When a local sensory gym in my area closed due to the pandemic, the owner asked if I’d like to purchase a sensory box for my daughter. She was selling them online for $20 as a means of earning money until she could reopen her kiddie gym. Since I have a special needs child, I said yes — and now I’m a sensory bin addict.
Both my daughters love them and no, they’re not just for kids with special needs.
But what exactly is a sensory bin?
Advocated by pediatric occupational therapists (OTs), sensory bins are boxes filled with kid-friendly items that encourage play skills through the use of all five senses, especially touch.
Some parents make their own for kids, and include in the box (bin) items such as modeling dough that smells like gentle lavender; small, squishy dice; mini Troll figurines; Lego-style blocks; a small shovel for scooping up colored beads; and so forth.
Even though they’re simple items, they can provide tons of fun for young kids. I usually order some for my kids from Young, Wild, and Friedman or Sparkle & Wonder Creative, and my girls will sit quietly and play with the items inside for at least 30 minutes — enough time for me to finally do the dishes or reply to work emails.
A small, red “scoop-style” shovel inside a bin I recently purchased helped my second daughter with her fine motor skills. Her OT helped her scoop up marbles with it, which my daughter eventually mastered on her own. Inside another bin were plastic bears we sorted by color, and now my daughter knows blue, green, and red. I’ve always loved toys that are so educational, and yet so simple — and that’s why I’m a big fan of sensory boxes.
Making a business
New York mom Molly Jernick started curating and selling sensory boxes after the pandemic hit and her son’s preK school was no longer in person. Her child’s therapists provided input on what should go inside each bin.
“Sensory bins encourage my son to sit down and use his imagination,” says Jernick. “They help calm him down, too, since he tries to communicate while playing.”
(Besides, for a kid, there’s nothing like playing with "new" toys, even if they’re small items and stuff you’ve seen before.)
North Carolina mom Haydee Moore launched a sensory box business that speedily took off. An event planner by trade, Moore’s goal was to create something special for kids that sparked joy, gave parents a much-needed break, and helped reduce screen time, while also making it affordable.
“It’s been such a fun, creative, and therapeutic business for me to dive into during these unprecedented times," she shares.
Of course, you can make your own sensory bin by putting cookie cutters, dough, beads, marbles, colored sand, and more inside a large, clear bin, but part of the fun is giving a box to your child containing someone else’s “toys".
Don't be afraid to DIY your own sensory bins
If you’ve got a knack for it, consider creating sensory themed boxed such as “Butterflies”, "Dinosaurs," or “Underwater” using various materials like kinetic sand, water beads, or even beans combined with lots of random small materials you may very well already have lying around the house. Think pom-poms, small figurines, leftover pipe cleaners, cookie cutters, and more — the sky is the limit!
And if you're really loving making these creations, consider starting a business for it — especially if you're an OT. I’m seeing a plethora of sensory bin businesses popping up on Instagram, and it’s a win-win for all because you’ll be supporting an entrepreneur who is more often than not another mom while encouraging creative play for your kids. What could be better than that?
