Create a fun and engaging beach sensory bin indoors for your toddler or preschooler! It is great way to entertain them on rainy summer days or anytime during the year!

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Creating a Bean Beach Sensory Bin

Lay out your sheet, table cloth or shower curtain on the floor. Grab your large sensory bin and fill it with navy beans. I used one large bag of beans which covered the entire bottom of the bin and had enough to allow my little ones to be able to dig and scoop in.

Next, I added some of their favourite beach toys including shovels, pales, sand molds, nets and rakes.

And you are done! 

To introduce this sensory bin to my twin toddlers, I let them discover it on their own. I set it up in the small sunroom off our kitchen and while I cooked I knew they would wonder into the kitchen looking for me and discover it on their own. 

They loved it immediately. My son picked up a shovel and started digging and filling the bucket and sand molds. My daughter loved putting her hands into the beans and swishing them around.

After playing for a while my son started to throw the beans. So I brought out a second empty sensory bin and said to him that the only way that he can throw the beans is if he throws them into the bin otherwise the activity would be over for everyone.

Having the second sensory bin for him to throw beans into was an excellent option. It helped to keep the mess down a lot.

Clean Up

To clean up I simple picked up our picnic blanket and dumped the navy beans that fell out back into the bin. I then swept up any other beans.

Safety Note

If your toddler is still putting things into their mouths, be sure to keep an extra close eye on them if you choose to do this activity. The uncooked navy beans may pose a choking hazard. And remember all my activities require adult supervision at all times.

Skill Development Opportunities

This activity is great for Imaginative and Sensory Play, Colour Recognition, Language and Vocabulary Development, Hand-Eye Coordination, Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Emotional Development, Trial & Error, Visual Perception, Cognitive Development.

Age Suitability

This activity is ideal for 18 month old toddlers to 4 year old preschoolers.

Supplies

• 41 Qt, Clear Sensory Bin (Large) or a IKEA FLISAT Children’s Sensory Table
• Navy beans
• Beach toys
• Sea shells and rocks
• Sheet, table cloth, picnic blanket or shower curtain 

WILL YOU TRY BEAN BEACH SENSORY BIN WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE? Pin it for later!!!