INSIDE: Do you have a dinosaur lover at your home? Well they will definitely love this dinosaur dig sensory bin. It is super easy to set up but tons of fun for toddlers and preschoolers.
Dinosaur Lover
Somewhere between 2 and 2.5 my toddlers developed a ferocious love of dinosaurs. I wish I could remember when exactly it occurred but it seemed to flourish almost over night. Suddenly our dinosaur toys that I kept with my activity supplies were in high demand. And I was trying to think up fun and new dinosaur activities to help feed their obsession.
Looking for more dinosaur activities? Check out this post with tons of really fun ideas!
I purchased a ton of dinosaur books from Amazon and added a few more dinosaur toys to our collection.
But of course since my first love is sensory bins I decided to set up a mini dinosaur dig for them. Making dinosaur bones has always been a sticking point for me and that is why I have not done a dinosaur dig sensory bin in the past. You can make them out of salt dough but I wanted to try something new. Enter cardboard box please!
Cardboard Boxes For Activities
Cardboard is my new best friend. I simply love the stuff its so versatile and plentiful. Ive been using it a lot recently in my sensory bins and other activities and it has been a blast!
Looking for more cardboard box activities? Check out this giant post of all the best cardboard box crafts and activities for kids!
How to Set Up Dinosaur Dig Sensory Bin
Grab your sensory bin and add your cloud dough (see recipe below) and dinosaur bones (see instructions below). Add greenery such as artificial succulents, paint brushes, bowls, tongs or tweezers and utensil drawer organizer. Bury the bones in the cloud dough and invite your little one to go through the cloud dough trying to find the dinosaur bones. Once they find some have them use the drawer organizer to store them.
Tell your little one that dinosaur bones are very delicate and that’s why they use a brush to uncover them. Once they find all the bones have them try to put them together.
Dinosaur Bone Cardboard Puzzle
I didn’t do this but I wish that I had. When you are cutting out the dinosaur bones, don’t throw away the cardboard. You can use it to let your little one replace the pieces like a cardboard puzzle. Stay tuned I think that I may need to try this activity again and create the dinosaur bone puzzle!!
How to Make Dinosaur Bones
- Use scissors or box cutters to cut cardboard into the shape of dinosaur bones.
- Paint both sides of the cardboard grass with white tempera paint or use a white paint stick.
- Seal the cardboard grass with Mod Podge a water based glue and sealer.
- Make the head of the dinosaur, ribs, feet and tail and spine bones. Let your little one put them together to create a dinosaur.
NOTE: Because the cloud dough oil based you should remove your cardboard bones from the cloud dough after play so that it does not get stained by the oil.
How to Make Cloud Dough
Cloud dough is not edible. Raw flour should not be ingested. Adult supervision is required.
Makes about 8 cups amount (about 1.2 kg) cloud dough
- Large mixing bowl
- 8 cups (1 kg) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (55 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, or more as needed (optional, for brown cloud dough)
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
- In the mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder (if using) and vegetable oil.
- Mix together until the cloud dough becomes moldable. Add more oil if it’s too dry or more flour if it’s too wet, as needed.
- Cloud dough is ready when you can shape it into a ball with your hands. Add more cocoa if you want to make the color of the cloud dough darker.
Supplies
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- Sensory Bin or Sensory Table
- Cloud Dough (recipe above)
- Cardboard Box
- White tempera paint or white paint sticks
- Scissors
- Paint brushes
- Wooden Utensil Drawer Organizer
- Greenery such as artificial succulents
- Dinosaur toys
- Tweezers
WILL YOU TRY DINOSAUR DIG SENSORY BIN WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
