17 St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin Ideas Toddlers Will Love

ByElizabeth | Tired Mom Supermom

If you’re searching for a fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin activity for your toddler, this list is full of easy and engaging ideas.

Sensory bins help little ones explore textures, colors, and fine motor skills—all while embracing the spirit of March 17.

From rainbow pom-poms to gold coin hunts, each setup offers a blend of hands-on play and holiday charm.

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Please note that you can use ANY bin you have, you do NOT need a special sensory table for these activities. We use a water table and we call it our indoor water table . It is smaller than the outdoor water table and fits well in the kitchen where we do our activities.

Why a St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin Is Perfect for Toddlers

A St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin is more than just a cute seasonal activity—it’s a powerful tool for early childhood development. Toddlers learn best through play, and sensory bins provide the perfect opportunity for hands-on exploration that builds essential skills.

Here’s why these bins are especially great for toddlers:

  • Multi-sensory engagement: With textures like rice, pom-poms, slime, and water beads, toddlers explore through touch, sight, and sound, strengthening neural pathways.
  • Fine motor skill development: Scooping, pouring, grabbing, and sorting small items help toddlers practice coordination and control.
  • Language and vocabulary growth: As you play together, you can introduce themed words like “leprechaun,” “shamrock,” and “rainbow.”
  • Themed learning: A St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin introduces holiday concepts in a way that feels natural and fun—perfect for toddlers who are still discovering the world.
  • Open-ended play: There’s no right or wrong way to play with a sensory bin, making it ideal for creative and independent exploration.

Whether you’re looking to sneak in a little learning or just want a fun indoor activity to celebrate March 17, a St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin hits the mark every time.

1. Lucky Charms Cereal Bin

Let toddlers sort and scoop Lucky Charms using small bowls, tongs, and measuring spoons.

🟢 Why it works: Engages taste, touch, and visual senses. Great for color sorting and early counting.

2. Gold Coin Treasure Hunt

Bury shiny plastic coins in dyed rice or dry pasta, and let your toddler dig with a scoop.

✨ Pro tip: Add a small plastic leprechaun as the “guardian of the treasure.”

3. Rainbow Pom Pom Bin

Create a rainbow using large soft pom poms in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

  • Materials:

🎨 Learning focus: Color matching, sorting, and dexterity.

4. Green Water Beads Exploration

Sensory bins with water beads are a huge hit with toddlers—and green ones are perfect for March.

  • Materials:

💧 Supervision required: Beads should not be ingested. Great for older toddlers under close watch.

5. St. Patrick’s Day Slime Bin

Use green and gold glitter slime as your base and add in seasonal items like shamrocks and plastic rainbows.

  • Materials:

🟢 Mess factor: Medium — but easy to clean with baby wipes or soapy water.

6. Dyed Chickpeas Gold & Green Bin

Color dried chickpeas with green and gold food coloring for a gorgeous textured base.

  • Materials:
    • Dry chickpeas
    • Green and gold food dye
    • Ziplock bags + vinegar for dyeing

🌈 Perfect for scooping, pouring, and hiding small objects.

7. Leprechaun Hat Fill-Up

Let toddlers fill and dump mini leprechaun hats with rainbow-colored objects.

🎩 Motor skills: Scooping and balancing are key skills here.

8. Green Lentil and Gold Glitter Bin

Combine dry lentils with green glitter for a rich, textured base.

9. Rainbow Rice & Rainbow Straws

Layer colored rice in stripes and offer toddlers cut-up straws to match by color.

🎨 Bonus: Practice counting by stacking straws.

10. Shamrock Sensory Soup

Add plastic shamrocks to a bin of water with green food coloring and ladles for stirring.

  • Materials:
    • Shamrock confetti or foam shapes
    • Green bath drops or food coloring
    • Ladle and bowls

11. St. Patrick’s Day Cloud Dough Bin

Make homemade cloud dough with flour and baby oil, dyed green and gold.

  • Materials:
    • 8 cups flour + 1 cup baby oil
    • Gold glitter
    • St. Paddy’s Day cookie cutters

12. Green Pasta Rainbow

Dye dry pasta in various shades of green and provide sorting containers.

13. Leprechaun Hide and Seek Bin

Hide small leprechaun figurines inside shredded green paper.

14. Gold Slime Treasure Bin

Mix gold glitter slime with hidden coins and plastic gems.

15. Green Spaghetti Sensory Bin

Cook and dye spaghetti noodles green. Chill and add spoons for slimy fun.

  • Materials:
    • Spaghetti noodles
    • Green food coloring
    • Spoons and plastic cups

16. Irish Flag Bin

Create a tricolor base using rice or chickpeas in green, white, and orange.

  • Materials:
    • Green, white, and orange-dyed rice
    • Small flag picks
    • Mini scoops or funnels

17. Rainbow Button Sorting

Use large, colorful buttons and encourage sorting by size or color.

🧲 Related Sensory Content You’ll Love

❓ FAQ: St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin

What should I put in a St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin?

You can include items like gold coins, green rice, rainbow pom poms, shamrocks, and leprechaun figurines. Look for textures and colors that evoke the holiday while being toddler-safe.

How do I dye rice or pasta safely for sensory play?

Mix 1 cup of rice or pasta with ½ teaspoon of vinegar and a few drops of food coloring in a zip-top bag. Shake well and dry on parchment paper before use.

Are St. Patrick’s Day sensory bins messy?

Some are, depending on the base (like slime or water beads). To reduce mess, use a shallow bin on a mat and supervise your toddler closely.

Can I use edible materials for younger toddlers?

Yes! Cereal, dyed spaghetti, or oats are great edible-safe options for kids who still mouth objects.

How long can I reuse a sensory bin?

Dry materials can last weeks if stored in an airtight bin. Wet or edible bins should be tossed after one use for hygiene.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Creating a St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin is an easy and fun way to celebrate the holiday with your toddler. With just a few supplies, you can offer an enriching play experience that sparks joy, imagination, and development.

💬 Which idea was your favorite? Have you tried sensory bins with your toddler before? Drop a comment below and share your experience!

📌 Don’t forget to save this post to Pinterest so you can revisit it every March!

A Pinterest pin graphic titled "17 Magical St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin Ideas for Toddlers" featuring four vibrant toddler activity setups. The top half displays bold white text on a green background. The bottom half showcases a grid of sensory bins: Lucky Charms cereal with green scoops, green rice with gold coins, rainbow pom-poms with sorting trays, and green water beads with shamrock decorations—each designed to spark sensory play and fine motor development.
Elizabeth | Tired Mom Supermom

Mom of 3 sharing positive discipline strategies at home from personal experiences so you can raise kind and independent children & lead a balanced family life.

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