Need a fun fall sensory bin idea? Try this Easy Pumpkin Washing Sensory Bin for Toddlers and Preschoolers!
This super easy DIY pumpkin sensory bin is perfect for a fall unit and of course, a fun way to engage little ones in play!
You’ll love how seriously easy this idea is. It only requires a few items and kids absolutely love it.
Water sensory play has always been my go-to in the preschool and toddler years when I needed a few minutes to make a meal or fill a space of time in our schedule.
If you aren’t familiar with sensory play you might be wondering….
What is a Sensory Bin?
A Sensory Bin is a container filled with items that encourage curiosity and imaginative play and activate the senses.
Many sensory bins have a theme like farm, fall, dinosaur, etc.
A sensory bin has a sensory filler that children can touch, scoop, or pour. Ideas for sensory bin fillers include beans, dry corn, water, sand, uncooked pasta or rice. Really the possibilities are endless!
You can find lots of ideas for creating sensory bins for kids here.
Benefits of Sensory Play
Sensory play has a lot of benefits for young children according to Good Start Learning, including
- Building nerve connections in the brain
- Developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Encouraging language development
- Building ‘scientific thinking’
- Promoting problem solving
As you can see, there’s lots of reasons to do sensory activities. And of course, they are so much fun and a great way to engage children for long periods of time!
Supplies to make a Pumpkin Washing Sensory Bin
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You will need the following items to make this pumpkin theme sensory bin:
- Sensory bin or box – a plastic container that can hold water or a water table
- Mini Pumpkins – we used white pumpkins a friend had given us from her garden.
- Mini Scrub Brushes
- Sponges
- Dish Detergent (we used Palmolive Liquid Dish detergent)
- Water
- Beach Towel (Optional)
Most of these items can be found at your local grocery store or craft store, but I’ve also linked to some items on Amazon for your convenience.
Once you have your supplies it’s time to set up the pumpkin washing station!
How to make a Pumpkin Washing Sensory Bin
Alright! Let’s get starting making our pumpkin sensory bin!
First, if you aren’t playing outside, you might want to lay a beach towel down on the floor where the kids will be playing.
I recommend doing your sensory bin either on a deck, porch, or on a tiled floor in case of spills…because inevitably it happens!
Next, take your sensory bin and partially fill it with water.
I used warm water, as it will cool over time.
Next, add your liquid dish detergent. I used about a teaspoon of Palmolive dish soap. Then, swirl the water around to create bubbles. Add more soap if needed.
Now it’s time to add your small pumpkins, sponges, and scrubbers to your soapy water.
My little ones enjoyed scrubbing the pumpkins, squeezing out the sponges, and general water play.
And that’s it! A super easy pumpkin activity for preschoolers!
I was surprised at how long my kids were engaged by this fall activity.
A bin of water always seems to engage them for a long time, but this was an extra fun sensory experience because they got to work with some items that they don’t normally get to use.
Even my older kids asked if they could take a turn with this fun activity.
It’s a great activity to stick in your back pocket for a rainy day or a simple fun idea for fall.
More Fall Sensory Activities for Kids
Looking for more sensory play ideas for the fall season?
Be sure to check out this Simple Fall Sensory Bin. Full of fall colors and simple pieces, this sensory table is sure to inspire creativity.
Get ready for Apple Season with this Apple Pie Sensory Bin. Kids will love rolling the pretend dough, stirring, and creating their own little mini apple pies with this sensory play idea.
There’s an adorable Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin here. Kids of all ages will enjoy serving up cups of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows. Such a great idea for a simple sensory bin!
This Halloween themed sensory bin is a great addition to your fall activities. Make Monster Stew with a collection of simple items that will engage your little one in plenty of pretend play.
You can find a big list of sensory play activities here. Find fun sensory activity ideas for every season!
Fall Crafts for Kids
Looking for the perfect fall craft for your classroom? Here’s some fun ideas!
Make Simple Paper Plate Pumpkin Crafts with this easy tutorial. Kids will love creating their own pumpkin by stamping with a smaller pumpkin dipped in paint! So cute!
This Marble Paint Pumpkin Idea is super simple with the free template. Such a fun addition to your pumpkin lesson plans.
Don’t miss this adorable Paper Squirrel Craft. Such a cute and easy craft for preschoolers! The tail and acorn move with the help of a paper fastener.
Want to save this pumpkin washing idea for later?
Pin the image below of this easy sensory activity to your Sensory Bin Ideas board on Pinterest.
