Scooping, smelling, squishing, squelching, shaking – this fun and festive list of Christmas sensory bins includes ideas to stimulate each of the five senses through the sounds, sights, smells and textures of the holidays!
RELATED: Find more inspiration for sensory bins in our great big list – 55+ Super Sensory Bins for Kids.
21 Festive Christmas Sensory Bins
Gingerbread Rice Christmas Sensory Bin: Childhood 101
Add the scent of gingerbread to rice play to create this magical sensory play bin. Cute DIY Christmas village optional!
Fake Snow and Ornaments Christmas Bin: Views From a Stepstool
This sensory bin combines fake snow, toy trees and real (non-glass) ornaments. Switch out the ornaments for some cute DIY Christmas gnomes or other figurines to extend pretend play with this sweet sensory bin.
Candy Cane with Rice Sensory Bin: Little Bins For Little Hands
Enjoy a fun hunt for mini candy canes in this pretty red and white themed bin.
Pom Poms and Erasers Christmas Bin: Stay at Home Educator
Pom poms and erasers are usually pretty easy to find at dollar stores. They come in festive colors and shapes, and the two textures combined are perfect for sensory and imaginative play.
Red and Green Christmas Sensory Bin: Stay at Home Educator
Having a sensory bin based on your choice of colours is easy to put together. This Christmassy red and green combination is awesome, and the addition of a little peppermint oil makes this a spectacular sensory experience.
Letters in the Snow Sensory Bin: The Letters of Literacy
Invite your children on an icy letter hunt through super cool DIY sensory snow.
Christmas Water Beads Sensory Play: Pre-K Pages
Water beads are so much fun! Try red, green, and white water beads for a holiday twist in this super cool Christmas sensory bin.
Christmas Gift Wrap Bin: Pre-K Pages
Add kid friendly gift wrapping accessories to a sensory bin for this fun holiday activity.
All Natural Holiday Sensory Bin: Paper and Glue
This natural sensory bin invites children in with a wonderful calmness – it’s like a playful escape from the busy-ness of the season! Fresh pine sprigs, cranberries and pine cones add a fun, festive twist.
Sensory Bin with Green Split Peas: Natural Beach Living
Green split peas are the perfect hue for Christmas themed sensory play! Fun too to hide small Christmas treasure to find. This could also be adapted as a great seek-and-find sensory bottle.
Santa’s Treasure Basket Sensory Bin: Natural Beach Living
Santa’s Treasure Basket is a wonderful idea for toddlers. The cotton balls are so soft and contrast beautifully with other festive treasures, including delightful Christmas bells to ring.
Jingle Bell Rock Bin: Modern Preschool
This Jingle Bell Rock sensory bin is part of a Christmas carol sensory bin project. It is full of small black stones and tiny jingle bells – literally taking the items from the song and putting them in sensory bin form – and the addition of a small tree to decorate adds a fine motor challenge for preschoolers.
Peppermint Sensory Bin: B Inspired Mama
Smell are key to memory making and, for many, peppermint makes us think of candy canes at Christmastime, making it a fabulous addition to your holiday sensory bin.
Golden Cinnamon Sensory Tub: The Imagination Tree
This dazzling Christmas sensory tub is a delight to the eyes, fingers and nose – perfect for inviting multi-sensory play.
Christmas Music & Magnets Bin: Lalymom
This wonderfully innovative Christmas sensory bin combines music and science with sensory play.
Christmas Sensory Treasure Basket: The Imagination Tree
We love this fabulous collection of holiday textures, sights, sounds and scents for toddlers to explore.
Fake Snow Sensory Bin: The Best Ideas For Kids
Create a snowy outdoors scene in a sensory bin with the help of DIY fake snow and animal toys.
Winter Sensory Bin: And Next Comes L
This super cool winter themed sensory bin specifically encourages development of fine motor skills
Snowman Sensory Bin: Living Montessori Now
Cotton balls make for fun pretend snow and snowballs! Add mini snowmen figures to create a sweet holiday landscape for pretend play.
Winter Wonderland Sensory Bin: The Chaos and the Clutter
Create a pretend play winter wonderland with this interesting fake snow that can be DIY-ed with finely shredded cellophane or bubble wrap.
Fake Snow for Sensory Play: The Best Ideas for Kids
Shares simple ways to make fake snow from everyday household ingredients – the perfect addition to holiday themed sensory play.
For even more sensory fun, check out our collection of sensory bottles and this great big list for 31 Days of Sensory Play Ideas – kid approved!
Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
