Spring Sensory Bin (Free Printable)

How To Make A Spring Sensory Bin

Let’s get right to putting together this spring sensory bin. We have used rice for our sensory bin below, but you can easily substitute something else that is just right for your needs.

See our list of best sensory bin fillers.

Supplies:

• White rice
• Vinegar
• Food coloring
• Paper plates and paper towels
• Containers or bags for mixing rice
• Larger container for the sensory bin
• Faux flowers, scoops, and containers for play
• FREE printable math puzzle to hide in rice!

Instructions:

STEP 1. Dye your rice.

1. Measure 1 Cup of rice into a container.
2. Next, add 1 Teaspoon of Vinegar. 
3. Add as much food coloring as desired (deeper color, more food coloring) to the rice. (If you want to make several different colors, as shown here, use a different container for each cup of rice.)
4. Cover the container and SHAKE the rice vigorously until the rice is evenly coated with the food coloring!
5. Spread the colored rice on a paper towel or a tray to dry in an even layer.

Check out our best tips for HOW TO DYE RICE.

STEP 2. Fill your sensory bin

Now it’s time to add the goodies to your container of gorgeous colored rice!

For this spring sensory bin, we love:

• fake flowers in different colors, shapes, and sizes
• mini pots for planting flowers
• scoops and little cups
• whatever else fun you can find!

These items are all great additions to a spring sensory bin. The dollar store has always been my favorite resource for sensory bin items.

TIP: When finished with the sensory bin, I always recommend storing dry fillers in gallon or 2-gallon-size zip-top bags. Store accessories separately, and you can easily reuse your sensory bin fillers for another theme.

STEP 3. Add Printable Math Cards (Optional)

You can grab the free printable math cards to add to your spring sensory bin here. This step is completely optional, but it’s a nice addition if you want to add a math component. You can also use the math pack on its own!

TIP: Laminate the pieces for repeated use!

The Benefits Of Sensory Bins

Are sensory bins worth it? Yes, they are worth it. The more basic you keep the sensory bin, the better off you are. Remember, you 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 allowing kids to experience 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 play bins include some 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!

Check Out These Helpful Sensory Bin Resources

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

• Sensory Bin Ideas and Themes
• Best Sensory Bin Fillers
• Non Food Sensory Bin Fillers
• Rice Sensory Bin Ideas
• How To Set Up A Sensory Bin
• Sensory Play Recipes You Can Use