Tot Explorations: Valentine’s Sensory Tub

Kids love to explore and get their hands on everything! I have long wanted to make a sensory tub for my son, but I was a bit worried before now that the items would be too small (i.e., choking hazard). So… I have waited till now! I’ve come across delightful ideas on Pinterest that sparked my creativity!

Sensory tubs are easy to make. Just fill a bowl or storage container with a base item, such as dry pasta, beans, or rice. Then add all sorts of little items that kids would love to touch, feel, twirl, and dig their hands into!

This project can be as easy or difficult as you like to make it. I chose the more difficult route by dye-ing some pasta red, and making heart shaped crayons (more posts on those later!). Here’s what else I included in the Valentine’s Sensory Bin:

• red pipe cleaners of different lengths – he had me turn these into fishes for him!
• bendy straw cut in half – he loves the bendy part
• a pink rubber ducky – I always wondered what I would do with that!
• a red scoop
• red and plain pasta of various shapes
• heart-shaped red crayon – homemade!
• red foam hearts
• red pom-poms
• red slinky

My son sure is having fun with this tub for Valentine’s… and we’re talking about love and hearts while he plays! When Valentine’s is long over, I’ll just pack this up in a storage bag for next year!

Have you ever made a sensory tub? What items do you include?