Benefits of sensory bins

Rachel Cohen, OTR/L

Sensory bins are a very popular play option for young children, with hundreds of inspiration images all over the internet. In this post we’ll discuss the benefits of sensory bins and ideas to incorporate into your sensory play.

What is a Sensory Bin?

A sensory bin is typically an open container that is filled with a textured material, such as sand, dry rice, or water-beads (or a mixture of materials). Small objects/toys are usually added into the container as well. Sensory bins can be a fun activity and, as the name may imply, provide children with a hands-on sensory experience. Some may think of sensory bins as primarily for touch/tactile play. But did you know that sensory bins can also create many other opportunities for learning and development? Here are some examples!

Explore + Learn About Sensory Properties:

Sensory bins not only have a tactile sensory component. They also provide children with information about sound, sight, smell, and movement. As children explore sensory bins, they are learning about various sensory properties. You can help your child tune into certain sensory information by commenting on what you notice (i.e., “It looks like rain” when materials are released into the bin., “I like that sound” when materials are being swooshed around in the bin.)

Mindfulness, Attention, and Regulation:

Engaging with sensory bins can create an atmosphere that supports mindfulness, attention, and regulation. Mindfulness is the act of waking up to what our senses are telling us, which sensory bins provide a great opportunity for. Many children show improved sustained attention when engaging with sensory bins. Sensory bins can also help ease stress and anxiety, contributing to improved regulation.

Meeting Sensory Needs:

Sensory bins can be used as a tool to help children meet their individual sensory needs. For children who are sensitive to tactile or visual input, sensory bins can help them explore these senses at their own pace, in a safe, playful, and motivating way. For children who seek sensory input, sensory bins provide a way to receive more sensory input and can have a regulating/calming effect. For children who seem less responsive to sensory input, engaging with sensory bins can help increase their level of arousal/alertness and awareness of their surroundings.

Fine Motor Skills:

Sensory bins can provide an opportunity for children to practice and enhance their fine motor skills.

Picking up and manipulating small items within a sensory bin can improve grasp patterns and fine motor precision. Incorporating tools (i.e., spoons, tweezers, tongs), can facilitate efficiency with utensils and increased hand strength. Bimanual coordination (using both hands together) can be practiced by holding a cup in one hand to scoop contents into a cup held with the other hand.

Visual Perception + Cognitive Skills:

Sensory bin play incorporates visual perception and can be upgraded to include higher-level cognitive skills. When children look for and find small toys hidden within a sensory bin, they are accessing their visual perceptual skills. See if your child is interested in sorting and categorizing items found (by color, shape, size, etc.), to further enhance cognitive skills. You can also narrate actions, such as “scoop”, “pour”, “in”, and “out” to help develop language skills and awareness of cause and effect.

Play Skills:

Sensory bins provide an opportunity for children to play at their own pace and in their own way. This is beneficial in and of itself. However, sensory bins can also be an opportunity to help children learn new play skills. Try modeling and expanding on your child’s play ideas. Ideas include ‘feeding’ contents to toy dinosaurs, or pretending the bin is a pool for dolls to swim in.

Joint Attention/Interaction:

Sensory bin engagement with a parent, therapist, or peer, can provide opportunities for children to use and expand on social interaction skills. Among many others, these include joint attention, imitating, sharing, and collaborating.