Easy Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin for Kids

The holiday season (or hot cocoa season as I like to call it) is here and it’s time for the kids to have fun with some Winter themed sensory play ideas. This Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin is a great activity for toddlers and preschoolers. They’ll learn some sensory integration, math and more, all while they play.

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Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

More Fun Winter Themed Sensory Bin Ideas

If you want to create a classroom filled with winter wonder, then try some of these other seasonal sensory play ideas. Kids of all ages will love exploring these fun activities.

For more ideas, take a look at these 25 Winter Sensory Activities.

Materials Needed

Dried Chickpeas
Brown food coloring
Ziplock Bag
Vinegar
A large tub
Candy Canes
Cotton balls
Mug
Sensory Bin Tools

How to Make a Hot Chocolate Sensory Bin

1. Pour the chickpeas into a large tub

I wanted to make my chickpeas a darker, more chocolatey brown. So before I assembled the hot cocoa sensory bin I dyed the chickpeas using brown food coloring. I used the exact same method as I use to make rainbow rice, and they were dried and ready to play with within half an hour.

However this step is optional, you can always use the chickpeas as is and don’t need to change the color at all if you don’t want to.

2. Add in a mug and cotton wool

I used cotton balls to represent the mini marshmallows. However you could also use white pom poms or actual marshmallows if you prefer.

3. Add some candy canes

These particular candy canes were made from pipe cleaners and weren’t edible. I chose them because I already had them in my cupboard. If you want to make this sensory bin 100% taste safe, you can. Just use real candy canes and marshmallows for your sensory bin.

While the chickpeas are already taste safe, they do still pose a choking hazard, so please supervise young children at all times.

4. Enjoy Playing

Now it’s time to gather up your spoons, bowls and other sensory kit tools and enjoy playing.

Different Ways to Play

1. Make a cup of hot chocolate

Of course the first thing we did was make our own cup of hot cocoa. This was a great way to engage in imaginative play and help develop their language skills at the same time.

2. Scoop and pour

Using the mug to scoop up the chickpeas and pour them back into the container was a huge hit. My little girl loved the sound the chickpeas made as they fell back into the tub. Focusing on the noise lets us explore a little bit of extra sensory input, instead of just the different textures of this sensory experience.

Additionally, scooping and pouring a fantastic way to help little hands with their fine motor skill development.

3. Sorting and grouping

Sorting the candy canes and pretend marshmallows into small groups is a fun activity if you want to explore some basic math concepts. Counting and sorting is a great way to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to some simple math this winter season.

4. Messy Play

Finally, my little girl just had fun covering her feet in the chickpeas. Letting curious kids explore the sensory filler with their feet is so much fun, and can add a new twist on a regular sensory activity.