As some of you know I was an elementary school teacher for three years and graduated in Elementary Education. One thing I learned during school was the importance of teaching in all the different learning styles. Some kids learn best with auditory, some visually, and others kinesthetically (hands on). This is why sensory play is so important because it gives children the opportunity to explore through many different learning styles. 

When I make a sensory bin I always make sure to give them time to play and explore the bin. I have tools provided for them and they can use whatever they want and just have fun. I then love to add a next level of learning by providing some type of interactive worksheet. This way they are learning by hands on play.

I provided interactive worksheets below that you can print off and use with your sensory bins. This will give you more ideas on how to use your sensory bin starter kit. Your children will learn animal habitats, counting, patterns, colors, and letter matching with my worksheets below. 

Watch video below to see what I put inside my sensory bin starter kit!

It's important for kids to learn about habitats because it teaches them about the environment around them. They will learn that animals need certain conditions to live. 

How to use:
Print the habitat printables that I made and use them with your sensory bin. You can print the animal sheet or use plastic animals to sort the animals into their correct home. Ask your child "where does the animal live"

You can use my habitat poster for younger kids and the habitat pictures for older kids. 

Head to my blog post HERE to see what you could use as a filler for your sensory bin.  

It's great if your child can count to 10, but that doesn't necessarily mean they could bring you 10 beads if you asked them. The first step is learning to count from memory and then understanding the quantity that each number represents. It's an important step in teaching your child to learn about numbers by having them physically move objects to count. When they place the amount of objects with each number they start to learn that 1:1 correspondence which means they start understanding that every object can only be counted once. Using these cards below will help them do just that.

How to use:
You can pick a filler like rice or shredded paper and mix in pom poms with the filler. They can use their tools to pick up the pom poms and place them on the cards. See more filler ideas on my "Sensory Bin Starter Kit"

It’s important for kids to learn patterns because it can help them make educated guesses and help with critical thinking. You will be surprised how well your kids know patterns when you start teaching them.

How to use: 

I have created pattern cards below where your children can start to practice and learn patterns. I made one set of pattern cards using the counting bears and another set using pom poms. I even added a section at the bottom where you can create your own patterns. 

You can pick a filler like rice or beans and mix in pom poms with the filler. They can use their tools to pick up the pom poms and place them on the pattern cards. See more filler ideas on my "Sensory Bin Starter Kit" blog post. 

I’m always looking for fun ways for my kids to practice their letters. I love filling up a big bin of rice mixed with letters. I made this cute letter matching cards you can print off and set on the table next to your sensory bin. They will have to search in the rice to find the letter and match it with the letter on the worksheet.

Head to my Sensory Bin Starter Kit blog post to see where you can buy letters. 

A sensory bin is another great way for your kids to learn their colors. You can use pom poms, counting bears, or a bunch of trinkets you have around the house. Put them in with rice or beans and mix it around. You can use the colored muffin tins or this colored jars worksheets I made below. Have them use their tools to pick up the pom poms and match them with the right color.

I have links to tools and fillers on my "Sensory Bin Starter Kit" HERE.