If there is one activity that always grabs my kiddos’ attention, it is play dough. They love the stuff! Well, this play dough sensory bin just took it up a notch. Play dough at the table with a mat is fun, but play dough on the floor in a bin with all sorts of tools is way better!
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Best Beginner Sensory Bin!
My sweetie dived right into play with this sensory bin and gave me a couple of minutes to eat my lunch and change the baby (amazing, I know)! Of course, the first thing he had to do was mix all of the colors together. Sigh. With the big containers of play doh (that aren’t exactly cheap) I sometimes get frustrated with the mixing – don’t they know these things don’t grow on trees?! But today I decided to use the little party sized ones we had left over from Birthday favors, so no sweat here! And now he’s learning about what happens as colors mix together. When my husband got home and saw the ball of mixed play dough in the bin he said something along the lines of, “I hope he really likes brown play dough” haha!
Materials
- Large storage bin – I use this one from Target
- Play Dough
- ABC stamp set – this one comes with little play dough containers!
- Play dough tools
- ABC Yoga Book – if your kiddo is like mine and reminds you that an ABC Book would be a great addition to this activity!
- Bored toddler needing an activity – Check!
When I was teaching Kindergarten and had all the free time in the world since I didn’t have my own children yet, I used to make homemade play dough for my kiddos to use at their stations. It was not particularly complicated and the play dough turned out great! But…now I’m a mom with three busy littles and I barely have time to use the bathroom alone – am I right?! – let alone make my own play dough. If you are a Mama and you have time to make your own play dough, you are my hero! I don’t know how you fit it all in! At some point I’d love to get back to homemaking play dough, but for now, the store bought stuff works just fine for us!
Watch the Magic
Set out your tub and watch the Magic unfold as your little dives into play with play dough! The best part about this sensory bin? It’s not messy! Apart from the occasional play dough piece finding its way onto your kiddo’s pants, that is. There is no need to worry about flying rice or rolling chick peas, just a multi-colored ball of play dough getting stamped with letters. So, if you’re new to sensory bins and are hesitant to give your 2-year old a bin of rice, this is the perfect bin for you!
I do recommend teaching your sweeties about the boundaries of the sensory bin so you can engage in all of the fun involved in different materials, but play dough is a great place to start!
Whether you are new to sensory bins or a seasoned vet, give this play dough sensory bin a whirl!
