How To Create The Best Halloween Sensory Bin
Create a spooky Halloween sensory bin using dried black beans and Target’s dollar spot Halloween toys! This easy, budget-friendly activity will keep your kids entertained with creative play ideas and Halloween magic—all in under 10 minutes!
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Looking for a fun, easy, and budget-friendly Halloween activity for the kiddos? Let’s create a spooky Halloween sensory bin!
This is a quick and simple activity that uses supplies you can grab from Target’s Dollar Spot (or the Dollar Store if you prefer), and dried black beans as the base.
It’s a fantastic way to introduce some Halloween-themed sensory play without breaking the bank. Plus, the setup is so easy, you’ll be ready to go in under 10 minutes!
Why Make a Halloween Sensory Bin?
Sensory bins are a hit because they’re inexpensive, easy to set up, and kids love them!
Using dried black beans as a base is a fantastic choice for Halloween—the black beans bring an instant spooky vibe. They feel great to scoop, pour, and dig through, and you can toss in Halloween-themed trinkets for added fun.
Not only do these bins keep kids entertained, but they also help with fine motor skills and sensory exploration.
Why Seasonal Activities Rock
There’s something magical about holiday-themed activities, especially for little ones. These sensory bins help your kids engage with the season, build memories, and enhance their understanding of the holiday.
And the best part? You can enjoy the Halloween vibes without even leaving the house! No juggling nap times or wrangling toddlers into costumes just yet.
How To Create The Best Halloween Sensory Bin
Supplies You’ll Need
We already had most of these sensory bin supplies on hand and just added a few small Halloween toys from Target’s dollar section. Take a look at our list of essential sensory bin supplies to have on hand, making it easy to set-up multiple different sensory bins in seconds!
- A large plastic bin (or any container big enough for your child to play in). My favorite options are this sensory bin storage lid for a smaller setup, or this larger sensory table for more expansive play.
- Dried black beans (we used 2 bags/about 4 lbs)
- Halloween toys like witch fingers, spiders, vampire teeth, skeletons, pumpkins, or any little spooky toys (Target’s Dollar Spot or the Dollar Store are great places to find a variety of inexpensive Halloween toys).
Related: Sensory Bin Supplies: What You Need To Have
How to Set It Up
1. Fill the Bin
Start by dumping the dried black beans into your large bin.
2. Add Halloween Toys
Bury some small Halloween toys, like witch fingers, spiders, vampire teeth, skeletons, or pumpkins, into the beans. You can challenge your kids to “find” the hidden treasures or just let them dig around and discover at their own pace.
3. Add Scoops, Tongs, Bowls, and funnels
Toss in some scoops, tongs, bowls or funnels to work on those fine motor skills while they play.
4. Let Them Play
That’s it! Watch as they scoop, pour, and get excited about all the Halloween fun hiding in their bin.
Creative Play Ideas for Your Halloween Sensory Bin
Once your Halloween sensory bin is set up, the fun doesn’t stop at scooping and digging! Here are a few creative play ideas to keep the excitement going:
1. Monster Treasure Hunt
Bury small Halloween toys (like mini skeletons, witch fingers, or plastic spiders) deep within the beans and challenge your kids to find them all. You can add a little story, telling them they need to rescue the “lost monster treasures!”
2. Potion Making Station
Add small jars or mini-cauldrons to the bin and let your little ones pretend they’re creating spooky potions. Encourage them to mix up the beans and Halloween toys to make “witches’ brew” or “monster potions.”
3. Counting and Sorting
Toss in a few different types of Halloween-themed objects, like plastic spiders, pom pom balls, or erasers. Let the kids sort them by type, color, or size. Bonus points if you sneak in some early math skills by asking them to count how many they find of each!
4. Hide-and-Seek Letters and Numbers
Bury small letter or number toys in the bin and let the kids dig them out. Once found, they can practice identifying them or even spelling out simple Halloween words like “Boo!” or “Bat.”
5. Fill the Cauldron
Give them mini-cauldrons (or bowls) and challenge them to use tongs or scoops to fill the cauldron to the top with beans or Halloween toys. This is perfect for practicing fine motor skills and concentration!
Why I Love This Halloween Sensory Bin
Besides being super easy, I love that you can reuse this bin year after year. Once Halloween is over, just store the beans and toys in separate bags and bring them out again next fall. It’s a great way to make lasting memories with minimal effort!
Whether your kids are making “spooky potions” or digging through beans to find mini spiders, this sensory bin is sure to be a hit.
