How to Create a Christmas Grinch Sensory Bin

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

Christmas is coming, and what better way to celebrate than with a sensory bin inspired by everyone’s favorite green grouch? This Grinch-themed sensory bin is a holiday win for keeping little hands busy and imaginations flowing. We’re talking green kinetic sand, sparkly heart gems, tiny candy canes—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). Plus, 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. Win-win!

How to Create a Grinch Sensory Bin

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything we used to make our Grinch 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.

• Green kinetic sand (Grinch green, of course!)
• Grinch figurines: We found these wood grinch figurines at Target, but you could also use these Grinch christmas ornaments (we also used these for our Jello Grinch Sensory Bin that was so much fun!)
• Christmas gems or trinkets: We used these heart-shaped gems and candy cane charms (great for sorting)
• Mini bottle brush trees
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters (To grow the Grinch’s heart three sizes!)
• 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 kinetic sand as the filler. But if you don’t have kinetic sand or want to switch it up, other fillers like dyed rice, dyed chickpeas, cloud dough or edible play dough work great too! You can buy these materials, or if you’re feeling crafty, you can 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 green kinetic sand 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 Grinch, Trinkets, and Toys

Add you Grinch figurines and trees strategically or just scatter them around. Scatter the gems, candy cane charms, or other Christmas trinckets across the sand.

Toss in the cookie cutters. These are great for cutting out heart shapes in the sand and add a little structure to the free play.

3. 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.

4. Time To Play

Let your littles ones dig through the Grinch sensory bin!

Creative Play Ideas for Your Grinch Sensory Bin

1. Act Out the Grinch’s Story

Encourage your kids to recreate the classic book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas“—and how his heart grew three sizes in the end. They can use the figurines to act out scenes like sneaking through Whoville or discovering the joy of Christmas with the Who family. Or let your kids dream up their own Grinch-inspired stories.

2. Build Whoville

Let their imaginations run wild as they sculpt a mini Whoville in the kinetic sand. They can use their hands or tools to build houses, hills, and snowy paths, then decorate with the bottle brush trees to complete the look.

3. Make Heart Cookies

Using the heart-shaped cookie cutters, your little ones can “bake” pretend cookies right in the sand. They can serve their creations to the Grinch figurine or make up their own holiday feast with gems and candy canes.

4. Candy Cane Treasure Hunt

Bury the candy cane charms, gems, or othe trinkets in the sand and challenge your kids to find and sort them all! They can dig with their fingers or scoops, and pretend to be treasure-hunting Whos on a Christmas adventure.

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 sand or small pieces. This makes cleanup a breeze.

Why We Love This Grinch Sensory Bin

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

So grab your supplies, channel your inner Cindy Lou Who, and get ready for some holiday magic! Let me know how yours turns out in the comments.