Catching Butterflies Sensory Bin (Easy Spring Idea!)
Looking for a simple, hands-on activity that keeps toddlers happily entertained while secretly working on those fine motor skills? This Catching Butterflies Sensory Bin is a total hit with curious little hands, and it’s just as fun to set up as it is to play! It’s a great indoor activity perfect for spring and summer and can be used in the classroom or at home!
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There’s just something extra magical about butterflies—and this sensory bin brings all that fluttery fun right into your playroom or classroom. With just a few everyday supplies like dyed bowtie pasta and dried split peas, you can create an engaging, screen-free activity that feels like springtime in a tub.
Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, this bin encourages pretend play, color sorting, and sensory exploration while giving those little hands a chance to scoop, grab, and collect their beautiful “butterflies” with a real bug net!
We also have a fun rainbow sensory bin that is great for the spring and cheap and easy to put together.
When it comes to sensory play, we also have our homemade playdough recipe, glow in the dark slime, and fluffy cloud dough that you can do so many things with!
🌟Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Fun Ideas!🌟
📌What You’ll Need
Bow Tie Pasta – Dyed with paint and hand sanitizer to resemble colorful butterflies. Use any colors you would like and see below on the exact process!
Dried Green Split Peas – Creates a “grassy” base for the butterflies to rest on.
Bug Net – For scooping up the butterflies.
Bug Container (or small jar) – A place for kids to collect their captured butterflies.
Bug Kits – Get the full bug catcher kit here that includes everything you will need!
Round Bin or Sensory Trays – these are perfect for playing, but if you wanted to store for later, I recommend getting sensory bin boxes.
✨Ways to Use the Butterfly Sensory Bin
There’s no right or wrong way to play with this sensory bin—just endless fun. Here are some fun ways little ones can engage with the materials:
Catch the Butterflies – Use the bug net to scoop up the pasta butterflies.
Sort & Count – Identify different colors and count the butterflies.
Transfer to the Bug Container – Carefully place the butterflies in the container, working on coordination and grip strength.
Sensory Exploration – Feel the textures of the dried peas and pasta while engaging in open-ended play.
💡Benefits of a Spring Sensory Bin
Not only is this activity adorable and fun, but it’s also packed with developmental benefits.
Fine Motor Skills – Strengthens hand-eye coordination and grip through scooping and transferring.
Color Recognition – Encourages learning colors through vibrant, dyed pasta.
Language Development – Sparks conversation about butterflies, nature, and insects.
Problem-Solving – Encourages creative ways to catch and transfer butterflies.
Nature & STEM Connection – Introduces butterfly study concepts and discussions about real-life bugs.
Open-Ended Play – Allows kids to use their imagination in a fun and relaxing way.
How to Dye Pasta for Sensory Bins
Materials Needed:
- Bow tie pasta – The shape resembles butterfly wings.
- Acrylic paint – Choose bright, butterfly-inspired colors.
- Hand sanitizer – Helps the paint coat the pasta evenly and dry faster.
- Ziploc bags or containers with lids – For shaking and mixing the pasta.
- Wax paper or parchment paper – For drying the pasta.
Directions:
- Prepare the Bags – Add about 1 cup of bow tie pasta to a Ziploc bag or lidded container.
- Add Paint & Hand Sanitizer – Squeeze a small amount of paint (about 1 teaspoon) and a few drops of hand sanitizer into the bag.
- Shake It Up! – Seal the bag and shake it until all the pasta is evenly coated. If needed, add more paint for richer color or more sanitizer if the paint is too thick.
- Dry the Pasta – Spread the painted pasta on wax paper in a single layer. Let it dry for about 1–2 hours.
- Flip & Check – Once dry on one side, flip the pasta and allow the other side to dry completely.
💡Helpful Tips
- Other fillers that can be used for sensory bins are beans, or dyed rice or oats.
- Using the boxes makes clean up a breeze and you can easily store and get it back out when toddlers are ready to play again.
When the weather’s not quite warm enough for real butterfly chasing, this sensory bin is the next best thing! It’s quick to set up, ridiculously fun for toddlers, and sneaks in a whole lot of skill-building while they scoop, sort, and pretend they’re out in the garden catching butterflies.
