Easy Ocean Sensory Bin with Soap Foam for Kids

I was looking through pictures on my phone the other day and came across photos of my oldest kids, splashing around at the ocean. Then I realized we haven’t been back to the ocean since my youngest son was born. He’s 3. Instant mom guilt. How have I never taken my youngest baby to build sand castles and jump in the salty sea?! Well… looks like we are heading to the beach this summer.

While we count down the months until July, I can prepare him for all the wonder and excitement of the ocean (minus the sharks). The Soapy Ocean Sensory Bin is perfect for introducing my little guy to the ocean and what creatures he may come across. Plus, what kid doesn’t love sensory bins and using their hands to learn?! With this sensory bin we will skip the sand in our swimsuits this time!

two photos of a child playing with an ocean sensory bin full of foamy soap, scoops, & plastic ocean animal toys.

all the supplies to make an ocean sensory bin are sitting out on a counter.

overhead image of ingredients to make soap foam inside a blender.

overhead shot of light blue soap foam inside a blender.

a finished ocean sensory bin is on a counter next to scoops & ocean animal toys.

up close image of a soapy child's hand holding a plastic shark toy in front of an ocean sensory bin.

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool

Kindergarten

Supply List
Coordinating Activities

Materials for the Ocean Soap Sensory Bin:

High-speed blender
2 C water
1 tsp dish soap
1⁄2 C cornstarch
Food coloring -blue
Medium sensory bin
Spoons
Scoops
Tongs
Plastic sea animals

The Soap Foam Ocean Sensory Bin

I may not always be a Pinterest-worthy mom, but let me tell you that this sensory bin is not only easy to make, but inexpensive too. Easy and cheap, two wonderful words every parent and teacher loves. And as a mom of 3 boys, we always have soap around the house. The Soap Foam Ocean Sensory Bin also fits perfectly with our other amazing sensory bin ideas.

But wait… I don’t know the first thing about making sensory bins. It’s ok, we got you. Whether you use rice, beans, soap, or slime, you can find the perfect material that will go with your theme and entertain your children. Check out some other non-food items used for making sensory bins.

Still Need More Ideas for Sensory Bins:

What’s So Great About Sensory Bins?

There are so many reasons why sensory bins can be found (and are sometimes mandatory) in early childhood classrooms. We’ve listed a few examples for you, and you can also read this article about the benefits of sensory bins for further helpful information!

Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills are crucial for all children. These skills focus on the small muscles within the hands and fingers that help us tie our shoes and cut our meat with a knife. Sensory bins are great for pinching, squeezing, tweezing, and scooping.

Language Development: This is a great time for us as adults to ask questions and model language skills with our children. Describe how the soapy bubbles feels to you. Tell your child what the animals and plants are that can be found in the ocean. Ask open-ended questions like; “What animals could not live in the water?”. “What other things could you do at the beach?” I use this opportunity to model language by telling my children about my experiences as a child at the ocean. We talk about the boardwalk, the salt and vinegar fries, the salty breeze, and the stinging sunburn after.

Social Skills: This sensory bin can be a great activity for an individual child or a smaller group of children. In a small group, children must learn to take turns with the ocean animals and shovel and practice decision making with their peers. It’s not easy for most young children to share something they really want, but it’s important to provide opportunities to practice.

Tell Me More About Using the Ocean Sensory Bin!

While it’s super important for fine motor, social skills, and language development, sensory bins can also be used to calm an overstimulated child. Some of my students who have auditory overload in busy classrooms feel calmer when dipping their hands into a soothing sensory bin. Whether it’s sudsy bubbles or crunchy rice, the texture can help relieve some of their stress.

Materials You Will Need for the Foamy Ocean Sensory Bin:

High-speed blender
2 C water
1 tsp dish soap
1⁄2 C cornstarch
Food coloring -blue
Medium sensory bin
Spoons
Scoops
Tongs
Plastic sea animals

easy soap foam ocean sensory bin for kids 1

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Ocean Foam Sensory Bin:

Step One:

In a high-speed blender add water, dish soap, cornstarch, and a few drops of food
coloring.

easy soap foam ocean sensory bin for kids 2

Step Two:

Blend on high for 1-2 minutes.

easy soap foam ocean sensory bin for kids 3

Step Three:

Pour the foamy mixture into the sensory bin. Add the scoops, tongs, spoons, and plastic
sea animals. Some cornstarch will float to the bottom of the bin creating an ‘ocean floor’.

Keep in mind that the sensory bin is only good for a day.

easy soap foam ocean sensory bin for kids 5

Fantastic! Now What Can We Do?

Now that you’ve put together your soapy bubbles ocean sensory bin, you can add in different utensils for play. Try out an eyedropper, strainer, tweezers, and small pail. This activity can be a great way to keep your child’s boredom at bay while you get some work done. Or if you prefer to play along, this can be a great opportunity to bank some quality time with your kiddo.

Ways to Adapt the Foamy Ocean Sensory Bin:

Add different types of animals into the ocean sensory bin to let children sort and classify. Which animals live in the ocean and which animals live in the farm? You can take it a step further and graph the number of animals from the farm vs. the ocean.
Practice counting the number of animals that can be scooped out of the sensory bin. What most the most number of animals scooped? What was the least amount scooped?
Have students identify the first letter of each animal they find. What letter does fish start with? What sound does it make? Can you think of other words that start with the letter ‘f’?

More Ways to Explore the Ocean Blue…

Try out a different medium with the Ocean Sensory Bin with Sand Foam.
How about using a bottle to create a DIY Ocean Animal Sensory Bottle.
I know you will be able to find so many great ocean ideas with the Ocean Lesson Plans for Preschoolers.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are frequently asked questions about the foamy ocean sensory bin…

How long can I keep the sensory bin for?

As much as I’d love to tell you to keep this for weeks, the bin is really only good for one time use. But not to worry. It’s so easy to make, you can make it again and again.

What age is best for sensory bins?

Sensory bins can be perfect for many different ages. We use sensory bins primarily in our 3 to 5 year old classrooms. However, older students may find these calming and beneficial. Be aware that children younger than three may try to put the bubbles in their mouths.

What else can I put in sensory bins?

There are so many options for sensory bins. You can use water, sand, rice, small stones, dried oats, crushed cereal, or even slime. It all depends on what you and your child prefers.