This easy birthday cake sensory bin is perfect for any little aspiring chef! Made with homemade playdough and complete with loads of sprinkles and fake candles, this bin keeps preschoolers happily baking up something good!
After many years of mothering, I have learned that it is a good idea to have an activity planned for the afternoon. I usually have something set up for Harp like a
paper craft or something she can get
creative with, but lately we have been LOVING
sensory bins.
Harper loves to bake, so the idea for this birthday cake sensory bin came around. I thought she would love the chance to play with sprinkles, and I was right. When she came home from preschool, she was ready to get her hands into this bin! I have a feeling your little one will want to do the same should you recreate this project.
This was easy to assemble and super economical. You likely have all of the supplies on hand!
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Supplies:
1/2 cup of shampoo (any kind will do, including something from the dollar store!)
2 tablespoons of water
1 cup of flour
Silicone cupcake molds, small cake pans, small dishes for forming cakes. Your childs play food collection is a great place to find materials to use in this bin.
Washi Tape
A battery operated votive candle
A baking dish or a bin with a lid
To make the birthday cake dough:
Add one cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 cup of shampoo together in a medium bowl.
Begin to stir, as the ingredients start to bind together, finishing mixing with your hands.
If the dough feels sticky, you will add a little more flour, no more than 1/4 cup.
Test for stickiness. If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour and continue to mix until it doesn't stick to your hands.
To make fake candles:
You will need a length of washi tape that can cover a
craft stick on both sides.
Allow the tape to slightly overlap the craft stick and place small squares of tissue paper on the top of the stick. I layered orange and yellow tissue paper to resemble a flame.
Fold the tape up to cover the other side of the craft stick.
Trim the edges of the tape on the sides of the
craft stick.
Trim your tissue paper to resemble a flame.
To assemble the birthday cake activity bin:
Pour a bottle of sprinkles in the bottom of the dish or storage container you plan to use.
Add the dough.
Add small dishes like play food dishes, silicone cupcake molds, small baking dishes.
Add the fake candles and a battery operated votive candle, if you have one.
Invite your child to explore the activity. They will form cakes, decorate with sprinkles and add candles to serve birthday cake!
