Winter Sensory Bins

Celebrate winter with a sensory box using one of these many elements. 

White rice makes a great filler for a winter sensory bin.  The Iowa farmers wife also uses glittery snowflakes and plastic penguins and snowmen.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.theiowafarmerswife.com/2012/02/winter-sensory-bin.html

Fake snow is the base for this winter sensory bin.  Rubber boots and elf shoes also adds pompoms and foam snowflakes.

Get the instructions here:
http://rubberbootsandelfshoes.blogspot.com/2013/01/winter-sensory-bin.html

Suzy home schooler uses grated soap for her version.  She also adds a spoon and white beans for scooping fun.

Get the instructions here:
http://suzyhomeschooler.com/winter-sensory-bin/

Hollys art corner uses snow dough.  She then adds small foam penguins and snowflakes and pretty marbles along with measuring tools.

Get the instructions here:
http://hollysartcorner.blogspot.com/2013/01/toddler-sensory-activtiy-winter-sensory.html

Teaching my blessings uses cotton balls and Styrofoam balls along with winter words.

Get the instructions here:
http://teachingmyblessings.blogspot.com/2012/01/winter-sensory-bin.html

Childhood beckons uses cotton batting and lots of plastic winter accessories for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.childhoodbeckons.com/2010/12/winter-sensory-box.html

1 plus 1 plus 1 equals 1 uses packing peanuts and lots of plastic penguins and snowflakes.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2011/01/winter-sensoryimagination-bin/

Two little seeds uses polystyrene balls, lots of spoons, beads and a common theme, penguins.

Get the instructions here:
http://twolittleseeds.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-sensory-box.html

Playing house in Maryland uses lots of stuffed penguins, measuring cups, baby pine cones, and beads.

Get the instructions here:
http://playinghouseinmaryland.blogspot.com/2011/02/january-sensory-bins.html

How we learn at home uses salt and pom poms for her version.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.howwelearnathome.com/2013/01/winter-wonderland-sensory-bin.html

Make snowmen from ping pong balls.  Katherine maries adds shredded blue paper to cushion the snowmen parts.

Get the instructions here:
http://katherinemaries.com/blog/archives/11089

Eskimo Play Date

Pay homage to the Eskimos with this fun winter themed play date.  

A paper plate and cotton balls and crayons or markers turn into a fun Eskimo face to start off this Eskimo play date.

Get the instructions here:
http://kiboomukidssongs.com/easy-winter-eskimo-craft/

Next read the classic tale about an Eskimo child testing the limits of her independence, and a mother who reassuringly proves that a parents love is unconditional and everlasting is a perfect first book for toddlers.  Available at Amazon or check it out from your local library.

Next make fun fruit Popsicle using colorful fruit.

Get the instructions here:
http://favim.com/image/37830/

Then cardboard takes on winter with mr. printables' free diy Eskimo snow scene.  Complete with all your favorite arctic animals including a moose, dog sled, polar bear,deer and sled dogs.  He even provides snow topped pine trees to complete this chilly ensemble.

Good for ages 10 and up.

Get the template here:
http://www.mrprintables.com/peg-dolls-winter-wonderland.html

Winter Cardboard Castle

 

Cardboard is cut into a castle shape, glittered for decoration and painted with a snow topped mountain background.  Hello wonderful also adds some snowy white trees and peg dolls.

Good for ages 9 and up.

 Get the instructions here:

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/MAKE-AN-EASY-WINTER-CARDBOARD-CASTLE

The imagination tree makes a three dimensional version.

Get the instructions here:

http://theimaginationtree.com/2011/05/diy-castle-story-box.html

Winter Tree Craft

Meet the dubiens takes tape and makes a tree and then paints the background in pretty blues.  When the paint dries she removes the tape for a pretty tree silhoutte.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2011/01/winter-tree-silhouette.html

Inner child fun uses more background colors.

Get the instructions here:
http://innerchildfun.com/2009/11/stunning-winter-tree-silhouette.html

Cotton Ball Snowfall

David galbraith shares a simulated snow fall using cotton balls and thread that he hangs from the ceiling. 

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/galbraith/3080127707/

How to Make Snow Dough

The imagination tree shares a winter dough recipe.  All you need is flour and vegetable oil.  She adds glitter for that winter wonderland sparkle of freshly fallen fluffy white snow.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/11/snow-dough-recipe-for-winter-sensory.html

 

Inspired by family mag puts the snow dough into packages making snowmen faces and gives them out as favors and presents.

Get the instructions here:

http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2012/12/18/christmas-party-favors-diy-snow-dough/

Crayon box chronicles uses the snow dough to make an elaborate sensory bin complete with Eskimos, reindeer, rabbits, tunnels, sleds, and even a dolphin pool.

Get the instructions here:
http://crayonboxchronicles.com/2013/08/05/snow-dough-sensory-bin-the-arctic-circle/

Winter Dream Bottle

Artsy ants show how to turn a bottle into a magic using glitter, lace, sequins and other pretty objects.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://artsyants.blogspot.de/2011/11/make-magic-bottle-tutorial.html

Stryofoam Igloo

Zakka life posted a template for how to create an igloo out of foam packaging. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2012/11/kid-craft-packing-peanut-igloo.html

Borax Snowball Ornaments

Modern parent messy kids turns pipe cleaners and borax into "snowballs."  These could make interesting ornaments as well.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2013/01/make-it-pretty-winter-snow-balls.html

Frozen Bubbles

Science made fun shares how to make frozen bubbles using regular bubble solution.  Make sure the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  Then blow bubbles and catch them on the wand.  The bubble will crystallize. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://sciencemadefun.net/blog/?p=348

Twitchetts adds food coloring to the bubble solution to make colored bubbles.

Get the instructions here:
http://twitchetts.blogspot.com/2015/02/frozen-colored-bubbles.html

Paper Card Snow Globes

Giddy giddy has a wonderfully cute idea making snow globe post cards.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://blog.giddygiddy.com/giddygiddy/2010/01/diy-snow-globe-postcards.html

Glue Snowmen

Crafts for all seasons has a festive tutorial for how turn glue and scrap paper into cute snowmen. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/snowman-glue-craft.html