How To Make A Space Themed Sensory Bin
Create an out-of-this-world activity with this DIY space sensory bin! Fun, easy, and perfect to keep your little astronauts entertained!
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If your kiddo is fascinated by all things space, then this DIY space themed sensory bin is going to be a blast! It’s a fun and easy setup that will have them exploring the galaxy right from your living room.
Plus, sensory bins are such a great way to encourage imaginative play while keeping them engaged (and giving you a bit of a break!). With kinetic sand as the base, this one has the perfect mix of creativity and tactile fun.
What Is a Sensory Bin?
A sensory bin is like a little treasure chest of hands-on exploration and discovery! It’s a container filled with different materials—think kinetic sand, rainbow rice, dyed chickpeas, dyed pasta, or even shaving cream—that engage your child’s senses. These bins are designed to stimulate touch, sight, smell, and sometimes even hearing and taste (if you’re using taste-safe fillers).
The real fun starts as your child explores sensory play, feeling all the different textures, shapes, and materials with curiosity and excitement! Sensory bins are open-ended, meaning there’s no right or wrong way to play! Whether they’re scooping, pouring, digging, or creating stories, sensory bins give kids the freedom to let their imaginations run wild.
And bonus—they’re super easy to set up and adapt to different themes, like our DIY sensory bin space adventure!
How To Create A Space Themed Sensory Bin
Ingredients
Ready to create your mini galaxy? Here’s what you’ll need:
- 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.
- Shovels, scoops, or small digging tools
- Kinetic sand of any color. This sensory bin uses red kinetic sand as the filler (because my son is all about Mars!) Black, blue, or even purple gives a spacey vibe, but any color works.
- Mini Planet Figures or Pom-Poms
- Astronaut Figures
- Small Rocks or Gems (for meteors or space treasures)
- Glow-in-the-dark stars
- Alphabet Letters (plastic or wood letters to spell out space-themed words)
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, dried black beans, cloud dough, or even play dough work great too! You can buy these materials, or if you’re feeling crafty, you can make your own. We’ve got DIY recipes for dyed rice, moon sand, kinetic sand, and even cloud dough—so many fun options to choose from!
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
Let’s create your DIY sensory bin space adventure:
1. Start with the base
Grab your kinetic sand and spread it out evenly across the bottom of your bin. This is going to be your “planet surface”—whether it’s Mars, the moon, or a faraway galaxy your child dreams up! If you’re using red sand (perfect for a Mars vibe), make sure there’s enough to cover the bottom of the bin so your child can dig and create craters.
2. Add your space objects
Now comes the fun part—scattering the space-themed goodies! Place the toy planets, astronauts, and space rocks (small gems or pebbles). I used the space rocks to make Mars’ dark spot. Don’t be afraid to bury some of these objects under the sand for a surprise discovery! Your child can dig up planets, “mine” for space rocks, or uncover hidden astronauts trapped in craters.
3. Introduce scoops, tongs, and tweezers
To take the sensory experience up a notch and build fine motor skills, add in some tools! Throw in a few small scoops or measuring spoons for digging, tongs for grabbing objects, and tweezers for picking up tiny space treasures. Not only does this make the bin more interactive, but it also encourages your child to practice their pincer grip, which is excellent for developing hand strength and coordination.
4. Time to play!
Now it’s ready for action! Let your little one explore their new space world. They can create craters, dig for hidden treasures, fly toy rockets through space, or send astronauts on missions. Encourage them to tell stories or pretend they’re on an epic space adventure!
Creative Play Ideas for Your DIY Space Sensory Bin
The magic of a sensory bin is how it opens the door to all kinds of imaginative play. Here are a few creative ways your child can play with their DIY space sensory bin:
1. Rescue mission
Bury small items or astronauts in the sand and let your child go on a “rescue mission” to dig them out. They can pretend the astronauts are trapped under a meteor and need to be saved!
2. Build a space station
Use small cups, blocks, or even LEGO bricks to create a little space station on top of the kinetic sand. They can add astronauts and pretend they’re working on the station, fixing satellites, or even living in space.
3. Bury and Find Letters
Hide wood or plastic letters in the kinetic sand that spell out words like “space” or “astronaut.” Let your little one dig through the sand to find them, then help them piece the letters together to spell the word! It’s a fun way to mix sensory play with a little bit of letter recognition and spelling practice.
4. Make alien friends
You can toss in some colorful pom-poms or pipe cleaners and let your child create their own alien creatures. They can give them names, make up stories, and even pretend the aliens are helping the astronauts!
5. Create craters
Show your child how to press the planets or rocks into the sand to create craters, just like the ones we see on the moon! They can experiment with different objects to see what kind of marks they leave.
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 foam letters.
- 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.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it—your very own DIY space themed sensory bin that’s packed with fun and learning! From digging for buried treasures to spelling out space words, there’s so much your little astronaut can explore. Sensory play is such a wonderful way to help kids learn while they play, and the best part? It’s easy to set up and keeps them engaged.
So grab your supplies, set up your sensory bin, and watch as your child’s imagination soars into space!
