If you are looking for easy and fun sensory bin ideas for kids, you’ve come to the right place! Today I’m sharing one of my favorites, the Bird Sensory Bin.
Because this bin is filled with eco-friendly birdseed, it invites sensory exploration and is perfect for play—particularly outdoor play. Pair it with bird-themed preschool activities, books, and crafts.
How to Make a Bird Sensory Bin
When my boys were little, I kept a large birdseed sensory bin in our garage. Buried deep in the seed was an assortment of plastic bird toys, miniature wooden birdhouses, a bird feeder, funnels, scoopers, measuring cups, and tongs that my kids used for sensory play.
When we went outside, I often pulled it out for them to enjoy in the grass. It was my absolute favorite sensory bin because unlike our indoor corn bin, I didn’t have to clean up the mess…the squirrels and birds took care of that!
I would like to note that this sensory bin is not for kids with nut allergies, as some birdseed mixes contain chopped peanuts. But if your child does not have a nut allergy, they will love it! Pair this sensory bin with:
- Books about birds, such as Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming
- Bird identification activities, such as Birds, Nests & Eggs by Mel Boring
- Crafts, such as this Easy Paper Bird Craft
- Bird watching
Related: Birdseed Ornaments
Supplies Needed for Bird Sensory Bin
Directions for Birdseed Sensory Bin
1. Use a measuring cup to pour birdseed into a plastic bin. To invite sensory exploration, use a variety of seeds such as sunflower seeds, millet, nyjer, milo, safflower, and cracked corn.
The amount of birdseed you need depends upon the size of your bin. The Dollar Tree and Target have small, square containers that are fantastic for tabletop sensory bins!
2. Place a wooden bird feeder in the sensory bin. Make sure it’s the kind of bird feeder that won’t pinch or close on little fingers.
3. Scatter small toy birds around the birdseed. We used the Backyard Birds set from Safari Ltd. I love that it includes familiar birds such as the cardinal, robin, blue jay, and woodpecker.
4. Put traditional sensory bin materials, such as measuring scoops, toy utensils, and jumbo tweezers inside of the bin.
Related: Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
5. Your Bird Sensory Bin is complete so invite your child to play and learn! Some ideas for fine-motor and creative development include:
- Scooping
- Pouring
- Burying items and using hands to find them
- Using jumbo tweezers to pick up and sort birds
- Imaginative play
6. When you are done with your birdseed sensory bin, use it as a tray for making pine cone bird feeders!
More Sensory Bin Activities for Kids
- Harvest Sensory Bin
- Halloween Sensory Bin
- Sticky Sand Sensory Bin
- Water Sensory Bin
- Dinosaur Sensory Bin
- Bug Sensory Bin
- Bird Nest Sensory Bin from Fantastic Fun & Learning
- Birdseed Kitchen Sensory Bin from Happy Toddler Playtime
Bird Sensory Bin
Learn about birds and invite sensory exploration with this fun Bird Sensory Bin for kids. Pair it with bird-themed preschool activities, books, and crafts.
Materials
- Plastic bin
- Birdseed
- Toy birds
- Small wooden bird feeder
- Measuring cups
- Jumbo tweezers
- Toy utensils
Instructions
- Use a measuring cup to pour birdseed into a plastic bin. To invite sensory exploration, use a variety of seeds such as sunflower seeds, millet, nyjer, milo, safflower, and cracked corn.
- Place a wooden bird feeder in the sensory bin. Make sure it’s the kind of bird feeder that won’t pinch or close on little fingers.
- Scatter small toy birds around the birdseed. We used the Backyard Birds set from Safari Ltd. I love that it includes familiar birds such as the cardinal, robin, blue jay, and woodpecker.
- Put traditional sensory bin materials, such as measuring scoops, toy utensils, and jumbo tweezers inside of the bin.
- Your Bird Sensory Bin is complete…invite your child to play and learn!
Notes
Birdseed may contain nuts.
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This post was originally published in January 2020.
Mortimer says
Nice craft