Christmas sensory bin for toddlers

Age: 2+ · Time: 20 min · For: Ages 3–5

A sensory tray is a box full of things to touch, pour and discover. This Christmas version, with rice, pine cones and shiny ornaments, keeps toddlers busy and happy for a long time, and it costs almost nothing.

Playing with textures and pouring and filling helps children develop their fine motor skills and concentration.

Ideas to add

Cinnamon sticks for a lovely smell.
Big jingle bells, sewn into a fabric bag or securely attached so they cannot come loose.
Christmas cookie cutters to press into play dough alongside.

Safety

Choose items too big to swallow, never leave your child alone with the tray, and avoid real glass ornaments and small decorations.

You need

a large, shallow plastic box, such as a storage box or a plastic tub
2-4 lb of dry rice, dried lentils or large pasta
a few drops of food coloring or paint and a zip bag to color the rice (optional)
a few large pine cones, clean and dry
large shatterproof (plastic) ornaments, empty cardboard tubes
spoons, cups, a funnel and a sieve from the kitchen
an old sheet or tablecloth to put under the box

Steps

To color the rice (optional): put the rice in a zip bag with a few drops of food coloring and a teaspoon of vinegar, shake well and spread it on a tray to dry for an hour.
Spread the sheet on the floor and put the box in the middle.
Pour in the rice and add the pine cones, ornaments and tubes.
Add the spoons, cups, funnel and sieve.
Sit with your child and let them explore. Pour, fill, bury the ornaments and find them again.
Afterwards, sieve out the objects and store the rice in a closed box to use again.

Questions

Is rice safe for toddlers?

Dry rice is not toxic but can be a choking hazard in large mouthfuls. Always stay with your child. For children who still put everything in their mouth, use larger items like big pasta shapes, or a tray of soft, cooked spaghetti.

How do I keep the mess under control?

The sheet under the box is your best friend. Fold it up afterwards and pour the escaped rice back in.