Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

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A smiling cat is popular in Lunar New Year décor. This cheerful cat decoration originated in Japan and is an ornament displayed all year round there. In Japanese it is called “maneki-neko”, meaning “beckoning cat”. The joy-filled cat has become popular in Chinese New Year celebrations, often called “Lucky Cat.” This Lucky Cat sensory bin incorporates the festive feline in a super fun early learning tactile activity.

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Lucky Cat Sensory Bin Supplies

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This playful Lunar New Year sensory bin contains the following supplies:

dyed chickpeas
Lucky Cat stuffed animal
miniature cat figurines
toy cat balls with bells
star-shaped snack cup and spoon
gold coins
gold bells
serving tray

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The Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

Many of my Lunar New Year sensory bins have a rice base. Rice fits the theme perfectly as it is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often eaten at all three meals.

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Chickpea-based sensory bins are also a favorite. Chickpea dishes and snacks have become more popular in China in recent years. Most importantly, chickpeas are easy to dye red, a common Lunar New Year color. This Lucky Cat sensory bin features rows of chickpeas dyed in a few gorgeous colors for added beauty.

Note: To find out how to dye chickpeas view the blog post Unicorn Theme Sensory Play.

The joyful jingly Lucky Cat stuffie is the highlight of the bin. The cute character is the motivation for putting the sensory invitation together.