Christmas Sensory Bin

A Christmas sensory bin is one of the easiest ways to bring the festive spirit to your home while keeping kids engaged and entertained. My kids light up when they see all the colorful items in the bin, and I love how it keeps them busy while also sneaking in some skill-building. There’s something so satisfying about the combination of textures, colors, and sounds—scooping sparkly rice, shaking jingle bells, and discovering hidden treasures like mini presents and wreaths.

This sensory bin is full of holiday magic! The bright red, green, and white colors, combined with sparkly foam balls and festive accessories, make it irresistible for kids. They’ll love exploring the textures, scooping rice, and discovering hidden surprises while practicing important skills like hand-eye coordination and sorting.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sensory Activity

You’ll love this sensory activity because it’s quick to set up, affordable, and adaptable for kids of all ages. It’s not just about fun; sensory bins encourage fine motor skills, creativity, and even early math concepts like sorting and counting. Plus, it’s the perfect way to calm little ones after a busy holiday outing or keep them happily occupied while you finish wrapping gifts.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Red, green, and white dyed rice
• Sparkly red, green, and white foam balls
• Jingle bells
• Mini presents
• Mini wreaths
• Brush Christmas tree
• Scoopers (measuring cups, spoons, or tongs)
• Small bowls or buckets

How to Make a Christmas Sensory Bin

1. Dye the Rice

Find the full recipe for easily making colored rice here. To make the colorful rice, divide uncooked rice into two separate bags or bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one and green to another. Add a teaspoon of vinegar or rubbing alcohol to each bag, seal, and shake until the rice is evenly coated. Spread the rice on parchment paper to dry completely.

2. Choose a Bin

Select a large, shallow container to use as your sensory bin. Make sure it’s big enough for kids to explore without spilling too much outside the bin.

3. Add the Rice

Pour the red, green, and white rice into the bin. You can layer the colors for a striped look or mix them all together for a festive blend.

4. Add the Accessories

Scatter the sparkly foam balls, jingle bells, mini presents, mini wreaths, and a brush Christmas tree throughout the bin. Place scoopers and small bowls or buckets nearby for play.

5. Set It Up

Invite your child to explore the bin, encouraging them to scoop, pour, sort, and discover all the fun items. You can even challenge them to count the jingle bells, group the foam balls by color, or make a little “scene” with the mini wreaths and tree.

This Christmas sensory bin is a simple yet magical way to keep kids entertained during the holiday season. It’s perfect for independent play, but it’s also a great way to connect with your kids as you explore and play together. Plus, the materials can be reused, so you can bring the holiday fun out again and again!

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon. 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.