Bones Board Game
  • Dino Playdough Mat
  • Dino Basic Math Activities (counting, tallying)

Will your dinosaurs come to life?

8 Comments

  1. I love it–the water bin is the perfect place for the dinosaurs!! 😉 I also had to laugh at him washing his hands at each step, lol…my daughter would do that too!

  2. Yes, best to let him just do it and much easier than him washing his hands after shaving cream or oobleck in the bathroom every 20 secs! Guess lesson learned that hands on messy should be done outside with a bucket of water. This sure was fun to make together.

  3. Very cute! I kind of wish we had a sand and water table now. Too bad I really hate sand! lol Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!

  4. What a great idea! I love all the sensory components to this activity. I’ve also heard about mixing flour and baby oil together to make sand – I think that’s going to be my next adventure with the kids! Thanks for sharing

  5. Oh that is just a water table from toys r us! I bet you can find it on craigslist too especially at the end of the season.

  6. I’ll have to try this. I’ve been getting everything ready before hand, but it’s probably twice the fun for them to help every step of the way! Thanks for the tip!

  7. I really enjoyed how he was involved in this rather than it being set up for him. I am totally kicking myself for giving away our own water table because now I want to do this exact one with my kids. Thank you for linking up to Magic Moments Monday!

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