Penguin Sensory Bin

Looking for a fun, easy activity to keep your kids engaged during the winter months? A Penguin Sensory Bin combines creativity, sensory play, and learning. This is one of the Sensory Activities For Preschoolers that kids love because they get to explore and play with different textures.

Not only does this penguin activity keep kids entertained, but it also encourages motor skills and imagination as kids learn about arctic animals.

A penguin sensory bin features blue rice, toy penguins, cotton balls, and ice cube shapes. A charming sign from messforless.net announces the Penguin Sensory Bin

This activity inspires kids to use their imaginations as they play and pretend. Plus, all the supplies are affordable and easy to find.

Sensory Bins

Kids adore sensory bins because they allow them to explore with their hands and dig into new textures. Whether they’re scooping rice, molding sand, or playing with water beads, sensory bins give kids the freedom to play in a world they have created.

Kids Winter Activities

Winter crafts and activities are a great way to celebrate the season. They’re a fun way to keep kids engaged indoors when it's too cold to go out. Plus, these hands-on activities help them develop essential skills like problem-solving and fine motor coordination.

Materials For Penguin Sensory Bin

Bin or Tray: To hold all the items. You will want something with a little depth to it, so items don't spill out.
Blue-Colored Rice: You can make this at home with food coloring and vingear following our directions below.
White Styrofoam Pieces: For the Icebergs. An adult can cut a block of Styrofoam into smaller glacier-like pieces using a knife.
Clear Gems: You can find these in the floral section of most dollar stores.
Cotton Balls: Used for creating fluffy snow.
Penguin Toys: Small plastic toys that will fit in the bin.

Madzee 15 Inch Portable Sensory Bin Play Tray with Lid, Fill with Water, Sand, Beads and More (Pink)IRIS USA 6 Qt. Plastic Storage Bins Containers with Lids, 4 Pack, Sensory Bin, Craft Storage, Craft Organizers and Storage, Organizing Container for Home, Office and School Supplies, Stackable, Clear FUTUREPLUSX 1Lb Flat Glass Marbles, Clear Flat Gems Transparent Aquarium Pebbles Vase Filler Beads Table Scatters Cotton Balls - Sukh 200 Count Cotton Ball Absorbent Cotton Balls Bulk for Face Small White Cotton Balls for Nail Polish Remover Mini Medium Makeup Remover Real Facial Soft Cotton Balls for Ears Toymany 12PCS Realistic Penguin Figurines, Plastic Polar Antarctic Animal Figures Set with Penguin Cub, Easter Eggs Cake Toppers Christmas Birthday Gift for Kids Toddlers Wild Republic Penguin Figurines Tube, Penguin Toys, Emperor Penguin, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie, Rockhopper And Swimming Penguins Ten Piece Set

How To Dye Rice

Place a cup of white rice in a zip-top bag. Add one tablespoon of vinegar and a few drops of blue food coloring. Seal the bag and shake it up until all of the rice is coated.

Spread the rice out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper and give it time to dry. It will take an hour or so to dry.

How To Make Penguin Sensory Bin

To set up your penguin sensory bin, you'll want to start by pouring the blue-colored rice into a bin to represent the ocean.

Cut the Styrofoam and place the pieces onto the rice, arranging them like floating glaciers.

Sprinkle some cotton balls around for fluffy snow. Scatter the clear gems over the bin to represent little chunks of ice floating in the ocean.

Now add your small plastic penguin toys and let the kids play!

A delightful sensory bin featuring toy penguins nestled among cotton balls and foam cubes, all contained within a blue container.

penguin sensory bin with blue rice, cotton balls and penguin toys

Be Brave Little Penguin Spike: The Penguin With Rainbow Hair (Ocean Tales Children's Books)Tacky the Penguin All About Penguins: Discover Life on Land and in the Sea If You Were a Penguin Board Book Penguins (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)

Penguin Activities

If your kids love penguins or you are a teacher looking for other activities to complement this Penguin Sensory Bin, you can make paper snowflakes or do winter-themed finger painting. Here are some of our favorite penguin crafts and activities:

What Kids Learn With Sensory Bins

Kids can learn so much while playing with a Penguin Sensory Bin:

Fine motor skills are developed as kids pick up small gems and arrange them.
Kids use sensory exploration to play with different textures, such as soft, hard, or rough.
Kids engage in imaginative play as they move the penguins around their icy world.
Playing with this sensory bin opens up discussions about penguins and icebergs in a kid-friendly way!

A childs hand holds a toy dinosaur above a sensory bin filled with fluffy white cotton balls in a blue container. Text reads Mess for Less.

Tips For Sensory Bins

Tip 1: To make clean-up easier, place a sheet or mat underneath the bin to catch any stray rice or gems.

Tip 2: Be sure to supervise young children since small items like gems can pose a choking hazard.

Tip 3: For added fun and opportunities for extra fine motor practice, add extras like small scoops, spoons, or tongs.

FAQs For Sensory Bin With Penguins

Can I make the colored rice ahead of time?

Yes! Since kids probably won't want to wait while the rice is dyed, making it ahead of time is a good idea. You can store it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it. You can even make larger batches of various colors for other sensory bins in the future!

What if I don’t have penguin toys?

You can cut out penguin shapes from cardstock and color them, or print out images of penguins and laminate them for durability.

How Long Will the Blue-Colored Rice Last?

The dyed rice in your sensory bin can last for months if stored properly. Make sure the rice is completely dry before putting it into a resealable bag. If you notice any signs of mold or an off smell, it’s time to replace it.

Whether you’re making this sensory bin for kids to play with at home or using it in a preschool setting to study arctic animals, it is sure to be a hit.