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Friends Art Lab / Blog / Cranberry Christmas Sensory Bin 

Cranberry Christmas Sensory Bin 

Author: Kristian Klebofski    Published: 11/20/2023     Updated: 11/06/2024

A cranberry Christmas sensory bin is a deliciously adorable Christmas activity for kids. The holidays are busy enough, and this simple-to-set-up activity is minutes of prep for hours of play and fun.

A young girl smiles at the camera while her hands reach for a scoop of bright red cranberries floating in a shallow container of water. In the container are some floating cinnamon sticks, too.
Table of Contents:
  1. Welcome to the cranberry Christmas sensory bin
  2. A Cranberry Christmas sensory bin sounds so simple…and it is
  3. Materials
  4. How to make a cranberry Christmas sensory bin
  5. What do you do with a cranberry Christmas sensory bin?
  6. Clean-up is a breeze
  7. Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the cranberry Christmas sensory bin

We’ve been making cranberry Christmas sensory bins for probably 20 years, and they’ve become one of our favorite annual Christmas traditions.

Cranberries aren’t one of the most common fruits kids see, and they are naturally drawn to the bright, red, sour little fruits.

And not to sound dramatic, but this activity is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

The bright pops of red are captivating for kids (and adults).

Related: Add a 10-foot Christmas coloring banner to your annual Christmas traditions!

A child's hand holds a mini colander full of cranberries in a shallow container filled with water and cranberries. Her other hand holds a fist full of cranberries.

A Cranberry Christmas sensory bin sounds so simple…and it is

As it often goes, the simplest activities are usually the best.

Kids don’t care about pomp and circumstance, and more than not, the easiest activities evolve into the most meaningful, in-depth learning opportunities.

Sometimes teachers and parents are nervous about water play and sensory tables because they seem hard and expensive, and complicated, and this activity is anything but!

Don’t let the sensory play stop here! Check out some of our other favorite sensory activities:

  • Christmas Bubble Foam – fun indoors or outdoors
  • Christmas Moon Sand
  • Warm Tea Fall Sensory Table
  • Jingle Bells Scoop and Transfer
Three photos (1) a view inside a bag of cranberries, (2) a view inside a container of cinnamons sticks, (3)A child's hand holds a mini colander full of cranberries in a shallow container filled with water and cranberries.

Materials

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  • Cranberries
  • Water
  • Shallow container
  • Cinnamon sticks – optional
  • Kitchen tools – ex: colander, whisk, bowls, cups, spoons, spatulas
A young child pours a large bag of cranberries into a shallow container of water.

How to make a cranberry Christmas sensory bin

This is just about the easiest water table activity ever to set up.

Step 1: fill a shallow container with water and toss in cranberries and kitchen tools.

Step 2: invite your child to scoop, pour, and play.

That’s it!

This is the perfect sensory table for introducing a mini colander (our preschoolers love these).

A child's hand holds a ladle full of cranberries over the Christmas cranberry sensory bin.

What do you do with a cranberry Christmas sensory bin?

Sensory bins are incredibly valuable learning tools.

 In this activity, kids can:

  • Count the cranberries for math
  • Explore science by seeing what items sink and float
  • Stir the water for fine motor
  • Scoop the materials for hand-eye coordination
  • Name the colors for color recognition
  • Explore the materials for vocabulary
  • Share materials for social skills
  • Observe how water flows for science

When kids can learn various skills (ex: math, motor, science, literacy) in one activity, it’s called a cross-curricular activity, and these are the good stuff.

Setting up individual math, motor, science, and literacy activities in a day would take a lot of time and resources.

But with a cranberry Christmas sensory bin, it’s four birds, one stone.

A child makes a silly expression while moving her hands in the cranberry Christmas sensory bin

Clean-up is a breeze

Scoop out the cranberries, let them dry, and you’re ready for more cranberry fun.

Use the water to soak some outdoor plants for a no-waste activity.

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this “sense-ational” activity!

Two outstretched hands hold a pile of cinnamon sticks over the cranberry Christmas sensory bin

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this recommended for?

Any that can safely enjoy the materials.

Can you keep the cranberries when done with this sensory bin?

You sure can! While I wouldn’t eat them, there are still fun for lots of sensory and play.

Do you let the kids eat the cranberries?

I always allow the kids to taste them and I haven’t met a kid who loved them and wanted more than one (they’re sour!).

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Christmas Math Game: Count and Cover Santa’s Beard

EXPLORE A CATEGORYChristmas, Science, Sensory

Related Activities

  • Christmas Bubble Foam Sensory Activity
  • Christmas Moon Sand Sensory Activity
  • Halloween Water Table Activity
  • The spring flower sensory table: A plastic bin is full of water and has TONS of flowers & flower petals floating at the top in oranges, pinks, yellows, purples, and greens.
    Spring Flower Sensory Table - Water Play Activity

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Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I have spent over 15 years in the preschool classroom, I have a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, and I was a college professor of education for eight years. My passion is sharing creative learning activities for children and I'm so happy you're here.

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