Our Favorite Sensory Bin Fillers
Every time you order a Fern sensory kit, you receive get two bags of sensory filler. Some months it may be cinnamon scented oats, other months it might be glittery rice. My (Kate) personal favorite was a mix of lentils and dyed chick peas. We include these fillers because one of the huge benefits of sensory play is fine motor development. The strengthening of the muscles in the hand by practicing pinching, grasping, scooping, dumping etc. Sensory play builds the fine motor skills that children will need later on in life as they start writing, drawing, using a computer, typing, etc.
Because we believe a good sensory base or filler is key to an engaging sensory bin, we wanted to share four easy and low-cost sensory bin fillers for use at home!
Water
Water is one of the easiest and most versatile things to anchor a sensory bin! Add scoops and containers to help your child master scooping and teach them about capacity. Stir in a little dish soap, a clean sponge and plastic cars and trucks and turn your sensory bin into a carwash. Put a few drops of food coloring in with some shells and ocean animals and you have an underwater adventure! You cannot go wrong by giving your little one a watery sensory bin to explore.
Coffee
When I taught in a pre-school classroom, I loved filling my sensory bin with coffee grounds (beans will work as well)! Engaging the sense of smell in a big way, coffee is a jumping off point for lots of exciting sensory play. Coffee looks like dirt when you add construction vehicles. Coffee can be a wonderful base to add sticks, rocks, leaves and animals for a forest sensory bin. Pick up some fake worms and garden shovels and coffee is a wonderful garden to dig for worms in! Basically coffee is a substitute for soil that you can work with inside your house!
Rice
Rice is so much fun because you can dye it so many colors! You can dye lots of sensory bases, but rice seems to soak up the dye the most efficiently. Rice is such a good weight and texture for scooping up with a measuring cup and pouring through a funnel. When dyed, it can turn into an ocean, a rainbow, or grass for animals to frolic through. Rice is one of the most versatile of the dry fillers.
Chia Seeds
Have you ever wondered how to make a swampy sensory bin? Chia seeds are the answer! Add water to a bag of chia seeds and in a few minutes you will have a slimy, swampy texture to add frogs or dinosaurs or alligators to. Adding a few drops of green food coloring will make the whole effect even more realistic. *Chia seeds are pretty messy. We whole heartedly believe in messy play, but be warned.*
This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are endless options and opportunities for sensory bins fillers and bases. Switching out your sensory bin often keeps things fresh and engaging. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things with your filler. There are so many sensory bin opportunities to explore!
