How To Make A Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin

Create a festive and fun Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin! Bring the magic of Christmas to life with this fun and engaging sensory bin!

If you’ve got a construction truck loving little one, you’ve got to try making a Christmas tree farm sensory bin. It’s the perfect combo of creative play and Christmas magic! Plus, it’s super easy to throw together with just a few items you probably already have or can snag on your next Amazon or Target run.

This Christmas Tree Farm themed sensory bin is a holiday win for keeping little hands busy and imaginations flowing. We’re talking mini construction trucks, bottle brush trees, sparkly gems and pom-poms. Yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds!

Why Christmas Activities Are Awesome

There’s just something magical about Christmas activities, isn’t there? They’re a chance to slow down, enjoy the moment, and create memories your kids will remember (and probably ask to recreate every year).

Holiday-themed sensory play is a sneaky way to work on fine motor skills and creativity while your kids think they’re just having fun. Plus, they’re a lifesaver when you need a few quiet minutes to wrap gifts or sip your coffee before it turns cold (again!).

How to Create a Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything we used to make our Christmas tree farm sensory bin. We got most things from Amazon, but Target’s Dollar Spot or your local Dollar Store are great places to find holiday-themed sensory bin trinkets or toys.

• Dried Chickpeas: Checkout how to dye chickpeas to make them a festive color!
• Mini Construction Trucks
• Christmas gems or trinkets: We used these gems and pom-poms (great for sorting)
• Mini bottle brush trees
• Silicone Cupcake Liners or Small Bowls
• Scoops or Tongs and Tweezers
• Sensory Bin (or any container big enough for your child to play in). These are my favorite options: a sensory bin with lid for a smaller setup, or a larger sensory table for more expansive play.

Pro Tip: This sensory bin uses dried chickpeas as the filler. But if you don’t have any dried beans or want to switch it up, other fillers like hot chocolate cloud dough, kinetic sand, dyed rice, cloud dough or even edible play dough work great too! Click the links for our blog posts with step-by-step guides to make your own.

Be sure to check out our blog post about essential sensory bin supplies to have on hand, making it easy to set-up multiple different sensory bins in seconds!

Instructions

1. Start with the base

Pour your dried chickpeas into a sensory bin or a shallow plastic tub. Spread it out evenly so your kids have plenty of space to dig, scoop, and build.

2. Add in the Contruction Trucks and Trees

Strategically add your Christmas trees and construction trucks around the sensory bin.

3. Add in Trinkets, and Toys

Scatter gems, pom-poms, or other Christmas trinckets across the chickpeas base.

4. Introduce Scoops, Tongs, Tweezers, and bowls

Add scoops, tongs, tweezers and small cups for scooping, pouring, and sorting. This adds an extra layer of fun and builds fine motor skills.

5. Time To Play

Let your littles ones dig through the Christmas Tree Farm sensory bin!

Creative Play Ideas for Your Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin

1. Tree Delivery Service

Use the mini construction trucks to haul bottle brush trees from the “forest” to the “farm.” Load them up with gems or pom-poms for extra fun!

2. Treasure Hunt

Bury the gems, pom-poms, or othe trinkets in the dried chickpeas and challenge your kids to find and sort them all! They can dig with their construction trucks, fingers, or scoops and tongs.

3. Book Pairing Fun

Pair your sensory bin play with a festive construction-themed book! “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site: Merry Christmas” (a personal favorite at our house!), “The Little Blue Truck’s Christmas”, or “Construction Site on Christmas Night” are some great options to consider.

4. Road Building

Create paths and roads in the chickpea base for the trucks to drive along. It’s construction meets Christmas!

Safety When Playing with Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are amazing, but it’s always good to keep a few safety tips in mind:

• Supervise younger kids. If you have toddlers or young children playing with the bin, always keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not putting any small objects in their mouths. Choking hazards are a real concern, so be mindful of the size of the objects you include.

• Watch out for sharp or fragile items. Avoid anything that could potentially break or shatter in the bin. Stick to soft or flexible items like plastic figures, pom-poms, and silicone or plastic scoops.

• Keep it clean. Sensory bins can get messy! Lay down a sheet or tablecloth underneath to catch any runaway beans or small pieces. This makes cleanup a breeze.

Why We Love This Christmas Tree Farm Sensory Bin

This sensory bin is more than just fun. It’s the perfect way to channel holiday excitement into something calm and creative. Whether your kiddos are construction trucks fans or just love digging their hands into some sensory fun, this Christmas Tree Farm sensory bin is a must! It’s simple to put together, endlessly engaging, and full of festive cheer.

So grab your supplies and get ready for some holiday magic! Let me know how yours turns out in the comments.