Cool off this summer with these fun and simple summer sensory bin ideas for those long sticky days over summer break. Sensory play is something I not only can set up quickly, but I know my kids will play with endlessly. Save this list of fresh and creative ideas to keep water play and sensory play poppin’ this summer!
RELATED: Don’t miss out on our list of favorite summer activities for kids to stay busy, exploring and learning this summer!
What is sensory play?
Sensory play is an interactive, hands-on approach to playing. Giving your kids the opportunity to engage in sensory play is important for their growth and development. Simply put, hands-on tactile experiences stimulate the brain for learning.
So what’s the big idea? Sensory play introduces new experiences that help to widen the scope and awareness of your child’s senses:
- Listening
- Seeing (observing)
- Smelling
- Tasting (sometimes!)
- Touching
RELATED: Not sure how to set up a sensory bin? Grab these simple sensory bin essentials on your next Target run!
What will your kids DO this summer?
Take the guesswork out of your days with the Summertime Bundle.
- Startup Guide creates your summer routine.
- Activity cards have easy activities.
- The PDF calendar puts your plan in place.
21 summer sensory bins
The options for summer sensory bins are endless! Playing outside provides the best sensory play options for exploration when the warm weather allows. Invite your toddlers and big kids to play outside this summer with these fun summer sensory bin ideas!
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Alphabet Ice Pods
Cool off with these simple-to-make alphabet ice pods! Increase letter recognition and strengthen your child’s little fingers and hands as they squirt muffin-sized ice cubes to expose the letters of the alphabet.
Button Water Play
Combine colorful buttons with water, and you have one of the easiest summer sensory bins to cool your kids off. Buttons are magical to watch the water go through the holes, but small. Use your best judgment and supervision.
Lemon Boats Water Play Fun
What do you do after you make homemade lemonade? This lemon boat water bin feels exactly where I’d like to land. Throw some lemon wedges into your water table for endless play — this is sure to be a huge hit!
Let’s Paint the Ice
For those extra hot days, dump lots of ice into your sensory bin and give your kids some squeeze bottles of watered-down paint to squirt, mix, and create fun ice-colored sensory exploration!
Meadow Oobleck Sensory Play
Fill your afternoon by sending your kids outside to collect flowers and plants to toss into a sensory bin full of oobleck. They will love playing with their makeshift “meadow”!
Ocean Pollution Sensory Bin
This ocean pollution sensory activity is a wonderful hands-on opportunity to teach your kids about how we treat our oceans and environment.
Ocean Sensory Bin
This ocean sensory bin is a great way for your little ocean explorers to explore imaginative play with their sea creatures in a make-believe ocean full of blue water (simply squeeze in a few drops of food coloring) and bubble fun!
Outdoor Jell-O Sensory Wash
If you’ve read, Dragons Love Tacos, this is your activity. And if you didn’t read it, it is still your activity. Why? Because sticking your hands in Jell-o and washing the plastic food is fabulous.
Rainbow Rice
Brighten your child’s visual and hands-on senses with this beautiful and simple DIY rainbow rice that can be played with in so many endless ways!
Reusable Water Balloon Sensory Play
Our new summer favorite water toy is these reusable water balloons! Fill your sensory bin with water, toss some reusable water balloons, and grab your counting bears for a fun surprise water play activity!
Sand Sensory Play
Bring the sand to your own backyard summer sensory bin! Pour real or kinetic sand into a sensory bin with a few spoons, measuring cups, and a muffin tin, and let your kids pour, bury, and seek out little treasures.
Savannah Animal Sensory Bin
Pour some water, and a few drops of blue food coloring, into a sensory bin or water table, and toss in any fun animal toys for unlimited free play on a warm day outside.
Scented Seashell Alphabet Search Sensory Bin
Set up a fun beach summer sensory bin with alphabet sea shells to invite learning with letter recognition, memory, and sensory play!
Scoop the Limes
Another fun way to use up all those extra limes (or any citrus you have lying around)! Combine water, limes, and a big spoon or ladle to help your toddler practice scooping, transferring, and playing in the water!
Scoop the Sea
Fill your sensory bin with water, grab some ocean creatures, a ladle, and a cute little treasure chest (or bowl), and invite your toddler to scoop, transfer, and play on a warm summer day!
Strawberry Sensory Bin
This will be the yummiest and easiest summer sensory bin you will ever make! Put some strawberries (and your little one) right into the sensory bin and let them taste, smoosh, and play with strawberries as much as their little hearts desire!
Sun Sensory Bin
Design a bright and fun sun sensory bin using different textures to explore and experiment with.
Tie Dye Soap Foam
Your kids will want to dive into this colorful and messy tie dye sensory bin!
Tropical Summer Sensory Bin
Pour some sand and any little tropical-themed toys into a sensory bin to pour, mold, build, and play with for the ultimate beach and tropical-themed sensory bin.
Under the Sea Sensory Bin
Create a fun and inviting under-the-sea-themed sensory bin for your kids to cool off with! Freeze little ocean creatures in bowls of water for your little ones to uncover using fine motor squeezing skills with a squirt bottle.
Water Play with Neon Colors
Your kids will have so much fun creating beautiful and neon color designs as they squirt and mix different colors in the water in this fun and easy sensory bin activity on a hot day.
What are the benefits of sensory play?
When children experience new ways of playing, it helps to build on their natural curiosities, inspires creativity, and strengthens independent playing. What more could we want for our kids?
This educational article from the Cleveland Clinic shares more about the benefits of sensory play. Some of these benefits include:
- Emotional regulation
- Fine motor practice
- Hand-eye coordination
- Language development and communication
- Problem-solving skills
RELATED: Be prepared for all things sensory play in the summer with these outdoor sensory play supply must-haves!
Simplify summertime sensory play.
As always, keeping things simple is best. Some of my boys’ favorite ways of playing during the summer have always been digging for worms and building sand castles. These summer sensory experiences are basic, nostalgic, and require zero set up, making them the ultimate way of summer sensory play!
BUT, when you are looking for simple summer activities for toddlers to have some outdoor summer sensory fun, there are many different ways to create easy and fun outdoor summer sensory bins!
Some of the best sensory summer play ideas include:
- Bubbles
- Dirt
- Fruit
- Grass
- Ice cubes
- Mud
- Sand
- Water
- Water balloons
Although sensory play can be messy, don’t let that keep your child from it! Introducing your kids to sensory play doesn’t always have to be messy or complicated. Keep sensory play easy, accessible, and when possible — outside! Which is why sensory play in the summer is the best all around!
Summer sensory bin activities and play are the perfect way to stay cool during the summer heat! If you have hesitated to introduce your little one to sensory play, summertime is the best time to introduce and invite some sensory play fun into their world. Keep the mess outside with these fun summer sensory play ideas all summer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sensory play is a great hands-on way to approach play. It offers open-ended exploration and builds on young kids’ natural curiosities while supporting independent play skills.
Summertime is a great opportunity to engage in sensory play. There are so many ways to explore sensory play, whether out in nature or in a sensory bin. Use water, ice, dirt, bubbles, or fruit to scoop and pour while helping you
Use a sensory table, storage bin, or large box to create a safe space to pour in any sensory bin fillers and tools for your child to explore.
