Summer Sensory Bins Ideas for Toddlers

The sun is shining and it’s summertime at last! Your toddlers and preschoolers need to play and you’re all out of ideas. These sensory bins are perfect for hot summer days, and with a few simple additions, they’re also a great opportunity for sneaky learning fun! We love pairing them with printable games and activities like our clip cards or matching games.

Summer Sensory Bins

There are so many sensory bins that you could put together for toddlers during summer. Set up these great activity ideas outside in the shade for your little ones and make it easier to clean up their fun sensory exploration. We’ve got a selection of Summer Time Favourites, Beach and ocean-themed Tubs and Boxes for sensory play

Materials Ideal for Using in your Summer Sensory Tubs

The base materials are easy to find for your simple sensory bin fillers check out our list below for some starter ideas that are a huge hit with my kids

• Water
• Sand
• Ice
• Jello
• Rice – coloured or plain
• Shaving cream
• Water beads (take care with your children with these)
• Mud
• Dish soap
• Lima beans or other lentils
• Pebbles
• Sea Shells

Equipment for your Summer Season Sensory Play

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These different items are great for adding to your sensory trays and play this summer.

• Ocean Animals toys
• Beach Toys we love that this set includes ice cream cones perfect for filling up and a collapsable bucket which is perfect for building sand castles with
• Pirate and mermaid toys

• Coloured Sensory Bins – although a water table, sandpit or other plastic container will work for some of these fun ideas for your little learners.
• Wooden scoops and equipment – don’t use these where materials could stain them instead look at the equipment below which is much more durable
• Silicone set of sensory play tools including tongs and scissor clips great for working on those fine-motor muscles

Summer Time Themed Sensory Bin Ideas

These classic summer-themed sensory play ideas are such fun to set up you have to give them a try.

I love this Fourth of July “Stars and Stripes” Sensory Bin from Paper and Glue. With taste safe materials it would have been ideal for my toddler that used to put everything in her mouth.

Another cute and taste safe bin is this Water Melon Rice Sensory Bin from Little Bins for Little Hands. It’s easy to set up, and if your little one does put the dried rice in their mouth it won’t harm them. A big bonus put a lid on it and reuse it again and again.

You can’t go wrong with simple ideas and this Water Sensory Tub from My Bored Toddler is that. Easy to set up and reuse time and time again it’s the perfect sort of tub that kids will spend hours and hours in.

Sunflowers always remind me of summer, and this Sensory Bin from Life Over C’s is so pretty. With bright vibrant yellow as well as some real sunflower features in it.

The last of our classic summer theme bins for toddlers is this Sensory Bin from Chaos and The Clutter. With lots of water in it’s sure to keep your little ones cool as the temperature rises.

Try this simple edible Summer Sensory Activity Vanilla Pudding and Ice Sensory Tray. Keeps them cool and they can put it in their mouth as much as they want.

Under the Sea and at the Beach Sensory Boxes

Summer screams the beach for me! I want to go there, swim, play in the sand and have fun. These under the sea, ocean and beach themed sensory boxes are perfect for toddlers.

One of the first sensory tubs we did with our toddlers was an edible taste safe ocean sensory tub. The kids loved it and although it was sticky it was a LOT of fun for them to play with.

Another taste-safe alternative to our ocean sensory bin is this Ocean Tub from A Dab of Glue will do. It doesn’t look as messy and I love the sorting element to it.

If you know that your toddlers not going to eat everything then this Seaside Sensory Bin by Chaos and the Clutter is great.

You can make your sensory play large. Use your water table like this beach themed water sensory table from Growing Hands-On Kids. Simple to set up and encourages free play.

Read Next: Food-free Sensory Bin Ideas for Toddlers

Relive memories of the beach and building sandcastles with this Edible Sensory Sand Activity from A Little Pinch of Perfect.

With Shark Week during the summer, this Shark Sensory Tub from Mommy’s Bundle is great.

Why not use some colourful rainbow spaghetti in your sensory bins the full step-by-step guide to making dyed noodles is here!

Keep cool and explore the Under the Sea Theme with this Frozen Sensory Play from Natural Beach Living. Perfect for those hot summer days and it will keep your little ones cool.

This Sand and Water Ocean Sensory Tub from Fun Learning for Kids is simple to set up and ideal for your little ones to play with. You could even take the tub and creatures to the beach with you and set this up for your little ones to play with.

Add a little learning into your sensory play with this Catch the Fish Sensory Tub from Teaching 2 and 3-year-olds where you catch the fish and sort them.

Make your summer fizz with this Fizzing Ocean Sensory Bin from Wild Flower Ramblings. Check out the post for details of using the same tub but with babies that are sitting unaided as well.

More Summer Ideas for Toddlers

• Host your own Sports Day for your Toddlers with these Summer Olympic Inspired Activities that are perfect for them to do.
• Make delicious 100% Fruit Popsicles that look like rainbows.
• Create giant spiders webs in the garden inspired by one of our favourite Eric Carle Books – the Very Busy Spider.