There’s nothing quite like the joy and concentration on a child’s face when they get absorbed into a world of sensory play. My little girl has always loved sensory bins since being as young as one year old, and one of our all-time favorites is the Ocean Soap Sensory Bin.

It’s an easy and engaging ocean sensory play activity that provides endless fun while promoting fine motor skills and sensory exploration. Let me walk you through the steps to create this super fun sensory experience and share some insights into why sensory bins are so beneficial for young children.

Creating Your Ocean Soap Sensory Bin

To make this Ocean Soap Sensory Bin, you’ll need a few simple supplies: a high-speed blender, 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, blue food coloring, a medium sensory bin, and some spoons, scoops, tongs, and plastic sea animals.

Here’s how you can create this fun sensory play activity….

Ocean Soap Foam Sensory Bin

Dive into fun with our Ocean Soap Sensory Bin! This bubbly, blue sea foam activity is perfect for little hands to explore textures, scoop and pour, and engage in imaginative play with plastic sea animals. Easy to set up and endlessly entertaining, it's a splash hit for sensory play!

Materials

High-speed blender
2 cups water
1 tsp dish soap
1⁄2 cup cornstarch
Food coloring - blue
Sensory bin Spoons
Scoops
Tongs
Plastic sea animals

Tools

High-speed blender

Instructions

Gather all the supplies needed. Having everything ready beforehand makes the process smooth and enjoyable.
In a high-speed blender, add the water, dish soap, cornstarch, and a few drops of blue food coloring. The blue food coloring gives the foam a beautiful oceanic hue.
Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the mixture turns into fluffy soap foam. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect, bubbly consistency.
Pour the foamy mixture into the sensory bin. The foam will settle, creating an inviting ocean scene for your little one.
Add the scoops, tongs, spoons, and plastic ocean animals to the bin.
Now, it’s time for your child to dive in and explore!

Notes

*This sensory bin is a one-time play.
*Some cornstarch will fall to the bottom to create an “ocean floor.”

Sensory bins are more than just fun; they are fantastic tools for learning and development. With my little girl, I always loved how sensory play could transform her day. She would spend hours scooping, pouring, and pretending with the foam and sea animals, engaging her imagination and fine motor skills simultaneously.

The fluffy soap foam in this ocean themed activity is particularly captivating. It provides a unique texture that kids love to touch and manipulate, enhancing their tactile experiences. The soap foam sensory play is not only entertaining but also educational. Children learn about textures, cause and effect, and even early science concepts as they play.

Fun Ways to Play

There are countless ways to enjoy this foam sensory play. Your child can pretend to give the sea animals a bubble bath, use the tongs to catch and sort different animals, or simply enjoy the feeling of the bubble foam between their fingers. Adding a bit of liquid watercolors can make the foam even more vibrant and exciting, turning the sensory bin into a colorful ocean wonderland.

Another idea is to incorporate some ocean-themed games. For example, hide the sea animals in the foam and let your child use their fine motor skills to find and rescue them. This adds an element of surprise and challenge, making the sensory play even more engaging.

While your child is having a blast with the soap foam, they’re also developing crucial skills. Sensory play like this enhances fine motor skills as children use spoons, scoops, and tongs to manipulate the foam and animals. It also encourages language development as they describe what they’re doing and engage in imaginative play.

And another benefit is that sensory bins can be a soothing activity for toddlers. The repetitive motions of scooping and pouring can be calming, providing a sense of security and focus. This is especially helpful for little ones who need some quiet time amidst their busy day, to get grounded and deal with overwhelm.

As a parent, I love how easy this sensory activity is to set up and clean up. The ingredients are simple and likely already in your kitchen. Plus, since this sensory bin is a one-time play, there’s no need to worry about storing the foam for future use. Just rinse everything out and you’re done!

So as you can see, this Ocean Soap Sensory Bin is a fantastic way to combine fun and learning. It’s an easy, free activity that your kids will love, providing endless opportunities for creative play and development.

So, grab your supplies, blend up some fluffy soap foam, and dive into an ocean of sensory fun!

More Themed Sensory Bins

If your kids loved the Ocean Soap Sensory Bin, they’re sure to enjoy even more themed sensory bins! Explore a variety of creative and engaging sensory play ideas that will keep your little ones entertained and learning.

Fire Rescue Chickpeas Sensory Bin

Bee-Themed Sensory Bin for Preschoolers

More Ocean-Themed Activities

Looking for more ocean adventures to keep your kids entertained and learning? Dive into these additional ocean-themed activities that are sure to captivate their imaginations and spark a love for the sea. From crafts to games, there’s something for every little ocean explorer!

30 Best Ocean Animal Crafts For Kids

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with fellow parents and caregivers on Pinterest and other social media platforms. Let’s spread the joy of sensory play activities.

Creating Your Ocean Soap Sensory Bin