Learn how to make a Water Bead Tunnels Sensory Bin for kids. This is a fun sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers, that will also teach them some fine motor skills and early STEM concepts.
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More Sensory Play Ideas to try
Sensory activities are always a hit with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Here are some more fun ideas for young children to play with.
- Rainbow Rice Recipe
- Shaving Cream Sensory Bin
- Giraffe Sensory Bag
- Glow Sticks Sensory Bottles
- Homemade Textured Finger Paints
For more ideas, take a look at these 60 Sensory Activities for Kids.
Materials Needed
- Water beads
- Cardboard tubes
- A large tub
- Sticky tape
- Sensory bin tools
How to make a Water Bead Tunnels Sensory Bin
Step 1. Pour the water beads into the tub.
You don’t need too many water beads for this sensory activity. I only had 2 bottles of water beads and it was more than enough for the kids to play with.
2. Attach the tunnels.
Use sticky tape to attach the cardboard tubes to the side of the plastic tub.
I discovered that the cardboard rolls don’t have to be very secure, because after 2 minutes my kids just removed them from the side of the tub anyway. They preferred holding the tube in one hand as they played.
3. Enjoy playing.
Drop the water beads through the tunnels or just enjoy scooping and pouring. There are so many different things to learn with this simple sensory play idea.
My kids loved filling up the tunnels with water beads, and then lifting up the tubes to see all of the water beads fall out of the bottom.
What you’re learning
Sensory Processing
Like with all sensory bins, this activity provides a lot of sensory input. The water beads feel wonderfully squishy and a little bit slimy. They’re a great option for sensory bins if your children don’t like anything that actually sticks to their hands.
Water beads also have a fun sound when you drop them into the container. Explore the different sounds they make as you pour them out of a cup from different heights.
Fine Motor Skills
Picking up and dropping the individual water beads is a wonderful way to strengthen fine motor skills. Kids will practice pincer grip, hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Even younger children who use their whole hand (a palmar grasp) to pick up the water beads will benefit from this activity.
STEM
Playing with tunnels and ramps is a great way to explore gravity. If you really want to emphasize the STEM component of this activity, experiment with the angles of the tunnels. Will a steeper angle make the water bead roll further?
We use tunnels and pipes to direct the flow of a moving substance. This is how the plumbing in our homes work. If you place the water beads in one end of the tunnel, they will only come out in one place, the other end. You can direct where you want the beads to roll by changing the orientation of the tube.
Count the water beads as you drop them. This is a great way to practice counting to 10 or 20 with your little ones.
Learning about colors and sorting is an early math concept for toddlers and preschoolers. If you decide to have many different colors of water beads, you can sort the colors into bowls.
Are you going to make a Water Bead Tunnels Sensory Bin for your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
