How to Make Your Own Seasonal Art Bins

WRITTEN BY KATIE DOLEN, COFOUNDER OF STATE OF PLAY | PHOTOGRAPHY ESHY SOUDER

Autumn in Montana is full of sensory magic: the crunch of leaves, the smell of apples, the snap of cool mornings and the golden glow of the aspen trees. At State of Play, we believe that kids learn best when they can touch, smell, squish and explore the world around them. That’s why we love bringing seasonal sensory bins into our classroom and play space, and why we think they’re a perfect way for families to connect at home, too.

Sensory play isn’t just about keeping little hands busy. Research shows that it strengthens neural pathways, builds fine motor skills and supports language development. When children scoop, pour, sort and sift, they’re building the foundation for math and science skills. When they mix colors or create pretend play stories in a bin, they’re flexing creativity and problem solving. And maybe most importantly — sensory play can be incredibly calming. Watching a toddler settle in to scoop beans back and forth, or bury a truck in corn kernels, is a reminder of how grounding hands-on play can be.

Here are a few of our favorite fall sensory bins you can try at home. Most are taste-safe (because we know how curious toddlers are) and all are easy to pull together with items you may already have on hand.

“When children scoop, pour, sort and sift, they’re building the foundation for math and science skills.”

1. Apple Pie Bin

Fill a shallow bin with uncooked oats and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Add small wooden spoons, muffin tins and a few red and green felt “apples” or pom-poms. Kids can scoop and “bake” pies, compare quantities and practice pretend cooking right alongside you.

2. Pumpkin Patch Play

Use dried black beans or split peas as a base — they feel smooth and soothing. Add mini pumpkins, small scoops and little people or animal figures. Hide the pumpkins for a harvest “hunt” or set up a pretend farmers market.

3. Leaf and Nature Bin

Collect colorful leaves, acorns and pinecones from a neighborhood walk. Add magnifying glasses and tongs so kids can examine textures, count and sort, and practice gentle handling of nature’s treasures.

4. Taste-Safe Apple Sauce Slime

For kids who still mouth everything, try mixing cornstarch, water and a little applesauce or cinnamon. This creates a tastesafe oobleck that smells like fall and fascinates children with its liquid-solid magic.

5. Pumpkin Wash Station

Sometimes the simplest sensory play is the most engaging. Fill a bin with warm soapy water, toss in a few mini pumpkins and scrub brushes, and let your child give them a bath. Add food coloring to the water for extra fun.

At State of Play, we change our sensory bins monthly to keep children curious and engaged. Our friends at @teachingbythemountains are a constant source of inspiration. Their educational and nature-based play ideas remind us that the best materials are often the simplest. You can see some of our favorite sensory bins on Instagram @playbozeman, where we share easy setups that can be recreated at home.

Fall is a season of slowing down and noticing the rustle of leaves, the smell of spice, the way the light shifts earlier each day. Setting up a sensory bin is an invitation for your child to notice, too. It says: “Here’s something to explore. Let’s see what you discover.”

So, grab a bin, scoop some oats or beans, and sprinkle a little cinnamon. Sit down with your child and play alongside them for a few minutes. You might be surprised by how soothing it feels — for both of you — to pause and take in the season, one scoop at a time.

To learn more about State of Play’s Open Play times, visit stateofplay.co.