Sensory Bins: FALL

🍂 Fall-Themed Sensory Bin Ideas to Support Sensory Play & Development

Fall is a magical season full of colors, textures, and scents—making it the perfect time to refresh your child’s sensory play with seasonal activities! Sensory bins are a simple, effective way to engage your child’s senses while supporting skills like fine motor coordination, language, self-regulation, and exploration.

At Milestones Therapy and Wellness, we love incorporating seasonal themes into our pediatric occupational therapy sessions. Below, we’re sharing our favorite Fall-themed sensory bin ideas that you can easily recreate at home or in the classroom.

🧠 Why Sensory Bins Work

Sensory bins give kids the chance to:

• Explore textures, colors, and sounds

• Practice scooping, pouring, and grasping

• Develop hand-eye coordination and bilateral skills

• Calm their bodies and regulate their emotions through tactile play

• Encourage pretend play, storytelling, and language skills

Best of all, they’re easy to customize based on your child’s age, interests, and sensory preferences.

🍁 1. Pumpkin Patch Bin

Filler: Dried black beans or green split peas
Items to Add:

• Mini plastic pumpkins or felt pumpkins

• Scoops, tongs, and small containers

• Small scarecrow or garden tools for pretend play
  Skill Focus: Fine motor (scooping, tong use), pretend play, color recognition

🧡 OT Tip: Use tongs to “pick” the pumpkins—great for hand strengthening!

🌽 2. Corn Kernel Bin

Filler: Dried corn kernels or popcorn (uncooked)
Items to Add:

• Measuring cups and funnels

• Toy tractors or farm animals

• Small hay bales or baskets
  Skill Focus: Pouring, cause and effect, bilateral coordination, imaginative play

⚠️ Note: Always supervise with small items that can be a choking hazard.

🍎 3. Apple Orchard Bin

Filler: Oats, dyed rice (red/green), or cotton balls
Items to Add:

• Felt apples or foam apple cutouts

• Mini baskets for sorting

• Number cards or letter tiles
  Skill Focus: Counting, sorting, matching, fine motor

💡 Variation: Add cinnamon sticks or apple pie spice for a fall scent!

🍂 4. Autumn Leaves Texture Bin

Filler: Fabric leaves, real dried leaves, or shredded paper
Items to Add:

• Pinecones, acorns, sticks

• Small rake or spoon

• Hidden objects to find and match
  Skill Focus: Tactile exploration, problem-solving, language development

👃 Bonus: Add a drop of clove or pumpkin spice oil for smell-safe play (if your child tolerates scents).

🎃 5. Spooky Halloween Bin (Gentle Version)

Filler: Black and orange rice or chickpeas
Items to Add:

• Mini pumpkins, toy spiders, soft eyeballs

• Flashlight or glow-in-the-dark items

• Scoops, tweezers, or sorting trays
  Skill Focus: Sorting by color/shape, visual scanning, sensory regulation

🕯 Modify for Sensory Needs: Keep it cozy and calm with warm lighting and low stimulation if your child is sensitive to spooky themes.

🛠 Tips for Creating a Successful Sensory Bin

• Start simple: Stick to just one filler and a few themed items

• Use a tray or shallow bin to keep materials contained

• Offer tools like scoops, tweezers, or cups to build motor skills

• Model play if your child seems unsure at first

• Allow choice: Let your child pick what they want to explore

💬 When to Use Sensory Bins

• Before transitions or homework to help with regulation

• As a calming activity after school

• During playdates or therapy for social interaction

• On rainy fall days for cozy indoor play

👩‍⚕️ Need More Personalized Ideas?

Our team at Milestones Therapy and Wellness is here to help tailor sensory play activities that support your child’s unique developmental goals. Whether your child seeks more input or is easily overwhelmed, we’ll help you find the right tools for fun, calming, and therapeutic play.

🍂 Fall is the perfect time to play, learn, and grow through the senses! Share this post with a parent or teacher who loves hands-on learning—and tag us if you try one of these bins at home!