Ready to learn how to make a DIY Beach Sensory Bin? It is officially summer and I have toddlers to entertain. I love to take advantage of the warm months for outdoor play, but I don’t want to have to get out the kiddie pool and sprinklers EVERYDAY.
Sensory bins, sensory activities and sensory play are a huge hit in our home. So I just wanted to combine a fun summer activity with a sensory one – the DIY Beach Sensory Bin.
Now what’s even better in our case, we live no wear near the beach. So that makes it all that much more appealing and fun for my little kids. This is one activity that will actually keep them busy for a very long time. Unlike some where they are constantly switching between activities, this DIY Beach Sensory Bin tends to hold attention and creativity for a good long while. And although there is both water and sand involved, it’s relatively clean activity. If any of it spills, no big deal as the water dries out and sand is easy to wash or sweep away.
We’ve made a sandbox, and my kids love it. But they always want to add water. And it just gets to be too messy to make the giant sandbox a water and sand box. So we found that this activity is PERFECT for little ones, PERFECT for hot summer days, PERFECT for developmental play, PERFECT for creative play, PERFECT for entertaining for a long time, PERFECT to put together quickly, PERFECT for the budget.
It is quite frugal to make!
Play sand is quite affordable and you can keep reusing it if you drain the water. It can actually keep the water in it for a while as well, but you will eventually want to change it.
We’ve done all kinds of sensory activities and sensory play, but this one is towards the top of favorites for the kids!
DIY Beach Sensory Bin
Materials needed for DIY Beach Sensory Bin:
- Play Sand (Sandbox sand) We found 50 lb. bags at Walmart, Lowes and Home Depot for around $3. The above pictures are half of that bag of sand – so about $1.50 worth of sand.
- Water
- Blue Food Coloring (optional)
- Large storage bin (any will do, but look for the shallower and longer rectangle ones)
- Optional: toys, shovels, shells, etc. A small beach kit is around $5 at most stores.
Directions for DIY Beach Sensory Bin:
- Pour enough play sand into the bin to fill up half of the space.
- Fill a pitcher with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring until you get the desired color. Stir to blend the color into the water. Pour the blue water into the empty side of the bin.
- Add beach toys, shovels and shells into the bin. Kids can enjoy digging in the sand for shells, scooping up the sand, and splashing in the water with their hands.
You can print this DIY Beach Sensory Bin:
| DIY Beach Sensory Bin | Print |
- Play Sand (Sandbox sand) We found 50 lb. bags at Walmart, Lowes and Home Depot for around $3. The above pictures are half of that bag of sand - so about $1.50 worth of sand.
- Water
- Blue Food Coloring (optional)
- Large storage bin (look for the shallower and longer rectangle ones)
- Optional: toys, shovels, shells, etc. A small beach kit is around $5 at most stores.
- Pour enough play sand into the bin to fill up half of the space.
- Fill a pitcher with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring until you get the desired color. Stir to blend the color into the water. Pour the blue water into the empty side of the bin.
- Add beach toys, shovels and shells into the bin. Kids can enjoy digging in the sand for shells, scooping up the sand, and splashing in the water with their hands.
There you have it: cheap, fun, easy, mesmerizing and attention-holding sensory play with this DIY Beach Sensory Bin! I would love to know if you made it and how your kids liked it!
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