How To Make a DIY Mermaid Sensory Bin

Create a DIY mermaid sensory bin with kinetic sand, dyed pasta, and fun sea treasures! Perfect for kids sensory play and sparking imagination!

This post may contain affiliate links and I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. However, I will never recommend anything that I do not believe in or use myself. You can read more about my disclosure policy here.

If your kids are all about mermaids, get ready to create a magical sensory bin that will make their day! With just a little prep, you can whip up a DIY Mermaid Sensory Bin using kinetic sand as the base and some dyed pasta for vibrant coral reefs.

It’s easy, fun, and a guaranteed hit with toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids! Plus, it’s perfect for imaginative play, fine motor skill building, and sneaky learning.

Why Sensory Bins Rock!

I love sensory bins! They are the best sensory play activities. They combine touch, sight, and even sound into one magical experience.

Mermaid sensory bins are especially fun because they transport kids to an imaginative underwater world while engaging their senses in a meaningful way. The silky feel of kinetic sand, the textured pasta “coral reef,” and the smooth pearls and beads all provide different tactile experiences that help build sensory awareness.

Plus, the vibrant colors and shiny treasures stimulate visual curiosity, while scooping and sorting activities enhance motor skills. It’s more than just play—it’s hands-on learning disguised as fun!

How To Make a Mermaid Sensory Bin

What You’ll Need

I’ve linked what was used for this sensory bin, but use whatever you have laying around. Your local Dollar Store is also a great place to find themed sensory bin trinkets and toys:

Kinetic sand (blue or natural color works best!)
Dyed pasta (to mimic coral reefs) Dyed pasta can be purchased or you can easily dye your own. Check out our post on How To Dye Pasta with step-by-step directions, along with helpful tips and tricks for dying pasta. Dyeing pasta is a fun activity on its own!
Plastic mermaid figurines
Small sea creatures (fish, turtles, seahorses—whatever you’ve got!)
Pearls, Pebbles, or Shells
Scoops, Tongs and Tweezers
Silicone Cupcake Cups or Small Bowls (for sorting)
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 playdough 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

Spread the kinetic sand across the bottom of your bin. It’ll be the sandy ocean floor where all the magic happens!

2. Add The Coral Reefs

Take your dyed pasta and gently press it into the sand to create some coral reefs. Not only does it add a pop of color, but it also gives little fingers something fun to explore.

Colored pasta noodles pressed into the kinetic sand creating a coral reef

3. Add Your Mermaid Treasures

Toss in pearls, gemstones. stones or shells to create a sparkling underwater scene. I added in a little treasure chest with coins, and large plastic shell I had lying around. Add in your mermaid fugurines and any other sea creatures to bring the underwater world to life!

Mermaid treasures added to the sensory bin kinetic sand and coral reef

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.

Scoops, tongs, tweezers and small cups added to the mermaid sensory bin

5. Time To Play

Let your littles ones dig through the mermaid sensory bin!

Kids digging through the mermaid sensory bin

Creative Play Ideas for Your DIY Mermaid Sensory Bin

This mermaid sensory bin isn’t just pretty, it’s packed with opportunities for fun, learning, and creativity. Here are some ideas to spark your child’s imagination and help them make the most of their playtime:

1. Storytime Integration

Pair the sensory bin with a mermaid-themed book to bring their favorite stories to life! How to Catch a Mermaid, Mermaid Day, or Mermaid School are great choices. After reading, ask your child to recreate scenes from the story using the toys and materials in the bin. Or encourage them to create their own underwater adventure based on what they read.

2. Treasure Hunt

Nothing beats the excitement of a good treasure hunt! Bury small treasures like gems or coins in the kinetic sand and let your child dig them out with their scoops, tweezers, or even their hands. This activity promotes problem-solving, imaginative thinking, and fine motor skills—all while feeling like an exciting quest!

3. Sorting Games

Ask your child to sort the pasta or other treasures by color—grouping blues, greens, purples and pinks together in the silicone cups can keep them busy for ages. For an extra challenge, encourage them to sort by size or shape.

4. Free Play

Sometimes the best play comes from simply exploring the textures and materials. Let your child squish the kinetic sand and sift through the pasta. Encourage them to describe how the materials feel—this helps build vocabulary. Unstructured exploration is also calming and can help your child self-regulate after a busy day.

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 babies 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 Mermaid Sensory Bin

And there you have it—your very own mermaid sensory bin! Not only is this mermaid sensory bin a blast, but it’s also educational. Kids practice fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and get to flex their creativity—all while you (hopefully) enjoy a quiet coffee break.

Are you ready to make your own magical mermaid sensory bin? Let me know how it turns out in the comments.

Explore

The Blog

Connect