How To Make a DIY Mermaid Sensory Bin

Create this Mermaid Sensory Bin using homemade Kinetic Sand, Dyed Pasta, and Mermaid treasures! The perfect sensory play and small world sensory play activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids!

If you’re looking for a hands-on sensory adventure that brings the magic of the ocean to life, this Mermaid Sensory Bin is just what you need! It’s a fun and engaging activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids!

The coral reef is made from dyed pasta, adding a pop of color and texture to this underwater sensory experience!

We use a simple homemade kinetic sand as the base, vibrant dyed pasta for the coral reef, and some mermaid treasures to create an exciting underwater world ready for sensory play!

Why This Mermaid Sensory Bin Is A Must-Try

If you’ve never made kinetic sand before, you’re in for a treat! It’s soft, fluffy, and silky to the touch but still holds its shape when pressed. It’s perfect for little hands to dig, scoop, and mold. And to make it extra special for summer, you can make the kinetic sand with mermaid-inspired hues for that magical feel.

To bring the coral reef to life, we’ve added dyed pasta in gorgeous shades of blues, greens, pinks, and purples. The different shapes and colors mimic real coral, making the sensory experience even more immersive. Kids will love running their fingers through the kinetic sand, feeling the textures of the pasta reef, and diving into their own mini underwater adventure!

How To Make A Mermaid Sensory Bin

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make the dyed pasta:

• Dry pasta (Any shape will work! Go wild with different varieties to make it extra fun)
• Liquid food coloring or Gel food coloring (adjust to your desired intensity)
• Rubbing alcohol or vinegar (Rubbing alchohol is NOT taste-safe. Vinegar is taste-safe)
• Ziplock bags or a container with a lid (Something you can seal tight and shake around)
• Baking tray and parchment paper (To lay out the pasta for drying)

Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up a batch of kinetic sand:

• 2 cups Play Sand (we used white play sand but any color works!)
• 1 1/2 cups Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

Extras for the sensory bin:

• Plastic mermaid figurines, Ocean Sea Animals, Pearls, sea shells, or any ocean-themed toys
• Silicone Cupcake Liners or Small Bowls
• Scoops and Funnel, Tongs and Tweezers, Spoons, or cookie cutters
• Sensory Bin (or any container big enough for your child to play in).

Dyed Pasta Instructions

1. Mix Your Dyeing Solution

Start by adding the rubbing alcohol or vinegar to your bag or container, then add food coloring. The ratio for this is 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol or vinegar for every 1 cup of pasta. The more food coloring you add, the more intense the colors will be.

2. Prepare Your Pasta

Next, its time to select your dry pasta to dye. You can use any shape or variety—bowtie, penne, rotini, or even elbow macaroni. Feel free to mix different shapes for added texture and fun. Pour the dry pasta into a ziplock bag or a container with a tight-fitting lid.

3. Shake, Shake, Shake!

Once your pasta, liquid, and food coloring are all in the bag or container, seal it tightly. Now, it’s time for the fun part—shake it up! Keep shaking until all the pasta is evenly coated in the dye.

4. Let It Sit

Once you’re happy with the color distribution, let the pasta sit in the bag or container for about 30 minutes. This resting time allows the food coloring to fully absorb into the pasta. Give the bag a gentle shake every 5 minutes and flip it to ensure the color continues to distribute evenly.

5. Dry the Pasta

Carefully pour out any excess liquid. Then pour the dyed pasta onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper or wax paper, making sure to spread it out in a single layer. Depending on your environment, the pasta should be completely dry in 2-4 hours if you used rubbing alcohol, or 3-5 hours with vinegar.

Kinetic Sand Instructions

If you’re worried about younger kids putting it in their mouths, you might want to try making this awesome Taste-Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe which uses food-grade ingredients.

1. Mix Dry Indredients

Add 2.5 cups of fine play sand and 1.5 cups of cornstarch into a mixing bowl. Stir well to evenly distribute everything.

3. Add Oil

Slowly mix in the 1/2 cup oil.

3. Mix It All Together

Use your hands to knead the mixture until it’s fully combined and has a soft, moldable texture. If it’s too dry, add a tiny bit more oil. If it’s too wet, sprinkle in a little more cornstarch.

4. Optional Extras

If you’re feeling fancy, now’s the time to add a few drops of essential oils for a lovely scent or a sprinkle of glitter for some sparkle.

Coral Reef Instructions

Once it’s ready, transfer the kinetic sand to a bin or shallow container. Now’s the time to get creative! Place your dyed pasta in the kinetic sand to create a coral reef.

Toss in some mermaid-themed trinkets, scoops, tongs, cookie cutters, or anything else for creative play.

Creative Play Ideas For Your Mermaid Sensory Bin

You can do so many things with this mermaid sensory bin! Don’t be surprised if your little one spends a solid 20 minutes just running their fingers through it. It’s that satisfying! Want to take it up a notch? Here are a few ideas:

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

This kinetic sand mermaid sensory bin is a hit for kids of all ages. It’s easy to make and endlessly versatile for creative play. Plus, it’s an affordable way to bring a little extra fun to your summer sensory activities.

So grab your ingredients, mix up a batch, and let the underwater magic begin! Don’t forget to share your creations in the comments. I’d love to see them!!