Spring Sensory Bin Ideas (Toddler To Preschool)

Spring is the perfect time to refresh our sensory play setups with bright colors, fresh textures, and seasonal themes.

As a mom of three, I love creating hands-on sensory activities for toddlers that keep them engaged while encouraging fine motor skills and imaginative play.

Whether you use a tuff tray or a simple plastic bin, these spring sensory activities are great for little learners!

Spring Sensory Bin Activities

1. Flower Sensory Bin

Using a mix of silk flowers, real petals, dried flowers, scoops, and tongs, this sensory bin allows kids to explore different textures while creating their own pretend garden. They can pick, arrange, and even “plant” flowers, helping develop fine motor skills and creativity. You can also add small vases or pots for more interactive fun.

Here are some flowers you can use for this bin and I also love this fine motor toy set for toddlers that are perfect for the sensory bin.

2. Butterfly Life Cycle Bin

Teach preschoolers about nature and transformations with this engaging sensory bin. Fill a tray with green lentils to represent grass, then add plastic butterflies, small toy caterpillars, mini cocoons made from cotton balls, and tweezers. Kids can reenact the butterfly life cycle, sorting and sequencing the stages of metamorphosis.

3. Rainbow Rice Dig

Dyed rice in bright rainbow colors makes a visually stunning and engaging sensory base. Hide small spring-themed toys inside and provide cups and spoons for scooping, pouring, and sorting activities. This bin is fantastic for color recognition, hand-eye coordination, and pretend play.

4. Spring Garden Bin

Using kinetic sand or real soil, kids can engage in early gardening skills by “planting” faux vegetables and flowers. Small gardening tools and flower pots make the experience more interactive. Let your little ones dig, plant, and even water their pretend garden while discussing how plants grow.

5. Pond Life Sensory Bin

Water beads make the perfect base for this pond-themed sensory bin. Add plastic frogs, ducks, lilypads, and toy fishing nets to create a fun habitat for pond creatures. This bin is a great way to introduce children to ecosystems and encourage pretend play with small-world storytelling.

6. Easter Egg Rescue

Hide small treasures inside plastic Easter eggs and bury them in shredded paper grass. Provide tongs or scoops for little hands to “rescue” the eggs, developing their fine motor skills. This bin is perfect for April sensory bin ideas, adding a festive touch to your playtime.

7. Spring Cloud Dough Bin

Mix flour and baby oil (or vegetable oil) to create soft, moldable cloud dough. Add flower petals, cookie cutters, and rolling pins for an extra sensory experience. This bin is great for squishing, shaping, and engaging in open-ended toddler crafts.

8. Beehive Sensory Bin

Black beans make a great “bee-friendly” base, while yellow pom-poms act as buzzing bees. Add a honeycomb stencil and small toy bees for children to explore the role of pollinators. This is a fun way to discuss the importance of bees in nature.

9. Fizzy Flower Potions

A simple science-based sensory activity! Fill small cups with baking soda and add fake flowers. Provide droppers with vinegar and food coloring so kids can create their own fizzy flower potions. The reaction is always a hit and encourages experimentation and cause-and-effect learning.

10. Chick and Lamb Sensory Play

Cotton balls make a soft base representing sheep’s wool, while yellow pom-poms mimic fluffy chicks. Add farm animal figurines and let kids explore baby farm animals through touch and storytelling. This bin is an adorable way to introduce young children to farm life.

11. May Flowers Water Play

Floating real or artificial flowers in water makes for a refreshing and calming sensory experience. Provide small watering cans and plastic cups so kids can practice pouring and transferring water while enjoying the beauty of springtime blooms.

12. Spring Scavenger Hunt Bin

Hide small laminated picture cards of bugs, flowers, and birds inside a base of dyed rice or shredded paper. Encourage children to use scoops or tweezers to find and identify each hidden item. This is a great activity for language development and observation skills.

13. Bug Hunt Sensory Bin

Dry black beans create a soil-like base for this bug-themed sensory bin. Hide small plastic bugs inside and provide magnifying glasses and small shovels. Kids will love pretending to be little entomologists, searching for critters and learning about different insects.

These spring activities for preschoolers and toddlers are easy to set up and can be used for independent play, learning time, or even a rainy day boredom buster. Let me know which one your little ones love the most!