Toddler Sensory Activity With Dry Beans

This is a cheap, easy way to keep your toddler entertained, it is lots of fun, educational and makes a great toddler sensory activity.

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I feel its important for toddlers to help you with what you are doing as much as possible because it helps them learn and it gives you more time together. But sometimes you need something that will keep your toddler entertained so you can get something done without it taking a twice as long or maybe it isn’t safe for them to help. I often pull our bucket of beans out when I have a mountain of dishes I need to get washed before the baby wakes up or when I need to quickly make a meal.

What You Will Need

1. A bucket, preferably with a lid. I picked a bucket that was big enough for my toddler to climb into to play if she wanted to.
2. Beans. I used black beans, white beans, chick peas, and popcorn seeds.
3. Different things depending on the kind of bucket you want to make. Sometimes I use tractors and farm animals, cups and spoons to practice scooping and pouring, or just a whole bunch of random kitchen utensils. It really doesn’t matter, they will have fun with just about anything.

Why Beans?

Why use beans? Well first of all, beans are cheap. The beans for my sensory bin only cost a few dollars and then you don’t have to worry about a few being lost on the floor or whatever may happen to them. Our bucket of beans has had the same 4 bags of beans in it for about 6 months now though. Secondly, beans also provide great sensory input, especially if you use different kinds of beans. They will have different sizes and textures and all mixed together is great! Beans also make a calming noise when you play in them and pour them, providing even more sensory input.

Why Sensory Play Is Important For Toddlers.

Sensory play is very important for toddlers. It encourages learning in a fun way while having so many different ways to play. Sensory play helps build nerve connections in the brain, encourages problem solving, curiosity, creativity and just practicing everyday skills.

My almost two year old has always loved dumping and pouring and she dumps and pours in every sensory play activity she is given and can now pour and fill a cup with a container that has more in it than the other cup will hold and can fill the dogs water bowl out of a pitcher, often without spilling. Also, toddlers tend to be very focused during sensory play and building their focus and attention span is always helpful.

How To Make A Dry Bean Toddler Sensory Activity?

1. Get some dry beans! Any kind will work, black beans, white beans, kidney beans, even split peas, chickpeas, corn and popcorn seeds will work, it doesn’t matter, whatever kind you want.
2. Find a bucket. I find that they like to climb in the bucket to play often, so I like to use one that is big enough for them to climb in. This is the bucket we use, I like that it has latches on the handles, so it can’t be accidently dumped as easy.
3. Pour beans into bucket. You don’t need to fill the bucket. Just an inch or two on the bottom of the bucket will be plenty.
4. Add whatever you want to play in the beans with. Animals, cars, tractors, little people, kitchen utensils, toilet paper tubes, you can add practically anything!
5. Let your child have fun! And you can have fun too, they are lots of fun. 😉

Different Ways To Play With Toddler Sensory Activity

You can play with this toddler sensory activity in many different ways, the possibilities seem endless! I like to switch out what is in the bucket every couple weeks to make it more interesting and encourage creativity in different ways. Here are some of the things we have used:

1. First, you can play with just the beans. They are fun to just run your hands through or walk on! If you use different kinds of beans you can sort them by type and color. Or practice counting with them.
2. You can also add farm animals, tractors and people. Pushing vehicles through things is a lot of fun. Having animals and people in it gives them opportunity to practice standing things up, which the beans make easier because they support them. It also encourages pretend play witch is an important skill for toddlers. We like this tractor and animal set, the vehicles are small but sturdy and work good for toddlers hands.

3. Add kitchen utensils and bowls. Big spoons, whisks, flippers, tongs, bowls and measuring cups are all great things to put in. Kids always love to play with everyday things, especially if they are things that you use all the time. These things give opportunity to practice stirring, scooping, pinching and measuring in a mostly mess free way.

4. Cups, bowls and toilet paper tubes. I don’t know about your toddler, but mine LOVES to dump and pour. She will spend hours dumping and pouring things from one container to another. If she has some bowls and or cups and tubes and something to put in them she can play for a long time.

There are so many different ways to play with this activity and most any way you do it will entertain your toddler. Comment below any other great ways you have to play with beans!