September is here, and it’s not just about back-to-school season; it’s also National Mushroom Month! And, I’m sure you know by now how much I enjoy national days and months.
A few weeks ago, while shopping for early Halloween decorations at Dollar Tree, I came across a bin of beautiful faux mushrooms. They come in a three-pack and in three different colors, beige, red, and brown.
At that moment, I decided to pass on them because I wanted to stay focused on the task at hand, but immediately snapped a photo to remind myself to go back for them. I knew that they would be great to include in a toddler sensory bin for my daughter.
About a week later, I stumbled across National Mushroom Month and thought what better way to celebrate than by creating a charming sensory bin for my daughter by using the faux mushrooms from the Dollar Tree?
I headed right out to Dollar Tree and strolled the aisles while creating this charming and budget-friendly sensory bin. Hello, $10 Mushroom Sensory Bin! This colorful fall-themed sensory bin was not only engaging for my daughter, but I’m sure that it sparked her imagination, as well.
Let’s dive into this enchanting faux mushroom sensory bin!
Note | This post is not sponsored by Dollar Tree but does contain affiliate links.
Materials You’ll Need (Adjust to Your Liking)
1. Plastic shoe container
3. Moss (to create the base)
4. Faux leaves
5. Faux acorns
6. Faux pumpkins
7. A few small toys or figurines
Step 1: Prepare the Base
Start by filling your plastic container or sensory bin with faux moss. I used an unused back from when I created my whimsical summer fairy garden. In fact, I used a hot glue gun and glued the moss to the bottom of the bin to keep from having moss sheddings all around the house.
Instead of reindeer moss, you could also explore using dry rice or pasta to create the base of your sensory bin. This provides a tactile experience for your child to explore and dig through, simulating the feel of soil or forest floor.
Step 2: Mushroom Wonderland
Now, it’s time to add the star of the show – faux mushrooms! With the shoe box being small, I only had enough room to use one pack of three because I wanted to add some additional elements.
However, you could choose to arrange them in the bin by sticking some into the rice or pasta, gluing them to the bottom to create a mushroom forest, or just tossing them in. I chose to just toss the tree in to allow my daughter to pick up and play with the diverse textures in the sensory bin.
Quick Add-In | I also saw some small tubes of glittery orange sequins. I would have loved to have added those, but I think they would be in my daughter’s mouth, so for now I passed, but it would surely add to the elegance and charm of the sensory bin.
Step 3: Leaves, Acorns, Pumpkins
As I mentioned, I wanted to add in additional faux fall elements, so I opted for faux leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. Feel free to adjust depending on your child’s age and interests. You may even want to add scoops and spoons if you choose rice or pasta.
Step 4: Toy Animals
For an added element of creativity, consider adding a few small toys or figurines. I would have adored adding an owl or squirrel, but chose a small toy giraffe from what was available. In the future, I may create something using her colorful dinosaurs from this blog post.
Step 5: Imaginative Play
Encourage your child’s imagination to run wild. Talk about the different types of mushrooms in the bin, their colors, and sizes, as well as the other faux fall elements. I named each element and its color.
However, you could also create stories featuring mushroom characters. There are so many open-ended ideas that will foster creativity and language development.
Read | Tales of Mushroom Folks
Step 6: Clean-Up Made Easy
To make clean-up a breeze, you could place a soft blanket or playmat under the sensory bin. When playtime is over, simply gather the corners of the blanket to contain any elements, making clean-up quick and stress-free. Since our daughter plays on a foam mat, all I had to do was dump everything back in the bin and wipe off the mat.
Final Thoughts
Creating a charming and affordable sensory bin using faux mushrooms from Dollar Tree is a wonderful way to celebrate National Mushroom Month with your one-year-old.
This engaging activity not only stimulates their senses but also nurtures their creativity and fine motor skills. Plus, it won’t break the bank! So, let your little one embark on a magical mushroom adventure, right in the comfort of your home.
Cheers to National Mushroom Month!
