Sensory Bins for Fall Fun!

Posted by Sep 13, 2016 Fall, Family Fun, Seasons

sensory-bins-fallWe live in the Northeast, so fall means cooler temperatures, changing leaves, cozy sweaters and the start of football season! The change in season offers a lot of opportunities to introduce young children to changes in nature, and sensory bins are a great way to do this.

Kids develop their understanding of the world through their senses even before they know what senses are! How many times have you said the phrase, “Don’t put that in your mouth!” or “Don’t touch that!”? Sensory play gives parents an opportunity to teach children about different sensations in a controlled manner, and can be adapted for specific books, holidays, seasons or themes. I will often include sensory play ideas in the book based activities on this site, as these can help to enhance a child’s experience with a book and extend the learning into the real world.

Sensory bins can help your child to understand the world

Sensory play is considered to be highly beneficial to young children. It helps them to understand the world around them and it teaches them to use all five of their senses to explore. These experiences can also be adapted for a child’s sensory sensitivities.

With fall coming up, there are a wide variety of sensory bin options that parents can use to teach their kids about the smells, textures and sounds of the season. Kids love to use their hands to explore the world around them, so use this opportunity to examine the signs of fall a little more closely.

Some options for a fall sensory bin include:

  • Leaves
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Pumpkin Innards
  • Acorns
  • Pinecones
  • Dried Corn

Talk to your kids about the various sights, smells and sounds around them while the seasons are changing. While walking or driving together, take note of the signs of Fall that you see around you. Take a walk together through a nearby park or your own neighborhood to gather things for your sensory bin. There is so much to explore with the changing seasons!

What types of things would you include in a fall sensory bin? Let me know your ideas or experiences in the comments below!