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Activities, Fine Motor, Sensory ·

Sensory Bins For Toddlers (Our Favorite Ideas and Items)

Sensory bins are all the rage right now! In this blog, we share our favorite ideas for sensory bins for toddlers, including sensory items and sensory bin fillers, to help bring the best sensory experience to your toddler or child!

Contents hide
Sensory Bins for Toddlers: Therapist-Approved Fun
What is a Sensory Bin?
Sensory Bin Ideas: A Comprehensive List to Get You Started
Dry Sensory Bin Fillers
Sticky or Wet Sensory Bin Fillers
Household Items That Can be Used in Sensory Bins
5 At-Home Easy Sensory Bin Ideas
1. Corn Kernel Sensory Bin (or another dry food item)
2. Food Colored Spaghetti Sensory Bin
3. Kinetic Sand Sensory Bin
4. Dyed Rice Sensory Bin
5. Cloud Dough Sensory Bin
Let the Sensory Fun Begin!
Thank You

Sensory Bins for Toddlers: Therapist-Approved Fun


The very best thing about sensory bins is that they are just so much FUN!!  As an occupational therapist, one of the things I love to see children doing the most is playing, and sensory bins make kids want to play!

Children learn so much during unstructured free play – problem-solving, emotional regulation, imitation, social skills, language, and fine motor skills, the list is endless. So giving them new experiences in the form of a sensory bin will help them develop and hone so many new skills, all while having a blast!

What is a Sensory Bin?


Essentially, a sensory bin is a container filled with materials specifically chosen to stimulate the senses, allowing the child to explore and interact with the items as they choose.

Sensory play is a great way to expose your child to a variety of textures, facilitate communication, and actively engage with your child.

The basic components of any sensory bin are:

  1. A large washable container
  2. One or more fillers
  3. Sensory toys and tools to go inside!
Sensory bin ideas for toddlers by NAPA pediatric therapists.
Image Credit: NAPA Center

Sensory Bin Ideas: A Comprehensive List to Get You Started


Now that you know WHY sensory bins are so amazing, take a gander at our list of sensory items to put inside your DIY sensory bin. We also share supplies from around the house that can be used as tools or fillers and 5 easy sensory bin ideas to start off with. This list is by no means exhaustive – use these ideas to get your gears turning! Please note that supervision may be necessary.

Dry Sensory Bin Fillers

If you are looking for dry sensory bin ideas, these sensory bin fillers are great and can easily be reused time and time again. Remember that you can use things you already have around the house as sensory items for kids to create easy sensory bins!

  1. Dry rice, beans, and/or pasta
  2. Unpopped popcorn
  3. Sand
  4. Cotton balls
  5. Shredded paper
  6. Raffia/crinkle grass
  7. Corn Meal
  8. Craft feathers for a feather sensory bin
  9. Packing peanuts
  10. Beads
  11. Gardening soil
  12. Leaves
  13. Birdseed
Dyed rice can be used as a easy dry sensory bin filler.
Image Credit: NAPA Center

Sticky or Wet Sensory Bin Fillers

These tend to be messier – more mess, more sensory input!

  1. Cloud dough
  2. Kinetic sand
  3. Homemade “snow” (mix equal parts cornstarch and baking soda, then slowly mix in water to get desired texture)
  4. Water
  5. Soap foam (mix 2 tablespoons dish soap, ¼ cup water, and food coloring(optional) in a blender)
  6. Water beads
  7. Shaving cream
  8. Oobleck (Click for the recipe!)
Sensory items to use in your toddler or child's sensory bin.
Image Credit: NAPA Center

Household Items That Can be Used in Sensory Bins

  1. Small plastic toys to hide and search for (play insects or animal figurines, blocks, magnetic letters, play foods…get creative!)
  2. Tongs, tweezers, and spoons
  3. Measuring cups and bowls
  4. Silicone muffin cups
  5. Ice cube tray
  6. Magnifying glass
  7. Whisk, sieve, colander (for water-based bins)
  8. Funnel
  9. Cookie cutters and molds
  10. Fake gems and rhinestones
Sensory bin ideas utilizing household items.
Image Credit: NAPA Center

5 At-Home Easy Sensory Bin Ideas


Check out these “expert-endorsed” sensory bin ideas and try one at home!

1. Corn Kernel Sensory Bin (or another dry food item)

Raid your pantry for corn kernels, pinto beans, and lentils. Add a few trucks for hours of rumbling, dumping, and loading fun!

Corn kernels can be used in a sensory bin for your child! Find more things to put in sensory bins in this blog.
Image Credit: NAPA Center

2. Food Colored Spaghetti Sensory Bin

Boil spaghetti in water tinted with food coloring.  Add tongs, spoons, and forks for slimy scooping entertainment.

Wondering what to put in sensory bins? Try dyed spaghetti or other ideas on this blog!
Image Credit: NAPA Center

3. Kinetic Sand Sensory Bin

Kinetic sand is the best. It’s moldable, melty, and mysterious.

Have you tried using kinetic sand in your sensory bin? Find more ideas in this blog!
Image Credit: NAPA Center

4. Dyed Rice Sensory Bin

Dyed rice is always a sure-fire hit! Combine a few drops of food coloring, a tablespoon of vinegar, and rice in a ziplock bag and shake.  Let air dry before commencing with the scooping amusement!

Find items from your pantry to use in a sensory bin for your toddler! Our favorite sensory bin ideas in this post!
Image Credit: NAPA Center

5. Cloud Dough Sensory Bin

Silky, smooth, and calming, cloud dough.  Combine 2 cups flour with 2 ounces of baby or vegetable oil and mix well. Take it outside (it can get messy) and let the fun begin!

cloud dough sensory bin
Image Credit: NAPA Center

We hope you find these DIY sensory bin ideas helpful for you and your child!

Let the Sensory Fun Begin!


Perhaps you’ve seen pictures floating around the internet of Tupperware containers filled with beans or rice and wondered what all the fuss was about. Or maybe you’ve tried to make a few homemade DIY sensory bins of your own but are running out of ideas. Whether sensory bins are a familiar friend or a daunting new endeavor, we hope this blog was helpful in showing you how to put together sensory bins for toddlers to introduce them to these amazing sensory experiences.

Featured guest post by the NAPA Center team.

Thank You


We want to wrap up by extending our gratitude to thank you for stopping by today!

What other types of sensory bins for toddlers do you recommend?

Let us know in the comments below. ♥

Was this information helpful?  If so, you’d make our day by sharing it! 🙂

Sensory-Bins-for-Toddlers


Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. We only recommend items we truly believe in based upon in-depth research, reviews, and/or personal experience.  Thank you for your ongoing support to keep this website thriving for kids.

The contents of the Intensive Therapy for Kids Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the Intensive Therapy for Kids Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Posted In: Activities, Fine Motor, Sensory · Tagged: activities, fine motor, sensory

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