Alright 90s kids – this sensory bin is for you (well, technically for your kids, but also for you). Bring out all the neon for this fun sensory activity that is perfect for older toddlers, preschoolers, and even young elementary ages.
I used a 9×13 Pyrex dish to hold this sensory bin – but depending on your kids you might want to use a plastic container.
The base for this sensory bin are 1″ Neon Pom Poms. 1-2 bags was the perfect amount to fill the dish. This multi-sized pack would also work great to add in the activity of sorting by size.
Finding the “90s themed add-ins” was fun! I was thinking back to different things that were popular during my childhood (that were also small enough to fit in the sensory bin). I ended up using three fillers – Lisa Frank Inspired Erasers, Mini Trolls, and Cassette Tape charms. If you’re a thrift store shopper, you could also look in the toy section for old Happy Meal toys (like the Barbies or Beanie Babies).
Finally, I added in some tools for my kids to use as they played with this bin. I grabbed a couple measuring cups and spoons, tongs, and also small dishes they could use for sorting. Silicone cupcake liners also work great. These Learning Resources Sensory Tools are some of my favorites as well!
My kids (ages 3 and 5) immediately started playing with the bin together when I set it on the table. Without any direction from my they sorted by colors, picked out all their favorite cassette tape designs, stirred different ingredients together to make a “soup” in the small dishes, and had fun feeling the pom poms on their hands.
Some other activities that could be done:
- Line up the Trolls in rainbow order for a silly hair parade
- Count different colors of pom poms
- Use tongs to hunt for all the mini erasers
- Make your own mixtape – use your preferred streaming service to create a fun playlist together
This bin was such a hit, and my kids came back to play with it multiple times throughout the day. I’ve put all these materials (plus other ideas for the 90s themed sensory bin) in an idea list on my storefront.
