80+ Sensory Bin Play Ideas for the Ikea Flisat Table!

Sensory Play

This has been a post in the making, nearly 90 sensory bin play ideas for your Ikea Flisat table to try with you kids. Spanning a range of holidays, themes, and seasons it’s one giant post to reference back to time and time again!

We snagged our sensory table in September on a completely random day I popped into Ikea. I had settled on never finding one and went in for a completely different reason and there it was – i brought it home and water proofed it, shown here, and then started the daily play.

We already had a play table at home, and we live in a cozy cape style cottage and I was hesitant about having another play table in the house, but it was worth every penny- we play here every single day!

For reference my son is 3.5 years old. Please adjust play according to child’s age and always directly supervise. Below you’ll find our favorite ideas so far, have fun and give me a shout out on Instagram or Tik Tok @livethescottcottage if you give one of them a try!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Spring Funnel Play

This activity became an instant favorite. Here’s the tutorial on how i made it!

I used a $1 funnel 3 pack from the dollar tree, paper towel rolls, and cardboard to make our own pouring play.

DIY Dyed Rice Recipe is here.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Spring Fine Motor Flower Vase Ikea Flisat Insert

Have wilting flowers? Make this super easy posting board your little one will love!

Q loved poking the flowers in and picking them back out. It was great work on hand eye coordination and problem solving as all the holes were different sizes.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Plant-a-flower Sensory Bin

This was an instant favorite, all with dollar store items, here’s everything that’s included!

How fun are these dollar store flowers. I picked up a few bouquets and took the flowers off, placed the flowers in one bin and the leaves in another. Then i ground up some stale cereal and made dirt – he played here for an hour!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Spring Caterpillar Pom Pom Push Ikea Flisat Insert

This insert was so easy to make! Just painted on caterpillars and cut out some holes to push pom poms into! Count while playing and call out the colors they’re pushing through. Great for fine motor skills.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Rainbow Butterflies Sensory Play

Can’t go wrong with this rainbow pasta and these green chickpeas. Check out other ideas here for “grass” in your bins!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Buzzing Bee Hive Count Ikea Flisat Insert

Here’s how i made this hive. I turned it from an activity into a flisat insert!

I paired with air dry clay bees I made and Q loved it.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Easter Color Match

One of the easiest inserts to make with a $1 egg cup pack from the dollar store. Here’s how you make it.

I paired with easter grass from Target and eggs from the dollar store.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Over and Under the Garden Sensory Bin

We loved this one. See a closer look at the under side of this insert I made with grass and cardboard!

Felt vegetables were from Target!

Little gardening tools michaels.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Egg Carton Carrot Picking Fine Motor Sensory Play

All you need is an egg carton for this one! The carrots are DIY too using my air dry clay. The recipe is here.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Name Recognition Play

I did this with a St. Patrick’s Day twist – you can do with cups instead of the cauldrons!

Use packing tape to wipe dry erase letters clean. This is also a great counting activity.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

St. Patrick’s Day Fine Motor Truck Ikea Flisat Play

We snagged this truck at the dollar store and painted it together. I paired with these picks from hobby lobby and Q loved filling the truck with clovers.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Fill The Pot Sensory Play

One of the easiest inserts to make with $1 Cauldrons from the dollar store! We paired with pluffle and Q loved filling and pouring into the pots.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Easy St. Patrick’s Day DIY Sensory Play Insert

Here’s how i made this one! All items from dollar tree. Paired with my hand painted pasta and gold coins this is a perfect pouring activity.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids

Shamrock Pour Play

I see these decorations at the dollar store all the time and never know what to do with them so I decided to turn into an insert! Paired with vase filler from hobby lobby and pasta from my shop was so easy!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Coin Drop and Count Early Math Sensory Bin

This is going down as a favorite. I picked up this sign from the dollar store and used a very sharp box cutter to cut into it to make a slot. I colored a rainbow onto paper covering cardboard and made this coin drop.

With packing tape I would write on the amount of coins for Q to count into the pot of gold!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Green Sensory Play

Nothing beats a mixed media bin for Q – he always loves the textures and this to him became a whole “cooking: set up – mixed bins are perfect for imaginative play.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Taste Safe Beach Sensory Play

Ready for our daily go to? Here’s how we made it. Could you guess the foam is from chickpea liquid?

We like to pair this with out toob animals!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Shell Sensory Play

Play dough, sand and shells this just screams the summer ( and we cannot wait! ). More beach ideas here!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Hot Chocolate Sensory Idea

Okay this was another favorite.

We used merengues from Trader Joes, crushed up cookies, and my dyed pasta and these cups are from the dollar store. So easy and fun!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Dollar Store Sensory Bin

Just a constant reminder sensory play doesn’t have to be expensive! Grab some kitchen tools from the dollar store or your kitchen, set out with rice and have fun!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Valentine’s Day Fine Motor Truck Sensory Bin

Here’s another DIY insert using a dollar store truck we painted together. How fun is this road tape too!

Heart picks were from hobby lobby.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Dyed Rice Sensory Play

Rice was one of the first sensory materials we played with when Q was 17 months old. I remember taking to the internet and not knowing where to start. So after trial and error this is my favorite way.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Window Cling Board Ikea Flisat Insert

Cover a piece of cardboard in paper, then cover with packing tape. A fun new way to use window clings!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Cupcake Sensory Bin

Have your tried Pluffle? It’s the coolest texture! Here’s how this bin came together.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Foam Hearts Ikea Flisat Sensory Bin

How fun is this filler I found at Michaels! I tossed in some ducks, vase filler, rice, and that’s it! A set up like this took just a few minutes.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Frozen Sensory Play

We froze some pasta we had played with and Q had so much fun unfreezing it. This was wonderful messy play.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Taste Safe Water Beads Sensory Bin

These will always go down as a win in our house. We haven’t used real water beads since! I got a bit tired of chasing them all over the house!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Dyed Chickpeas Sensory Bin

Here’s how you dye them. Quickly use cookie cutters to make a design and have fun!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Salt Dough Loose Parts

We love salt dough! The pieces are always super sturdy and we can paint them together.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Pasta & Play Dough Sensory Play

This was my valentine’s day pasta kit from my etsy shop. One of Q’s favorite ways to play with pasta is sticking it into play dough.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Taste Safe Construction Site Sensory Bin

Here’s an easy one! Just grind up some cereal and leave some whole. Q played with this one for days!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Frozen Snow Play Sensory Bin

My mom hack is freeze everything! Done with play? Add water and freeze into something fun! We love baking moulds.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Scratch Off Letter Sensory Play

I was excited to find scratch off stickers at the dollar store! I used them in this learning through play insert I made.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Ice Cream Play Dough Sensory Bin

This recipe i created is my favorite ever. A must try!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Necklace Making Sensory Bin

Hand painted pasta and string make for the most fun fine motor play!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Red Mixed Media Sensory Bin

Have your little one make this with you adding any materials they’d like!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Younger Toddler Sensory Bin

Have a younger toddler? My favorite bin filler is cut up pool noodles.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Painted Pasta Sensory Bin

It’s no secret how much we love including pasta in play. Here’s how you can dye it yourself.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Love Ikea Flisat Insert

Adorable felt envelopes and an easy insert? That simple!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Petal Rice Sensory Bin

One of my favorite ways to use wilting flowers is to turn it into petal rice. Here’s how to make it.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Pirate Play Sensory Bin

Does your little one love pirates? We do pirate play for every theme. This was white sand on one side and blue pasta from my shop on the other.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Soup Sensory Bin

Q could make soup every single day.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Corn Kernels Sensory Bin

Another easy recipe to make your own filler!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Matching Ikea Flisat Insert

Q loves puzzles and here’s how to make your own with a gift bag.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Party Play Sensory Bin

They’ll love this one, trust me!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Hanukkah Sensory Bin

Pasta and loose parts make for such fun open ended play.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Fine Motor Christmas Tree Ikea Flisat Insert

Snagged bulb necklaces at dollar store and made them into a fine motor activity!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Decorate A Tree Ikea Flisat Insert

We love loose parts and pluffle, paired with a tree painted onto cardboard for easy christmas sensory play.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Chickpea Trees Sensory Play

Chickpeas are one of Qs favorite sensory fillers – they’re something so fun about the texture of them!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Pasta Light Patterns Sensory Bin

I dyed this rainbow pasta and we practiced patterns by sticking into play dough.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Christmas Chickpeas Sensory Bin

  • painted chickpeas
  • pasta
  • scoops
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Light Bulb Fill Sensory Bin

These bulbs from the dollar store were a hit all season long.

  • painted pasta
  • large bulbs
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Snowy World Sensory Bin

We love small world play around here!

  • painted pasta
  • small world figures
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Christmas Soup Sensory Bin

A classic and it smells so good!

  • oranges
  • cranberries
  • bubbling botanicals
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Beans Sensory Bin

  • various beans
  • various bowls
  • candy cane scoops
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Christmas Soup Sensory Bin

Use dyed rice to color the water!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Winter Play Sensory Bin

Easy as

  • dyed chickpeas
  • dyed pasta
  • wood loose parts from the dollar store
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

DIY Snow Sensory Bin

This is my snow recipe! such a fun way to make it and it’s taste safe.

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Counting Ikea Flisat Insert

Loose parts and cardboard, that easy!

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Pumpkin Science Sensory Bin

Cut open some pumpkins and add baking soda and have your little one pour in vinegar.

Science kit

Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Apple Tree Sensory Bin

  • dyed pasta
  • cardboard & egg carton to make the tree
  • counting coins
Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids Ikea Flisat

Fine Motor Tree Ikea Flisat Insert

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