Easter Sensory Bin for Preschool

Spring is in the air, and Easter is the perfect time to bring a little extra magic into your sensory play setup! If you’re looking for a fun, affordable, and creative activity for young children, this Easter Sensory Bin with Painted Lima Beansis a must-try. It’s simple to make, visually appealing, and packed with opportunities for imaginative play and fine motor skill development.

What You’ll Need:

Dried lima beans (as many as you’d like to fill your bin)
Acrylic paint in Easter colors (think pastel pinks, purples, blues, yellows, and greens)
Large ziplock bags or a container for shaking
Wax paper or parchment paper for drying
A sensory bin or plastic tub
Optional: mini Easter eggs, small bunny or chick figurines, scoops, cups, plastic grass, or shredded paper

How to Make Painted Lima Beans:

Pour lima beans into a ziplock bag—do small batches for each color.
Add a squirt of acrylic paint (a little goes a long way).
Seal the bag and shake it until the beans are fully coated.
Pour the painted beans onto wax paper and spread them out to dry.
Let them dry completely—usually a few hours, or overnight for best results.
Repeat for as many colors as you’d like!

Putting It All Together:

Once the beans are dry, pour them into your sensory bin. Add in your Easter-themed extras like plastic eggs, mini baskets, scoops, and springtime figurines. I love these Peeps containers and jellybean eggs from Dollar Tree! Add tools like tweezers and scoopers for extra fine motor fun!

Benefits of This Activity:

Fine motor skills: Scooping, pouring, and sorting beans builds hand strength and coordination.
Sensory exploration: The texture of the beans combined with the visual appeal makes it a calming sensory experience.
Creative play: Children can pretend, build stories, and even sort by color or size.
Seasonal fun: It adds a festive touch to your classroom, home, or playroom.

Clean-Up Tip:

Store the painted beans in an airtight container to reuse year after year. They hold up surprisingly well and can be part of your springtime sensory rotation!

This Easter sensory bin is such a joyful, low-prep way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, this activity is sure to bring smiles and spark creativity. Let the kids dig in, explore, and enjoy some pastel-colored magic!

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