I Spy Sensory Bin for Preschoolers
Make a colourful I Spy Sensory Bin for toddlers and preschoolers using coloured rice, and an assortment of odds and ends from around the house. It will provide hours of entertainment, learning and fine-motor fun.
My daycare Kids love to play I SPY, and they love a good sensory bin, so I’ve combined both activities with this I Spy Sensory Bin.
The inspiration for this bin came from the brilliant Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin that I spotted recently over at Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes. Thanks for the great idea, Sandi!
Rainbow Rice Base:
For a base in our I Spy Bin, I used our Homemade Rainbow Rice. You’ll find our quick and easy, mess-free recipe here.
As for the goodies in the bin, I collected odds and ends from our toy room and craft cupboards.
What to put in an I Spy Sensory Bin:
Anything goes really. Just have a look around, and collect small colourful objects that you think your child would enjoy exploring.
Tools and instruments for a sensory bin:
- scoops
- small spoons
- tweezers
- tongs
- Meat Ball Scoop (always the most popular tool in the bin)
- glass jars
- coloured cups and bowls
- ice-cube trays
- muffin tins
- sectioned trays (I love re-using the plastic trays that chocolates and cookies come packaged in)
Dig in!
That’s all there is to it. Now invite your child to explore and discover the contents of the bin.
The hooligans have spent hours scooping, pouring and sifting through the rice.
A sensory bin is a great fine motor activity. Using small spoons, scoops tweezers and tongs encourage muscle development, and help prepare a child for holding a pencil or scissors.
A sensory bin also helps develop math and counting skills children sort and group items ms into the bowls and containers.
And above all, it’s just a whole lot of fun to dig your hands into a bin like this. The feel and sound of the rice, and the vibrant colours are so inviting. The hooligans spent hours and hours playing with this one throughout the month of September.
What do you say? Will you give an I Spy Bin a try?
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
