This sensory bin is all your favorite fall memories in one place; there’s wagons filled with pumpkins, freshly fallen apples and fall colored leaves littered on the ground. A dried corn kernel base reminiscent of the giant corn pits at the pumpkin patch, along with scarecrows in the distance and squirrels eating acorns on a wood pile.
Children can use the wooden scoops to fill the wheelbarrows with corn kernels, or use their pincer grasp to fill up the wheelbarrows with small pumpkins, apples and pinecones! This is such a fun one, and will get everyone excited for the fall weather!
Why Kids Love Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are amazing because kids can practice independent play while working on all kinds of developmental skills. They’re practicing colors, sorting, and really working on their fine motor skills. You can fine tune your sensory bin for different ages too, just make sure anything you add to your bin is age appropriate and safe.
One of the best things about sensory bins is that you can make them custom and specialized for holidays, or you can throw in any random supplies you have laying around. Ladles are great, along with kids cups and other age-appropriate kitchen tools. We have a Halloween sensory bin that would be fun for another day too!
Supplies
- 16 quart storage bin or 28q storage bin (28q is lower profile for younger kids to be able to reach in and play)
- Pinecones and acorns
- Dried corn kernels
- Glitter pumpkins (my daughter HAD to have these!)
- Velvet pumpkins
- Leaves
- Mini wheelbarrows
- Scarecrows
- Mini apples
- Wood scoops
This sensory bin makes me think of those giant corn pits that kids love to play in, and it’s the same kind of experience minus picking kernels out of your socks. Hobby Lobby had so many fun harvest themed miniature items, but you could easily swap the leaves and pinecones for real ones you find on an outdoor scavenger hunt!
One of our favorite ways to play with it is by using the wheelbarrows and picking pumpkins from the ‘patch’! Or loading it up with kernels to transfer to another pile. They can make a wood stack too and have their scarecrow supervising the pumpkin patch! Make your own paper scarecrow using our scarecrow template too!
Storing Your Sensory Bin
To store, we recommend putting in an airtight container. In a ziploc baggie keep the accessories that are fall specific together so you can pull them out easily. I like to reuse my bins for other sensory play.
Ideas for Other Things To Add
There are all kinds of fun things you can try with your fall sensory bin, here are a few of our favorites!
- Use dried black or pinto beans or oats instead of corn kernels.
- Use real leaves
- Set up a pumpkin washing station– busy toddler shared this and I love the idea!
- Use real objects from outside (after washing) to fill your sensory bin.
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