Why Sensory Bins Aren’t For Everyone
Sensory bins are a buzz word topic in modern day parenting. They are often viewed as a trendy form of play. Maybe a super messy form of play. And sometimes viewed as super unnecessary.
So I am here to debunk the whole world of sensory bins: Are they worth it? Are they not?
Can they support your child? Do they make for good toddler activities?
I am here to say that sensory bins might not be for everyone… if they stress you out or your child is not at a safe or appropriate age, then they may not be for you! And guess what? That’s ok.
Throughout my almost 6 years of parenting, I have gone through seasons of heavily utilizing sensory bins and seasons of not using them at all. Here is a breakdown of these types of seasons:
SEASONS OF NOT USING THEM:
warm weather seasons where we spend more time exploring our senses outside in nature
seasons with little ones who may be prone to eating the materials - seen more as a danger than fun
child more interested in other forms of play
seasons of high demands for child + honestly not wanting to put in the effort, time or mess clean-up associated
SEASONS OF USING THEM:
winter weather months/cold weather months when everyone is getting stir crazy
seasons of heavily utilizing themes within our learning
currently using them as a “fun tool” for our youngest while I am digging into deeper learning concepts with our oldest
seasons where I am personally feeling creative energy and desire to create fun bins for the kids to explore together
But I will also say that sensory bins can have a lot of benefits to them. Especially as a learning tool and fun way to incorporate your child’s sensory system into play and learning.
BENEFITS OF SENSORY PLAY:
can promote language skills
helps refine fine motor skills
supports self-regulation
helps teach life skills such as pouring, measuring, etc
can serve as a tool to involve all the senses when outside play is not available
supports development for imaginative play
can support theme learning in a fun and engaging way
help engage a child who has sensory sensitivities into a therapeutic form of play
If you are interested in sensory bins but not sure how to go about it in a SIMPLE + less mess way, I recommend using larger sized base materials such as beans, packing peanuts, etc versus rice.
Below is a simple bin that I put together using materials we had at home:
One of my favorite shops, Mama of Joy Sensory Play, also sells pre-made sensory bins with a variety of themes! We personally love her mini sensory bins that also come with a container and lid for easy clean up.
To shop these curated sensory bins, shop HERE.