Forest Sensory Bin

Toy Racoon in a pile of moss and stickss. Text reads Forest sensory bin

Nature-inspired play activities can spark creativity and help kids connect with the world around them. A forest sensory bin is a perfect way to bring the outdoors in. In this sensory bin children get a hands-on opportunity to explore textures, smells, and engage in imaginative play. With simple materials and a little creativity, you can create a mini forest ecosystem that encourages learning through play. Find more forest school activities to do at home here.

In this blog post, I’ll guide you through setting up a forest sensory bin and share some tips and suggestions for interactive, nature-inspired fun!

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Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals. Hand coming in from the left to play with the toys

Forest sensory bin

This forest sensory bin is great for imaginative learning through play for your children. It’s perfect for children that enjoy small world play as they will have so much fun playing with the forest animals in this sensory bin.

Sensory bins are great for fine motor skills, sensory stimulation and tactile exploration. This woodland sensory bin is great if you enjoy using nature in your play like we do. It includes items that you can find in nature for free and a few toys and other elements that you may already have.

Deer toy under a teepee of sticks

Materials needed for a forest sensory bin

You can almost have two different activities from this one sensory bin as you will need to go on a walk in nature (possibly a woodland or forest) to find the natural elements for this sensory bin. You might choose to take your children with you to collect the items from nature in which case you can ask them to find thing that will work in setting up a miniature woodland at home.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals.

You might prefer to collect the items yourself and surprise them with the fully set up sensory bin. In which case you will need to prepare a few thing in advance such as finding some miniature forest animals. Perhaps you already have some woodland toys at home or you can find sets of small ones easily online. I’ve included links to some woodland animal figures below.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy deer

I’ve also included a link for some cute little mushrooms that you might like to purchase. Alternatively you could make your own mushrooms from felt if you are creative. It’s important to only use fake mushrooms, so as not to encourage kids to pick or interact with strange mushrooms in the wild. This is a great time to teach kids about the dangers of some mushrooms that grow in the wild.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms

How to set up a forest animal sensory bin

Start over almost the entire bottom of the sensory bin with moss. This will represent the forest floor.

Cut a branch into sections for pretend logs and add these to the sensory bin.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals.

You can also add any other natural elements that you have collected such as pine cones or acorns.

Add your pretend mushrooms and woodland animals to the sensory bin.

All the elements should be placed randomly around the sensory bin on top of the moss. You have now created a mini woodland scene for your child to play with. Please make sure you supervise young children with this activity as there will probably be small parts within it and other items that should not be eaten/put in their mouths.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals.

Ideas for playing with this woodland sensory bin

Hopefully your children will get straight into exploring the textures and animals in the sensory bin. Perhaps they’ll even start some small world play and storytelling.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals. Hand holding a pinecone in the front and centre

If you do need some ideas though, here are a few ideas:

  • Have kids explore how the various animals would interact. Where would they live? What would they eat?
  • To increase focus on the sensory properties of the bin, encourage kids to describe the textures and smells of the various playthings while they play. 
  • Talk about the different natural elements in the sensory bin.
  • Encourage the kids to build a shelter for the animals. They can use the logs to build a little fort or make a burrow in the moss. 

There are so many ways to play with this sensory bin which I hope your child loves.

Box with moss, sticks, felt mushrooms and toy woodland animals.

How to extend this learning through play activity

If you want to continue the play-based learning about woodlands how about reading some lovely forest themed books. Here are some of our favourites:

* The squirrels who squabbled – We love this picture book about squirrels which teaches kids about working together.

* The Gruffalo – of course I had to include this classic picture book.

* Don’t wake the bear – This one is great for teaching kids about hibernation.

* Grimwood – perfect if you have older children (from about 7). This chapter book will keep the kids entertained as it’s so funny! We all enjoy these action packed, comedy stories about woodland animals.

Close up of felt mushrooms in moss in a tray

What to do next?

Find some simple Forest school activities for 2 year olds

This is a great winter sensory bin but find more ideas here Winter sensory activities for toddlers

Find 5 simple Spring sensory play ideas here.

2 photos of a moss, felt mushrooms, plastic animals and text that reads forest animal sensory bin for preschool

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