How to make a Sensory Table PLUS 7 Filler Activities!

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How to make a Sensory Table

1. Decide upon a table frame (wood, pvc, metal table frame)

2. Find cost effective sensory bins (see our suggestions)

3. Add sensory fillers (click here for great ideas!)

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How to make a DIY sensory table

You can create your very own DIY sensory table at home without paying the hefty price for one. This Montessori DIY sensory table supports over SEVEN sensory activities for kids; some of which are edible mediums to play in! Create your own DIY Sensory table with these steps. It is extremely cost effective, and it beats the pricing of those currently on the market. This project only cost us $29! Watch how we make the table and read to the end to find our recommended sensory filler options. The bonus sensory activities include the use of edible sand, ice carving, shaving cream and much more! Read each item to find the best solution for your children at home and students in the classroom.

Decide upon a table frame (wood, pvc, metal table frame)

Here is a sensory table made of wood

Here is a sensory table made of pvc

*Details of using a metal table frame are below: Keep reading

I give up and want to buy a sensory table for under $150 Bucks

Sensory Table under $150

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Thrifting for a Sensory Table Frame

No need to purchase a sensory table when you can thrift for an easier and cheaper solution. When you begin your search, look for low height coffee tables with a frame as a base. Metal framed tables are ideal as they have premade slots to enter a sensory container.

Having trouble finding a table frame?

You can also use a planter stand if you cannot find a table frame. From there drop a shallow bucket or planter inside of the planter tray to create a sensory table.

*For an overall simple solution, we recommend using a kiddie pool for sensory activities.  Set your little ones inside, pour in a box of cereal (or filler of your choice), Legos and toys, then let them play.  

Cost Effective Sensory Bins

Ice buckets used as sensory table buckets

Measure your frame openings and select bin sizes that are a perfect fit. You may even find that you already have a few bins at home that can be used. For this project, we went with Styrofoam ice buckets (coolers) purchased from the grocery story. These were chosen because they are inexpensive, durable and could be discarded if things got too messy. There are other cost effective sensory bins options. A few of these include Dollar store organization containers, hardware buckets, large platter Tupperware containers, and even shoe boxes! There are so many options to pick from.

Add Sensory Fillers

Now that you have an idea of how to DIY a sensory table for kids, let’s talk about Sensory Fillers!

For More Sensory Play ideas follow these Great Pinterest Boards.

Shaving Cream as a Sensory Filler

Shaving cream is on all time winner for sensory play. It smells refreshing, has a high sensory impact, wipes clean and can be used to practice letter writing on a flat surface as well. Use a kitchen toy set with pots and pans when playing in this medium. This allows little ones to create pies, and cakes with the shaving cream. As a bonus, you may mix in food coloring for a rainbow shaving cream painting activity. The best part is that a little bit goes a long way.

Water bead Sensory Play

Water sensory beads used as a sensory filler

Water beads are a classic sensory medium that is always interesting to kids.  Just two tablespoons of dry water beads make almost a gallon of play ready water beads. The best part is that they are multicolored and so fascinating to little learners! You can now have fun exploring with water beads at your new sensory table this year. For an edible option, water beads can be made with tapioca pears (Boba Pearls) just like those in your bubble tea. These can be made by purchasing tapioca pearls at your local Asian market. Boil the pearls, drain, then add food coloring to a cooled batch. Enjoy!

Dry Beans for sensory play

Dry Beans can be used for sensory play.

Dry beans are nominated best bang for your buck sensory filler! They aren’t messy like other fillers. They are easy to clean up and have a great sensory impact especially for the practice of scooping or using pincer grasp tools for the development of fine motor skills. Purchase multiple dry bean varieties and mix them up for a medley of color. They store well in a closed container for a very long time. For this reason, I keep them in a large platter sized Tupperware container for easy storage. Have fun with this one!

Sand & Edible Sensory play

Sand Sensory play is voted best Nature and Educational medium to play and teach with. Through Sand mediums kids learn about the ocean, ocean animals, seashells and the list goes on. A bag of beach like sand can easily be found at your local hardware store. Check in the garden section for ‘sandbox ready’ sand. Sand is an especially creative medium for little ones who live far from the beach but still want the benefit of building sandcastles. Go the extra mile to purchase seashells from your local craft store so you may create a beach themed sandbox. It doesn’t have to be summer. Just bring the tub of sand out in the garage or patio and enjoy sandcastle building all year long.

Now, for the edible sand solution- I’m sure you have the ingredients and tools right at home. Simply grab a blender and finely grind breakfast cereal to a gritty sand like texture. To go the extra mile, do a color sorting activity with colorful cereals first, then, grind each color group to create a rainbow of sand art to play with.

Cooked Spaghetti Sensory Play

Spaghetti can be purchased different colors or food coloring can be used to make a spaghetti rainbow.

A lasting favorite for many moms is the cooked spaghetti for sensory play. It is edible, has a high sensory impact of being cold, squishy, and additionally it has a great visual impact when adding food coloring.  This is the perfect sensory filler for brave and curious littles. Cook the spaghetti, drain, and let cool. Add a tablespoon of oil so the spaghetti does not dry and stick together. Add a few drops of food coloring right before playing. Kids will enjoy that they get to play in their food this time around.

Jell-O Sensory Play

We cannot forget the ever-loved adventures of the great Jell-O dig!  This is where small toys and Legos go to eventually be excavated by hungry and curious toddlers. Want to surprise your kids!?!? Break this activity out as a “surprise dessert”. After dinner, they get to dig out a few large Legos from the Jell-O pie, play, eat Jell-O, then off they go to the bath! It is a win-win!

Candy Molds for Ice-Play

Ice Molds are nominated for most adaptable thematic play. Since water can be frozen and transformed into any mold design for toy excavation/play this means that the possibilities are endless. Princess molds for Princess parties, Donut molds for Donut shop dramatic play, and Truck molds for construction parties. Let’s not forget the all-time favorited dinosaur egg excavation, where toy dinosaurs are placed in a balloon, then filled with water to create a frozen fossilized dinosaur. Get started now, and purchase candy molds online or at the craft store for letter molds, puzzle molds and more!

For the next level of ice sensory play, Fill the ice molds with food coloring, Kool-Aid, fake flowers, or fruit. Ice excavation is great for themed parties, and for making learning fun!

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Mix and Match

Be open to mixing two or three mediums for more intriguing sensory experimentation. Here are a few suggestions:

>Ice + sand + water

>Spaghetti + Jell-O

>Dry beans + Dry sand

>Shaving cream + ice

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