How To Make A Whimsical Christmas Penguin Sensory Bin

Create a Whimsical Christmas Penguin Sensory Bin! Bring the magic of Christmas to life with this fun and engaging penguin sensory bin!

Christmas is coming, and what better way to celebrate than with penguins and Christmas magic?

Creating a sensory bin with a whimsical holiday twist is the perfect way to keep little hands busy and imaginations flowing this season. We’re talking penguin figurines, pink kinetic sand, sparkly gems, and 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).

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 sip your coffee before it turns cold (again!).

How to Create a Penguin Sensory Bin

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything we used to make our whimsical christmas penguin 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.

• Pink kinetic sand
• Penguin figurines
• Christmas trinkets: We used these gems, candy cane charms, pom-pom balls (great for sorting)
• Mini bottle brush trees
• Christmas cookie cutters
• Silicone Cupcake Liners or Small Bowls
• Scoops and Funnel or Tongs and Tweezers
• Sensory Bin (or any container big enough for your child to play in)

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 even edible play dough work great too! Click the links for 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 kinetic sand into a sensory bin or a shallow plastic tub. We used pink for a whimsical vibe, but purple, green, red or even neutral colored kinetic sand works great. Spread it out evenly so your kids have plenty of space to dig, scoop, and build.

2. Add in the Penguins, Trinkets, and Toys

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

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 penguin sensory bin!

After making a cute little penguin town, I mixed up all the small trinkets and the kids used the tweezers and tongs to sort them.

I tossed in some cookie cutters after the kids finished sorting the trinkets. They are great for cutting out shapes in the sand and add a little structure to the free play.

Creative Play Ideas for Your Penguin Sensory Bin

1. Penguin Adventures

Let your penguin figurines explore their pink winter wonderland. They can slide down hills of sand, hide behind bottle brush trees, or find shiny gems to keep as treasures.

2. Candy Cane and Gem 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 use tweezers or tongs to make it a fine motor skill activity!

3. Cookie Cutter Creations

Use the Christmas cookie cutters to stamp shapes into the sand. Kids can pretend they’re baking cookies or building snowflakes for the penguins to enjoy.

2. Storytelling Time

Pair your sensory bin with a cozy Christmas storytime! “Penguin and Pinecone: a friendship story”, “The Not-So-Perfect Penguin”, or “Spike: The Penguin With Rainbow Hair” are a few fantastic children’s books featuring penguin characters.

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 Penguin 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 penguin fans or just love digging their hands into some sensory fun, this whimsical Christmas penguin sensory bin is a must-try. 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 who yours turns out in the comments.