Let’s make a magical undersea world, where tiny hands dig into the depths of imagination and learning.
Sensory bins have long been a staple of childhood education, these themed sensory play ideas offer a playful blend of tactile discovery and cognitive development.
Our Under The Sea Chickpea Sensory Bin or ocean themed sensory tray gives so much fun within a simple play activity; it’s an immersive educational experience that sails little explorers across the vast ocean of sensory play.
Let us show you how to put together this fun ocean sensory bin for the kids to play with, and once you’ve prepared the base, this sensory bin can be used and reused over and over again.
Why Sensory Bins?
Sensory bins are a powerful tool in early childhood development. They encourage explorative play and stimulate the senses, creating pathways for complex learning processes.
Through touch, sight, and movement, children develop fine motor skills, practice problem-solving, and learn to engage with the world in a more profound way.
The Ocean Theme
Our ocean-themed sensory bin is inspired by the vivid colors and mystique of the ocean, bringing themes like marine life, mythical mermaids, and adventurous pirates into your little one’s playtime.
This sensory bin is not only a vibrant play space but also a springboard for educational topics such as marine biology, environmental awareness, and storytelling.
You can incorporate topics of your favorite ocean animals like sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, jellyfish and more. Or bring in mythical themes like pirates and mermaids.
You can also tie it into occasions like earth day, where talking about the environmental aspects of taking care of our seas and oceans is so important. It’s also a perfect theme for the Summer season, from June through August.
This sensory activity is fun for kids of all ages, but most perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, ages 2-5. It’s an excellent way for them to learn about colors, textures, and the basics of ecology.
Older children can also enjoy the sensory bin, using it as a backdrop for more complex imaginative scenarios and learning experiences.
Benefits and Learning Opportunities
The Under The Sea Ocean Sensory Bin provides countless learning opportunities. Some of the benefits of sensory play with this ocean themed bin are…
- Fine Motor Skills: Scooping, picking, and maneuvering chickpeas enhance hand-eye coordination.
- Color Recognition: Identifying and sorting colors of the chickpeas reinforce visual perception.
- Imaginative Play: Engaging with ocean-themed toys sparks creativity and narrative thought.
- Sensory Exploration: The varying textures of the materials stimulate tactile processing.
- Emotional Development: Sensory play can be incredibly calming and therapeutic for many children.
How to Put Together This Ocean Sensory Bin DIY
Setting up this ocean sensory bin for toddlers is a breeze, with everyday materials transforming into an oceanic playground. The base of this particular ocean sensory bin is dried colored chickpeas.
Dried Colored Chickpea Ocean Sensory Bin
How to put together a vibrant ocean themed sensory bin with colored dried chickpeas
Materials
- 2 16 0z dried chickpeas
- Acrylic paint - turquoise, purple, light green, and light blue 4 sandwich-size ziplock bags
- 1 cup measuring cup
- Wax paper
- Cooking sheet
Tools
- Cooking sheet / baking tray
- Measuring cup
Instructions
- Prepare your space with wax paper on a cooking sheet, and gather the rest of your supplies.
Get ready to scoop the chickpeas 
- Distribute the chickpeas evenly into the ziplock bags. (approx. 1 1⁄4 C per bag)
- Add a squirt of paint to each bag
and shake until chickpeas are fully coated. 
- Reapeat with all colors
and you're ready to dry them on the wax paper. 
- Spread the chickpeas out to dry for 3-4 hours, making sure they are laid out in a single layer.
- Once dry, transfer to your sensory bin and add any additional ocean-themed toys.
- Storage is simple – just use a large resealable ziplock bag.
Notes
Preparation Time:
Gathering materials: about 10 minutes
Preparing the workspace with wax paper and cooking sheet: 5 minutes
Active Time:
Separating chickpeas into bags: 5 minutes
Adding paint and shaking the bags: 10 minutes (about 2.5 minutes per bag)
Spreading out chickpeas to dry: 5 minutes
Drying Time (Extra Time):
Drying the chickpeas: about 3-4 hours (inactive time)
Total Time:
Prep and Active Time: about 30 minutes
Additional Inactive Drying Time: 3-4 hours
Note that the active time is hands-on time, whereas the drying time is passive; you don't need to be actively working on the project during this period. The drying time can vary based on the thickness of the paint layer and environmental conditions like humidity and air flow. After drying, the chickpeas can be transferred to the sensory bin, which would take an additional 5 minutes if you're adding other elements like toys or additional sensory items.
So, you can expect to spend about 30 minutes of active preparation and around 3-4 hours waiting for the chickpeas to dry completely before your sensory bin is ready for play.
One of the greatest aspects of the Under The Sea Chickpea Sensory Bin is its reusability. The materials are durable, and the chickpeas, once dried, can be stored and reused for endless adventures.
Whether your child is diving deep to find sunken treasure or creating a home for mermaids, this sensory bin can be brought out time and time again for continued exploration and fun.
Ocean Sensory Toys
Here are a few ocean sensory toys that we found that will work well within your ocean tuff tray or under the sea sensory bin.
Of course, if you already have under the sea or ocean themed toys at home, then it’s great to use and incorporate what you already have for your under the sea sensory play.
The Tide of Learning Never Recedes
Our Under The Sea Chickpea Sensory Bin is more than just a plaything; it’s a gateway to discovery and learning that can spark a lifetime love for the ocean and its wonders. By incorporating such an interactive and engaging activity into playtime, we provide our children with the tools to learn, explore, and grow, all while having a splash of fun! Set sail on this sensory adventure and watch your little one dive headfirst into a sea of learning and imagination.
More Ocean activities for Kids
There are so many under the sea sensory activities that you can put together easily at home.
If you enjoyed this ocean sensory bin, why not try some more of these blue ocean activities with the little ones, whether at home or in preschool.
- Ocean sensory bag
- Ocean sensory window
- Ocean Coloring
- Paper Plate Whale
- Watercolor Paper Bag Jellyfish Craft
- Shark Craft
- Easy Starfish Craft
More Sensory Bins
Need more Sensory bin ideas for kindergarten, or home? Try some of these
- Bee sensory bin
- Savannah Animal Sensory Bin
- Pre Writing Shapes Sensory Tray
- Cardboard and Rice Easter Egg Sensory Puzzle
- Quick and Easy Dyed and Scented Rice for Sensory Play
If you enjoyed this ocean sensory bin then please go ahead and share this blog post with friends, or pin to your Pinterest board.
By sharing this post, you inspire others to dive into sensory play, create magical memories, and learn alongside their children.
