The sun is beaming and it’s summer finally! Your toddlers and preschoolers are eager to play, and you have run out of ideas. These sensory bins are ideal for warm summer days, and with a few easy additions, they also provide a great chance for sneaky educational fun! We enjoy combining them with printable games and activities such as our clip cards or matching games.
What to Expect on This Page
Summer Sensory Bins
There are numerous sensory bins that you could create for toddlers during summer. Arrange these delightful activity ideas outdoors in the shade for your youngsters, making cleanup of their fun sensory explorations simpler. We’ve gathered a collection of Summer Favorites, Beach, and ocean-themed tubs and boxes for sensory engagement.
Materials Suitable for Your Summer Sensory Tubs
The foundational materials are simple to source for your easy sensory bin fillers; check out our list below for some initial suggestions that are a favorite among my kids.
- Water
- Sand
- Ice
- Gelatin
- Rice – dyed or plain
- Shaving foam
- Water beads (supervise children with these)
- Dirt
- Dish detergent
- Lima beans or other pulses
- Stones
- Seashells
Equipment for Your Summer Season Sensory Play
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These various items are fantastic for enhancing your sensory trays and play this summer.
Want to incorporate some education into your sensory play?
Grab our FREE Summer Count & Clip Cards, excellent for toddlers and preschoolers to practice numerals while developing fine motor skills!
Utilize them at home, while traveling, or even insert them into your sensory bin rotation.
Summer Time Themed Sensory Bin Ideas
These classic summer-themed sensory play concepts are so enjoyable to set up that you must give them a try.
I adore this Fourth of July “Stars and Stripes” Sensory Bin from Paper and Glue. With taste-safe materials, it would have been perfect for my toddler who used to put everything in her mouth.
Another adorable and taste-safe bin is this Watermelon Rice Sensory Bin from Little Bins for Little Hands. It’s easy to set up, and if your little one does consume the dried rice, it won’t be harmful. A major advantage is that you can cover it and reuse it multiple times.
You can’t go wrong with straightforward ideas, and this Water Sensory Tub from My Bored Toddler embodies that. Quick to set up and repeatable time and again, it’s the kind of tub that kids will occupy for hours on end.
Sunflowers always bring summer to mind, and this Sensory Bin from Life Over C’s is absolutely lovely. Featuring bright vibrant yellow along with some real sunflower elements within it.
The last of our classic summer-themed bins for toddlers is this Sensory Bin from Chaos and The Clutter. With plenty of water in it’s
Ensure to keep your little ones refreshed as the heat increases.
Attempt this easy edible Summer Sensory Activity Vanilla Pudding and Ice Sensory Tray. It keeps them cool, and they can enjoy it in their mouth as often as they wish.
Under the Sea and at the Beach Sensory Boxes
Summer shouts beach to me! I desire to go there, swim, play in the sand, and have a great time. These ocean, underwater, and beach-themed sensory boxes are ideal for toddlers.
One of the initial sensory tubs we created with our toddlers was an edible, taste-safe ocean sensory tub. The children adored it, and despite it being sticky, it was immensely enjoyable for them.
A further taste-safe option for our ocean sensory bin is this Ocean Tub from A Dab of Glue. It appears less messy, and I appreciate the sorting aspect.
If you’re confident your toddlers won’t eat everything, then this Seaside Sensory Bin by Chaos and the Clutter is excellent.
You can expand your sensory play. Use your water table similar to this beach-themed water sensory table from Growing Hands-On Kids. It’s easy to arrange and promotes free play.
Read Next: Food-free Sensory Bin Concepts for Toddlers
Revisit memories of the beach and constructing sandcastles with this Edible Sensory Sand Activity from A Little Pinch of Perfect.
With Shark Week highlighting the summer, this Shark Sensory Tub from Mommy’s Bundle is fantastic.
Why not incorporate some vibrant rainbow spaghetti into your sensory bins? The complete step-by-step guide to dyeing noodles is available here!
Stay cool and discover the Under the Sea Theme with this Frozen Sensory Play from Natural Beach Living. Ideal for those scorching summer days and it will help keep your little ones chilled.
This Sand and Water Ocean Sensory Tub from Fun Learning for Kids is straightforward to set up and perfect for your little ones to enjoy. You might even bring the tub and critters to the beach and set this up for your little ones to engage with.
Introduce some learning into your sensory play with this Catch the Fish Sensory Tub from Teaching 2 and 3-year-olds, where you catch and categorize the fish.
Make your summer sizzle with this Fizzing Ocean Sensory Bin from Wild Flower Ramblings. Check the post for details regarding using the same tub for babies who can sit independently.
Read Next – August Sensory Bin Concepts for Late Summer Enjoyment
More Summer Concepts for Toddlers
Before You Depart
Enhance Your Summer Learning
Our Summer Preschool Math Bundle comprises 80 themed Count & Clip Cards. Perfect for travel trays, morning baskets, quiet moments, or summer centers.
Instant PDF download • Reusable
For ages 3–6
