I love creating sensory bins for therapy activities, but it wasn't until recently that I started thinking about what I was using to put in them as a filler. Have you ever considered that it might not be the best idea to use food as a sensory bin filler?
I’m not judging anyone, I’ve done it with rice and beans before, BUT once someone brought it up as a topic of concern it got me thinking…. for food-insecure kids, this is probably a pretty awful experience. Plus there are so many other options! Today I'm sharing 5 that I have used and loved.
1. Cotton
I actually shared this one recently, but cotton balls are pretty perfect for winter sensory bins! Cotton isn't very expensive and one that can easily be thrown out if anything yucky happens.
2. Craft Pom Poms
Along the same lines, craft pom poms are a colorful way to fill a bin with a soft filler. You can find them in lots of different colors and sizes, which sorting can be a fun activity to do on its own. I paired it with these vocabulary cards where students were looking for matches. You can find these cards for FREE in my shop!
3. Pony Beads
Pony beads are fun and colorful like pom poms but are harder and smaller. I like pairing these with mini objects for working on categories, describing, or articulation. These would definitely not be ideal for younger children who are still putting things in their mouths!
4. Foam Shapes or Sponges
I love when I find cool shapes that match the activity, so these foam hearts from Michael's were perfect for pairing with story props for Valentine's Day and Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch! I have story props in all of my book companions just for this purpose!
5. Paper Shreds
Paper shreds are my favorite filler! You can find just about any color you want at the Dollar Tree in the party supply section or just use shreds from your own shredder.
I've also tried water beads and Easter grass, both of which I found to be messy and kind of a pain 😅
What's your favorite non-food sensory bin filler?
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[…] foam hearts at Michaels, they are a perfect filler for Valentine’s Day! You could also use shredded paper or beads or whatever else you have lying around. I put story props into the bin for the children to retell the story, describe […]