Engage your child’s senses with this fun ocean-themed sensory bin activity using chia seeds to create a unique sea environment. This hands-on play idea is sure to provide hours of entertainment for your little one.
Discover the benefits of sensory play and get step-by-step instructions on creating this engaging and educational activity with our taste-safe sensory bin for toddlers and preschoolers.
Introduction: What Is A Sensory Bin?
A sensory bin is a shallow container filled with materials that stimulate a child’s senses through tactile play. This hands-on immersive play opportunity for children does not have an “end goal” the way a craft project or other structured children’s activity might.
Benefits Of Sensory Play For Children
Sensory play is any activity that stimulates the senses. A sensory bin allows children a safe space to engage with the materials and explore multiple senses, including sight, sound, touch, and smell. Many materials you can put in a sensory bin provide a wonderful tactile sensation that has a way of holding a child’s attention, unlike any other toy they may own. They engage more with it.
Sensory play is crucial to the development of the brain. From birth to age five, we see a rapid rate of brain development – 90% of a child’s brain is developed before they even go to school.
Digging, pouring, stirring, and scooping can strengthen your child’s hand muscles and improve their fine motor skills.
Playing with a sensory bin can be a very relaxing and calming experience. If your child is getting overstimulated, bringing out a sensory bin may help head off a meltdown.
Materials Needed For The Ocean Sensory Bin Activity
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- 1⁄4 Cup Chia Seeds
- 1 1⁄2 Cyp Water
- Medium bowl
- Blue liquid food coloring
- Spoon
- 1⁄3 C Cornstarch
- Small/Medium sensory bin
- Plastic Sea Creatures
- Scoops
- Tongs
- Tweezers
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Step By Step Instructions For Setting Up The Chia Seed Ocean Sensory Bin
In a medium-sized bowl add the water and chia seeds, then stir.
Add a few drops of blue food coloring and stir to incorporate the food coloring. Place the chia seed mixture into the refrigerator for 3 hours.
Add cornstarch to the chia seed mixture. Stir with a spoon to mix the cornstarch in.
Add the chia seed goo to the sensory bin. We love the ones you can get with a lid for easy storage (this can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days), but a deep plastic tray will suffice.
You don’t have to have specific sensory tools. Just add ocean animals, kitchen tongs, kitchen spoons, tweezers, and hands! Then let your little marine biologist free to have their own ocean adventure!
Ideas For Different Sensory Elements To Include
What I love about sensory activities is there is no right or wrong thing and they are so adaptable and you can really change them up with different fillers and small world toys. You could substitute the chia seeds for sand or rice died blue (I like this method as there is no vinegar used). If you don’t want to introduce water then how about using a plastic mirror on the bottom of the tub as the ocean water? Another taste safe option is Jelly (or Jello).
Water beads are also fabulous for changing things up and are wonderfully tactile, although not taste-safe. If you visit the beach you could collect some seashells and seaweed to use too.