How To Make The Spookiest Halloween Sensory Bin This Fall

A Halloween sensory bin can be fun for children of all ages. This spooky sensory bin is excellent for Halloween games and offers different textures and colors. 

The activities below will help your child enter the Halloween spirit while working on sensory exploration and learning. 

The fall season is a great time to explore different colors and the changes in the weather.

A Halloween sensory activity is the perfect type of spooky activity for your kids to do. 

You can use this sensory bin in a school or home setting. Children thrive on exploration and learning!

Mixing fall leaves, pumpkins, and skeletons in a unique sensory bin will delight your children.

You can use anything you want! 

Check out this Halloween Pinterest pin idea, which is generating massive traffic!

Creating a Halloween sensory bin is simple! I made a list of ingredients you can experiment with and fun games to keep the fun going all fall.

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Creating Your Spooky Halloween Sensory Bin    

Let’s begin! The base material is the foundation of your sensory bin. You can use items such as black beans, garbanzos, orange rice, dried pasta, or water beads if your kids are over 8 (for water beads).

Here are some spooky options:

Black beans 

Classic and versatile, black beans offer great texture and visual appeal. I have used black beans for years, and they are one of the top favorites in my household as a base. You can reuse them for hundreds of ideas!

Orange rice 

Perfect for a pumpkin-themed bin, orange rice adds a vibrant color.  I also created an orange rice sensory bin inside a shoe box when my son started sensory therapy at age three.

If your kids are younger, you can start them off with a shoebox with a few items. In the image above, my son Anthony is playing with his rice sensory bin to the left. On the right, he has his upgraded sensory bin, which he still enjoys today.

I used a strawberry basket for him to place his pumpkin while filling the pail with rice and spider soup; yum!

Dried pasta

For added fun, shape your pasta into spooky shapes like bones or spiders. Dried pasta makes for a very creative sensory bin. You can create colorful pasta using various methods, such as vinegar or rubbing alcohol, and mix it with food coloring.

Fun Tip: Create themed pasta: Dye pasta in specific colors to match Halloween themes, such as black cats, pumpkins, or ghosts.

Water beads

Water beads create a slimy and eerie feel. Just remember to supervise children closely. Check out this article for more information! 

Adding Spooky Elements For Fun Halloween Games

Once you’ve chosen your base, it’s time to add some spooky elements.

Miniature Halloween Toys for Halloween Sensory Bin

Using this bin can yield tons of Halloween ideas. Incorporate spiders, bats, ghosts, pumpkins, and other Halloween creatures. The possibilities are endless! You can find most of these things at your local dollar store for under 10 dollars!

• Fake eyeballs: Gross but fun; fake eyeballs can add a creepy touch. 

• Spooky-colored rocks or stones: Paint some rocks black or orange for a natural look. Plenty of rocks around our neighborhood look fantastic, and we have used a few of them in the past, too.

• Dried leaves and twigs: Use autumnal elements to create a forest-like atmosphere. Most of the things you will need are in your kitchen or backyard. Go on a scavenger hunt with your kids to find fun things to add to their Halloween sensory bin. 

• Halloween-themed playdough: Make your playdough in spooky colors or add food coloring for a more vibrant look. You can find food coloring at your local Walmart or grocery store. It should be in the baking aisle. 

Safety First!

Before letting your kids dive into the sensory bin, ensure it’s safe:

• Check for choking hazards: Ensure all items are appropriate for your child’s age.
• Supervise closely: Always supervise children while they play with sensory bins.
• Wash hands: Encourage handwashing before and after playtime.

Step-by-Step Guide for Fun Halloween Sensory Games

Materials for Halloween Sensory bin:

• Get a clear plastic bin or container
• Black beans (5-8 store brand bags, lower price at local Spanish grocery stores) 😉
• Mini pumpkins
• Skull heads (plastic or toy)
• Fall Leaves
• Neon Spiders and regular spiders
• Optional: Black and orange food coloring, small plastic spiders, creepy crawly insects
• Food coloring

Instructions

1. Prepare the Bin: First, clean your plastic bin to remove debris. Before adding the black beans, make sure the beans are not cracked and ensure your toddler does not put them in their mouth.
2. Fill with Black Beans: Pour the black beans into the bin until they reach the desired level. The beans will create a dark, mysterious base for your sensory bin.
3. Add Mini Pumpkins: Place the mini pumpkins throughout the black bean mixture. You can arrange them in a scattered or clustered pattern to suit your preference.
4. Incorporate Skull Heads: Scatter the skull heads among the pumpkins and beans. These spooky additions will add a touch of horror to your sensory bin.
5. Optional: Add Color and Creatures: For an extra spooky touch, consider adding orange food coloring to the black beans. Mix the food coloring into a small portion of beans and gently incorporate them into the main mixture. You can add small plastic spiders, creepy crawly insects, or other Halloween-themed items to create a more immersive sensory experience.
6. Let Them Explore: Once your sensory bin is complete, let your child explore and play. Please encourage them to use their hands to dig, sift, and sort through the contents. They can create spooky scenes, count the pumpkins, fill in the pumpkins, and bury the skull heads and spiders.

Remember to supervise your child closely while they play with the sensory bin, especially if you have added small items that could pose a choking hazard.

Spooky Halloween Sensory Bin Games

Now that your Halloween sensory bin is ready let’s explore some fun Halloween games!

1. Spooky Scavenger Hunt

• Hide small Halloween-themed objects in the sensory bin.
• Create a list of items for kids to find.
• Please encourage them to locate the hidden treasures with their hands and senses.

2. Ghostly Storytelling

• Ask kids to create spooky stories based on the objects in the sensory bin.
• Encourage creativity and imagination as they weave their tales.

3. Monster Mash Sensory Play

• Let kids explore the sensory bin with their hands, fingers, and feet.
• Please encourage them to make different textures and sounds with the materials.

4. Halloween Sorting

• Sort the objects in the sensory bin by color, size, or type.
• This activity helps develop fine motor skills and cognitive abilities.

5. Spooky Treasure Hunt

• Hide a small prize or treat in the sensory bin.
• Give kids clues to help them find the treasure.

Tips For Fun Sensory Play

• Create a sensory-friendly environment: Dim the lights, play soft music, and use calming scents to enhance the sensory experience. 
• Encourage exploration: Let kids experiment and discover different textures and sensations.
• Capture the moment: Take pictures or videos of your child’s sensory play to document their creativity and enjoyment.
• Clean up together: Involve kids in the cleanup process to teach responsibility and cooperation.

Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and let your imagination run wild. With a Halloween sensory bin, you can invent all types of activities. Have fun creating your spooky town and telling stories about it to your kids.

With this beautiful sensory bin, memories will last a lifetime, and your children will never forget the fall season. With some creativity, you can transform a simple sensory bin into a magical Halloween experience. 

Looking for cinnamon-free recipes this fall? Read some more awesome Halloween posts below!

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Happy Spooky Season!