Indoor and Outdoor Water Play & Sensory Bin Activities for Toddlers

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The weather is warming up and it’s the perfect time to get outside with the kids before it becomes excruciatingly hot. My kids LOVE being outside, but it seems we must not have too much for them to do since they usually end up playing in the dirt. Kids will be kids right?

But in Florida the fire ants are real, so I have to be the un-fun mom and tell them to get out. So I decided to come up with some indoor and outdoor water play and sensory bin activities perfect for my toddlers.

Sensory bins are great busy activities and learning tools. They can be done inside with a sheet underneath if you’re worried about a mess. We also have a screened in porch where the kids can play and be shaded from the sun.

Each of these bins can be made with very little money and simple supplies you can easily find on Amazon or at Walmart.

With a little prep work, sensory bins can be stored and reused over and over to keep your little ones entertained on rainy days and all summer long.

Water Play with Bath Toys

Supplies Needed:
Plastic Storage bin or water table  (affiliate link – This is the one we have had for 3 years and the kids love it)
Nuby Octopus Hoopla (aff link)
Nuby Splash and Catch Fishing Set (aff link)

We love Nuby bath toys and use them not only in the bath tub, but for sensory bins and as pool toys. The whole family had a great time making a game out of the Octopus Hoopla bath toy. Of course my superstar husband had to back up and make it really interesting by shooting from farther back. (I had more success closer up hehe) The fishing set was really cute too. Both kids did great scooping out the little fish. Both Nuby sets are available on Amazon and linked above.

Water Bin with Pool Noodle Boats

Supplies Needed:
Foam Sheets cut into triangles
Hole Punch
Pool Noodle
Straws
Color drops (affiliate link)

Directions: Cut your foam sheets into triangles. Punch a hole in the top and bottom directly below. Thread a piece of straw through the holes to create the sail. Punch the straw into a slice of the pool noodle.

Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Rainbow colored rice (See instructions here.)
Spoons
Cups
Bowls
Funnel

My husband built this contraption out of leftover PVC pipe to hold funnels.

The Birthday Bin

Both of my kids have summer birthdays so this one will get used frequently in the next couple months.

Supplies Needed:
Play Sand (aff link)
Silicone Baking Cups
Birthday Candles
Number Candles
Sprinkles
Measuring Spoons & Cups

*By adding in the number candles your toddler can begin to learn number recognition.

Easter Egg Sensory Bin

Supplies Needed:
Easter Grass
Plastic Eggs
Small Plastic Alphabet letters (like the fridge magnets)
Tongs

*By adding in the tongs to grab the eggs your toddler work on their fine motor skills.

Dinosaur Excavation Bin

Supplies Needed:
Play Sand
Paint Brushes
Dinosaur figurines
Tongs