11/05/2025
DIY sensory bins at home = easy, low-cost, and packed with therapeutic benefits. Here’s a quick guide you can save:
Materials (mix & match)
• Base: dry rice/beans/pasta, kinetic sand, water + a drop of soap, oats, or pom-poms
• Tools: cups, spoons, scoops, tongs, muffin tin, small containers
• Add-ins: toy animals/cars, seasonal items, foam letters, cookie cutters
How to set it up
Choose a shallow bin or baking pan and add 2–4 cups of a base.
Offer 2–3 tools (not too many—less clutter = more focus).
Hide small items to scoop, pour, sort, or “rescue.”
Model simple play ideas, then follow your child’s lead.
End with a “clean-up game” for built-in transitions.
Why it helps
• Regulation & focus: rhythmic scooping/pouring can calm the nervous system.
• Fine motor & strength: grasp, pinch, and bilateral coordination with tools.
• Language: label actions (“scoop, pour, bury”), describe textures, practice requesting (“more,” “help,” “my turn”).
• Problem solving: sort by color/size, count scoops, make simple patterns.
• Pretend play: build a “construction site,” “pet wash,” or “bakery.”
Safety tips
• Always supervise. Choose taste-safe bases for kids who mouth items.
• Tape the bin to the table or use a towel “play zone” for easier clean-up.
• Stop if your child looks overwhelmed—offer a break or a glove/brush as a bridge to messy textures.
If you try it, tag us—we love seeing at-home play carry over from therapy!
