Silly Monster Sensory Bin for Preschool

Silly Monster Sensory Bin

Giving young learners plenty of opportunities to explore with their senses is an extremely important part of their overall development. This monster sensory bin engages kids right off the bat with it’s bright colors and creative items, so you won’t have trouble grabbing the attention of young ones. Once engaged, kids can explore in many different ways! And, if you’re looking for more learning opportunities that coordinate with the monster sensory bin, click on our Free Monster Pack for Preschool!

If you’re a preschool teacher, you likely know the burden of changing out sensory bin materials on a regular basis, just to keep learning fresh for kids. Whether you’re committed to doing it monthly, weekly, seasonally, or somewhere in between- we have got you! In the past decade or so, we have come up with so many themed sensory bin ideas, and they are too cute not to share!

Making the Silly Monster Sensory Bin

There are lots of ways to vary the materials in the silly monster bin, depending on what you have available to you. Probably the most important elements are the silly monster finger puppets, but feel free to adapt as necessary so you don’t break the bank!

The good news is that once you acquire all the materials for the monster sensory bin you can easily store it away for next year! I like to store themed bin materials in labeled bins or storage bags for easy access.

Materials You Will Need for the Silly Monster Sensory Bin:

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• Sensory bin
• White paper shred
• Monster finger puppets
• Eye balls 
• Plastic fangs/teeth
• Bright pom poms (small and large) 
• Springs
• Googly eyes (variety of sizes)
• Eyeball finger puppets
• Pipe cleaners

How to Put Together the Silly Monster Themed Sensory Bin

Step One:

Add the paper shred to the bottom of the bin. 

Teacher Tip: Use paper from the recycle bin or other scraps you have on hand.

Step Two:

Scatter the monster finger puppets, pom poms, and springs on top of the shredded paper.

Step Three:

Place the eyeballs, eyeball puppets, googly eyes, and plastic fangs throughout the bin, then finally add the pipe cleaners (chenille stems).

Sensory Bin Complete!

Now it’s time to sit back and watch your kiddos explore! If you have the time, it can be insightful and interesting to watch while kids explore. Observe which materials they do/don’t engage with, check for safety, and watch for problem-solving skills at work!

Check out these engaging sensory bin ideas:

• Dinosaur Pasta Sensory Bin
• Sand Foam Ocean Sensory Bin
• Bug Sensory Bin with Beans

Benefits of Playing in a Silly Monster Sensory Bin

Have you ever wondered why sensory play is important for toddlers and preschoolers? I can assure you all of these modern bin ideas certainly aren’t a trend, our babies have been exploring with their senses forever! We’ve just made it more purposeful and exciting as the years go by!

Here are some benefits provided by the silly monster sensory bin:

1. Manipulating small items like monster teeth and pom poms helps develop dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
2. Different textures and materials, like shredded paper and springs, engage multiple senses, promoting sensory processing and integration.
3. The monster-themed items inspire creativity and storytelling, allowing children to explore their imagination and develop language.
4. Describing the items and actions during play boosts vocabulary and communication skills.
5. Playing together with peers in the sensory bin fosters cooperation, sharing, and social skills.

How to Adapt the Monster Sensory Bin

Need to make some changes? Of course! We want you to take our idea and run with it. Make this work for your students, your children, and your unique situation. Here are some ideas for adapting the monster sensory bin:

• Assign Tasks: For kids that need some direction, ask them to find and sort items of the same color, or find all of the monster finger puppets, or some other task that will get them focused.
• Pose Questions: How many puppets/springs/eyeballs/teeth can you find? What color is…? Can you find something soft/hard/bumpy?
• Offer Tools: Give scoops, cups, spoons or tweezers for kids that have trouble grasping smaller items.
• Consider Height: Consider the height and depth of the sensory bin to make it accessible and comfortable for all. Children shouldn’t have to reach too high or too low to engage with the materials in the bin.

More Ways to Explore with Senses

I know the kids will love this monster themed sensory bin, but you’re probably already planning your next one! Let us help! Check out our Mini Princess bin, or the Spring Garden sensory bin idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are frequently asked questions about creating the silly monster sensory bin:

Silly Monster Themed Sensory Bin

Great job creating this cute, engaging sensory experience for your students! Let us know what items you substituted or added to make the bin work for you! Also, what other activities did you add to your monster theme?

Printable Monster Theme Activities for Kids:

• Uppercase/Lowercase Letter Recognition Worksheets
• 4 Monster Theme Counting to 10 Activities
• Monster Theme Preschool Activities

More Sensory Bins You’ll Love: