I have been doing fall sensory bins with my toddlers for a while now, and trust me, they never get old. So today I am sharing 20 of my absolute favorite fall sensory bin ideas that are budget friendly, mess manageable, and genuinely fun. Regardless of their age, there is something here for them.
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What You Need to Set Up Fall Sensory Bins
You do not have to spend a lot. Here is a basic list to get you started:
- A plastic bin or storage container
- Sensory filler like rice, dried corn, or dried beans
- Small fall-themed items like leaves, acorns, pinecones, and mini pumpkins
- Scoops, cups, spoons, and small tongs
- Optional: food coloring to dye your rice or pasta
Also, if you are looking for more easy setup play ideas, check out my post on 50 Easy Toddler Play Ideas Moms Can Set Up Fast.
Now, let’s get into it!
1. Classic Leaf and Acorn Fall Sensory Bin
This one is the most classic fall sensory bin you can make and it is free. Just head outside and gather dry leaves, acorns, and small sticks. Add them to your bin and toss in a few cups and scoops. Your toddler will sort, scoop, and transfer for a long time.
2. Orange Dyed Rice Fall Sensory Bin
Dye plain white rice with orange food coloring and let it dry overnight. Then add mini plastic pumpkins, googly eyes, and small spoons. This fall sensory bin is so pretty and your toddler will love scooping and filling.
You can also check out Sensory Bin for 2 Year Olds That Actually Keeps Them Busy for more ideas that work for older toddlers too.
3. Pumpkin Patch Fall Sensory Bin
Add fake green grass, mini pumpkins in different colors, and some small toy animals like cows or horses. Set it up to look like a little pumpkin farm. Furthermore, you can add a barn toy or small fence pieces to make it even more realistic. This one sparks a lot of imaginative play.
4. Apple Orchard Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with shredded brown paper, plastic apples, and small baskets or cups. Let your toddler pick the apples and sort them by color. Not only is this a fun fall sensory bin, but it also works on early math and sorting skills. You can also throw in a toy tree branch to make it feel like a real orchard.
5. Dried Corn and Sunflower Seed Bin
Dried corn and sunflower seeds together make such a satisfying sensory filler. The texture is interesting and the colors are very fall like. Therefore, add small fall figurines like scarecrows or woodland animals to complete the look. This is one of those fall sensory bins that keeps toddlers busy for a very long time.
6. Scarecrow Themed Fall Sensory Bin
Grab some hay or straw from a dollar store or garden center and add a mini scarecrow figure, dried leaves, and tiny foam shapes. Consequently, this bin turns into a full storytelling activity as your toddler moves things around and makes up little scenes.
7. Brown and Orange Kinetic Sand Bin
Kinetic sand is one of the best fall sensory bin fillers because it is so easy to mold and barely makes a mess. Use brown and orange colors and add fall leaf molds or cookie cutters shaped like pumpkins and leaves. This is also a great option for sensory play activities for babies 6 to 12 months when you use a safe, non toxic version.
Related Read:
- 30 Indoor Activities for Toddlers When You Are Stuck at Home
- 25 Easy Sensory Bin Ideas for Toddlers
- 100 Easy Summer Activities for Kids Indoor and Outdoor
8. Woodland Animal Fall Sensory Bin
Gather fake or real leaves, small rocks, pinecones, and add plastic woodland animals like foxes, deer, and owls. Moreover, you can add small wooden logs or bark pieces to make it look like a forest floor. This fall sensory bin is perfect for nature loving toddlers and works well alongside 30 Forest School Activities for Kids.
9. Corn Starch Cloud Dough Bin
Mix eight cups of flour with one cup of baby oil to make cloud dough. Add a little yellow food coloring to make it look like fall cornmeal. Then press in leaf shaped cookie cutters and mini corn pieces. Additionally, this is a very satisfying fall sensory bin because the cloud dough is moldable but still crumbly, which toddlers absolutely love.
10. Candy Corn Sensory Bin
Yes, you can use real candy corn as a sensory filler. It smells amazing, the colors are beautiful, and most toddlers think it is exciting to play with something edible. However, always supervise closely with younger toddlers.
If you want more edible play ideas, I also have a whole list of 10 Edible Sensory Play Ideas for Babies.
11. Turkey Themed Fall Sensory Bin
Add colorful craft feathers, a small plastic or stuffed turkey, and dried beans or lentils as the base filler. Furthermore, you can include small construction paper leaves in red, orange, and yellow for extra fall color. This fall sensory bin works especially well leading up to Thanksgiving.
12. Black Bean Witch Hat Bin
Black beans make a great dark and moody Halloween inspired fall sensory bin. Add small plastic spiders, tiny witch hats, and orange pom poms for contrast. Additionally, give your toddler tongs to pick up the pom poms, which works on fine motor skills at the same time.
You can find more fine motor ideas in my post on 30 Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers at Home That Actually Work.
13. Cinnamon Scented Sensory Bin
Mix brown rice with ground cinnamon and a few drops of vanilla extract. The smell is incredible and it feels very cozy. Then add cinnamon sticks, mini pumpkins, and small wooden spoons. Therefore, this fall sensory bin is great for sensory sensitive kids because the scent adds another layer of calm, relaxing play.
14. Harvest Moon Water Bin
Fill a water bin with dark blue water using food coloring. Add glow in the dark stars, small foam moon shapes, and tiny plastic pumpkins. This is a really fun fall sensory bin for nighttime bath play or an evening activity at home. It is also one of the most memorable easy water play activities for toddlers you can adapt for fall.
15. Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Bin
Cook plain oatmeal, let it cool, and mix in pumpkin spice and brown food coloring. Add small plastic pumpkins and spoons. Notably, oatmeal bins are safe for young toddlers who still put things in their mouths, making this one of the most parent friendly fall sensory bins on this list.
16. Fall Color Shredded Paper Bin
Shred red, orange, and yellow paper and fill a bin to make a simple and pretty fall sensory bin. Hide small plastic animals or pumpkins inside and let your toddler dig and find them.
17. Dirt and Worm Bin
Fill a bin with potting soil and add plastic worms, small shovels, and leaf cookie cutters. This one is great for toddlers who love getting messy. Moreover, talking about worms and what they do for the soil is a sweet, simple science lesson you can layer in. If your toddler loves outdoor inspired play, you will also love my 20 Backyard Camping Activities.
18. Pinecone and Glitter Bin
Add gold and bronze loose glitter or glitter gel to a bin with pinecones, small gems, and fall colored pom poms. Furthermore, this one looks absolutely beautiful and toddlers are instantly drawn to all the sparkle. Use a bin with a lid to contain the glitter after playtime is done.
19. Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Sensory Bin
Brown sugar is such a wonderful and easy sensory filler. It smells like fall and feels good to scoop. Add cinnamon sticks, plastic apple slices, and mini pumpkins. Also, because it is fully edible, this is a great fall sensory bin for toddlers who are still in the mouthing stage.
20. Thanksgiving Feast Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with fake food items like plastic corn, turkey figurines, tiny plates, and pretend vegetables. Add fall leaves around the edges to tie in the seasonal look. Consequently, this fall sensory bin becomes a full pretend play activity and a fun way to introduce Thanksgiving to little ones.
Related Read:
- 30 Easy Paper Craft Ideas for Kids
- 25 Easy Toddler Activities at Home Moms Can Set Up Fast
- the best sensory play activities for babies 6 to 12 months
Finally,
Fall sensory bins are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to give your toddler a rich, hands on play experience this season.
So the next time you feel like your toddler needs something to do, grab a bin and a handful of fall materials and let the play happen.
I would love to see what fall sensory bins you put together this season. Come follow along on Pinterest where I share even more easy toddler activity ideas every week.
