Digging in the veggie patch with kids isn’t always possible, after all, you have to wait for the food to grow before you can pick it. This Vegetable Garden Sensory Bin is a fantastic alternative. Toddlers and preschoolers can dig up and cook these vegetables again and again.
Sensory play ideas is the number 1 trick I used when trying to get my kids to eat vegetables. It lets them get used to new textures without the pressure of tasting it before they’re ready. If you’re new to sensory play and are wondering what sensory play is, don’t forget to read about the 8 amazing benefits that sensory play has for kids.
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More Healthy Eating Play Ideas for Kids
Here are some more nutrition themed play activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Learn all about healthy eating with these fun ideas.
- Fruit Stamp Art for Kids
- Healthy Eating Activity pack – Free Printable
- Vegetable Lacing Cards – Free Printable
- Veggie Building
- Free Fruit Matching Game
- …
For more ideas, check out these 16 Healthy Eating Activities for Kids
Materials Needed
- A large tub
- 1 – 2 pounds of dried black beans
- Toy vegetable toys
- Sensory bin tools, such as spoons, bowls, cups or funnels.
How to Make a Vegetable Garden Sensory Bin
Step 1. Fill the large tub with the dried black beans.
I chose black beans because I didn’t want to wash my wooden vegetable toys. However, if you’re using plastic toys and don’t find washing them, you can also try taste-safe mud, brown cloud dough (like in this construction sensory bin), or anything else you have on hand.
2. Hide the vegetables underneath the beans.
3. Set out the sensory bin tools.
I also added toy kitchen pots to this sensory bin, because I thought it was inevitable that the vegetables we played with would end up being “cooked”.
4. Enjoy playing.
Are you going to try this Vegetable Garden Sensory Bin with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later
