Bee Sensory Bin

This Bee Sensory Bin is so much fun for preschoolers. It is a great way for kids to work on their fine motor skills and use their imaginations!

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This bee sensory bin is such a fun idea for a spring or bug theme. Kids will have a blast exploring and playing with this easy to make sensory bin. It is a great learning activity to set up.

Need more fun sensory bin ideas? This coffee sensory bin, rainbow rice sensory bin, and lemonade sensory bin are some of our other favorites!

Jump to:

• 💐 A note about this activity
• 💛 Why you’ll love this sensory bin
• 🌻Benefits of using sensory bins
• 🐝 Supplies needed to make this sensory bin
• 🍯How to make and set up
• 🫘 Variations
• 🌺 Tips
• 📝 How to store your sensory bin
• ❓ Sensory Bin FAQs
• Bee Sensory Bin

💐 A note about this activity

Parental supervision is always required for sensory bins. This activity should only be given to children who no longer mouth things as the small pieces could be a choking hazard.

💛 Why you’ll love this sensory bin

This bee sensory bin is perfect for a bug or spring theme. It is also great if you have a bumblebee loving toddler or preschooler. It is very simple to make and the rice will last for a very long time if kept clean and dry.

This is also a great sensory bin to use with learning about a bee’s life cycle.

🌻Benefits of using sensory bins

Sensory bins encourage toddlers and preschoolers to develop and refine their fine motor skills. Sensory bins are great for developing imaginations and can also help children with their self-regulation.

🐝 Supplies needed to make this sensory bin

• Rice: You will need dry, uncooked rice.
• Vinegar: This is needed to help dye the rice.
• Yellow food coloring: I used yellow from this set of rainbow food coloring. You can also repurpose the yellow rice to a lemonade sensory bin once done!
• Plastic storage bag or dark colored bowls: You will need a plastic storage bag or a bowl that you don’t care if gets dye on it.
• Wax paper: To set the rice on to dry.
• Bees: I used these small bees from Amazon.
• Bug catching equipment
• Scoops and toys

You will also need an extra large food storage container, tray, or sensory table.

🍯How to make and set up

Printable instructions are below.

To make this bee sensory bin, begin by dying your rice yellow. I used 4 cups of rice for mine. Any where from 4 to 6 cups should work.

Add the desired amount of rice to a large plastic bag. Next, add one tablespoon of vinegar per cup of rice (I used 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 4 cups of rice). Add about 5 drops of yellow. I recommend starting with less then adding more, if needed.

Seal the bag and shake until the color is well coated.

Lay on a wax paper lined tray and let dry overnight.

Add the bees, scoops, and other toys and let your child play!

🫘 Variations

Not a fan of rice? You can use shredded paper, dyed pasta, or dyed beans for this sensory bin too.

🌺 Tips

• Contain the mess by putting a table cloth or fitted sheet down. We usually do our sensory bins on our porch then I use a large broom to sweep up any mess when my kids are done playing.

📝 How to store your sensory bin

Keep your sensory bin rice clean and dry and it will last for a year or more.

I use an extra large food storage container for my bins and just put the lid on when we rotate them. You can also transfer the rice and bees to a large plastic storage bag when done.

❓ Sensory Bin FAQs

Other Sensory Bins that you’ll love

If you tried this Bee Sensory Bin or any other activity or recipe on my site, please let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I would love to hear from you!