I LOVE sensory tubs. That said, sensory tubs weren’t created by Maria Montessori, and they aren’t considered Montessori materials. Still, they can incorporate many Montessori techniques.
Sensorial activities are an important part of Montessori education as are practical life activities. Sensory tubs are a a great way to encourage unstructured sensory exploration. When activities such as pouring, tweezing, or tonging (or decorating a miniature Christmas tree) are included, both practical life and sensorial exploration can be part of a sensory tub.
Today, I want to share 40+ wonderful and varied ideas from around the blogosphere for Christmas sensory tubs.
Christmas Sensory Tubs
Montessori-Inspired Nativity Activities (my roundup post with links to Nativity sensory tubs)
Golden Cinnamon Sensory Tub (Photo from The Imagination Tree)
Christmas Sensory Tub and Golden Cinnamon Sensory Tub (photo) from The Imagination Tree
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from 3 Dinosaurs)
Christmas Sensory Bin from 3 Dinosaurs
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from Glittering Muffins)
Christmas Sensory Bin (Small Things) from Glittering Muffins (blog is no longer available)
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Christmas Sensory Bin and Candy Cane Sensory Bin from Growing a Jeweled Rose (that particular blog post is no longer available)
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from Love, Play, Learn)
Christmas Sensory Bin from Love, Play, Learn – post is no longer available
Christmas-Sensory Bin (Photo from Blog Me Mom)
Christmas Sensory Bin from Blog Me Mom
Christmas Sensory Tub (Photo by Ness from One Perfect Day at Kids Activities Blog)
Christmas Sensory Tub by Ness from One Perfect Day at Kids Activities Blog
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails)
Christmas Sensory Bin from Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails
Christmas-Treasure Bin (Photo from My Nearest and Dearest)
Christmas Treasure Bin from My Nearest and Dearest
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from The Pleasantest Thing)
Christmas Sensory Bin from The Pleasantest Thing
Shivery Snow Sensory Tub (Photo from Learn with Play at Home)
“Shivery Snow” Super Sensory Scented Cold Christmas “Snow” Tub from Learn with Play at Home
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from The Good Long Road)
Christmas Sensory Bin from The Good Long Road (blog is no longer available)
Iceland Sensory Tub (Photo from We Can Do All Things)
Iceland Sensory Tub and Christmas Sensory Play from We Can Do All Things
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from Olives and Pickles)
Christmas Sensory Box (photo) and December Sensory Bin from Olives and Pickles
December Sensory Bin (Photo from Jada Roo Can Do)
December Sensory Bin from Jada Roo Can Do (blog is no longer available)I
Simple Snowman Sensory Bin
Simple Snowman Sensory Bin (my post)
Holiday Bell Sensory Bin with Scavenger Hunt (my post)
Christmas Sensory Bin (Photo from H is for Homeschooling)
Christmas Sensory Bin from H is for Homeschooling
Holiday Scented Sensory Cloud Dough Tub (Photo from Momma’s Fun World)
Holiday Scented Sensory Cloud Dough Tub from Momma’s Fun World
Jingle Bells Sensory Tub from Trial & Error Mama
Winter Themed Toddler Sensory Bin from The Kavanaugh Report
Christmas Sensory Bin and Ways to Extend Learning from Fantastic Fun & Learning
Christmas Sensory Tub 2010 and Christmas Sensory Tub 2011 from Nurturing Naters
Christmas Cutting Bin (Photo from Mama of Many Blessings)
Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin from Stir the Wonder
Christmas Ornament Sensory Bin, Christmas Sensory Bin, and Christmas Cutting Sensory Bin (photo) from Mama of Many Blessings
Christmas Sensory Tub from Our Cup of Tea
December Sensory Tub (2009) and December Sensory Tub (2010) from Counting Coconuts
Peppermint Scented Oatmeal Christmas Sensory Play (Photo from Train Up a Child)
Christmas Sensory Tub from Teaching Mama
Peppermint Scented Oatmeal Christmas Sensory Play from Train Up a Child
December Christmas Sensory Box from Too Blessed to Be Stressed
Christmas Sensory Bin from The OT Toolbox
Christmas Sensory Bin for Babies from Play Create Explore
Thrifty Christmas Sensory Box Play from Mama to 4 Blessings
Christmas Sensory Tub from No Time for Flash Cards
Christmas Sensory Bin from Gift of Curiosity
Thanks to everyone for the wonderful sensory tub ideas!
More Christmas Resources
Amazon Affiliate:
Hundreds of December Holiday Activities for Kids
If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.
And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!
Love these ideas for Christmas Sensory Boxes! So many new ideas to try! 🙂 We recently made one ourselves – here is the link-
http://expatfamilyq8.com/2013/12/10/christmas-sensory-box/
Hi Deb,
Ru here from Montessori 1:1. Keep the ideas coming. We had a water tub down here in Adelaide – red and green water beards, red, green and gold poms for squeezing and little christmas beads with pots for sorting the types or the colours…. with a baster too.
What a fun round-up of sensory bins. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Thanks, Carrie! I was inspired by all the creativity I found around the blogosphere … so much fun! 🙂
Thanks so much for including some of our sensory bins. This is a fabulous collection!
Thanks for your kind comment, Crystal! It was my pleasure … I love your amazing sensory bins and other sensory experiences! Have a wonderful Christmas! 🙂
The sensory bin ideas are wonderful thanks for sharing them with us! Happy holidays!
Thanks so much, Maro! Happy holidays to you, too! 🙂
Awesome round-up ! Thank you for including us.
Thanks so much! And my pleasure … I love your creative sensory bin! I hope you have a very happy Christmas! 🙂
This is such a fantastic resource with a lot of great ideas! Thanks so much for creating such an extensive list. I’ve pinned!
Thanks so much for your kind words and for pinning, Joyce! Have a wonderful Christmas! 🙂
Don’t think I’ll be having to ever think for myself again when it comes to a Christmas Sensory Tub! Thanks for such a great roundup and for including a tub of ours as well 😀
Thanks, Debs! And it was my pleasure … your tub is amazing! 🙂
Awesome round up! Thanks for including us, very nice of you 🙂
Thanks so much, Valerie! And my pleasure … you have great ideas! 🙂
Thanks for including us! I’m honoured to be in such great company!
My pleasure, Ann! I love the activity you created to go with your sensory bin. 🙂
All my kids love sensory tubs, not just the little ones. Thanks for the great round-up! We may just have to make that gold and cinnamon one from Imagination Tree.
Thanks, Eddie! The gold and cinnamon sensory tub is amazing, isn’t it?! 🙂
Thank you Deb for adding me – that was very sweet of you 🙂
My pleasure, Nicole! I love your ideas! 🙂
So many wonderful sensory bins here! Thank you for including ours.
Thanks, Shaunna! And my pleasure … I love your ideas for extending learning. 🙂
Thank you for so much Christmas inspiration! 🙂 Could I share our Christmas activities?
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.371668579593867.89136.361044623989596&type=3
And our boys love this Christmas Sensory Bin – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=371618896265502&set=a.361059183988140.86484.361044623989596&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash3%2F151006_371618896265502_1266958645_n.jpg&size=800%2C450
Have nice day 🙂
Thanks, Veronika! Of course you may share … lovely ideas! Your Christmas sensory bin is beautiful! I added your link to my post. 🙂
This is a great compilation of Christmas bins! There are so many (easy!) ways to explore. Thank you for including one of ours. 🙂
Thanks so much, Carolyn! I’m so inspired by all the ideas available … including yours and the wonderful process you use to create it! 🙂