sensory bins for toddlers (2024)

If you're looking for sensory bins for toddlers then you've found the right spot. Sensory bins are a great toddler activity and are easier to set up than you might think!

I love setting up sensory bins for toddlers and babies and there are so many different ways you can approach this. You can have simple toddler sensory bins or get quite complex and creative!

Sensory Bins for Toddlers and Babies

Sensory bins are a great form of sensory play for babies and toddlers and they are also a great way to keep them entertained. If you have never made a sensory bin before, you might like to start with our Simple Sensory Bin Ideas first.

If you're ready to jump into some more sensory bin ideas, we've found over 60 great sensory play activities that yourbabies and toddlers will love. If you're planning on making your own sensory bins, there's a few items that are handy to have at home. You can find all of my favorite toddler sensory play items HERE.

If you're keen to get started with toddler sensory bins, but find some of these a bit overwhelming, you might like to join our 10 Day Simple Sensory Bin Challenge.

In this challenge, we use simple and inexpensive items to create fun and engaging sensory bins. They won't win any Pinterest awards but they WILL entertain your toddler. You can sign up for the challenge (it's free!) HERE.

Here are more than 60 of our favorite toddler sensory bin ideas!

These sensory bin ideas are taken from our Facebook group, where our creative members have shared some of their own sensory bin setups.

Kinetic Sand Sensory Bin

This sensory bin was shared by Laura who used store bought kinetic sand (Amazon sells it HERE), small toys that she already had and sand castle molds like the ones from this set.

Farm Sensory Bin

Jennifer made a farm sensory bin using food items and farm figurines (I like THIS farm set)

Simple Rice Sensory Bin

Paola shared this simple toddler sensory bin made out of rice - so much fun to be had with plain rice and some simple scoops and toys (I always recommend these scoops).

Farm Sensory Bin using Oats

Megha made her toddler a farm themed sensory bin using a bag of oats and some cow and horse toys she already had. Simple!

Hot Cocoa Sensory Bin for Toddlers

What a wonderful idea for a Winter themed toddler sensory bin. This sensory bin was shared by Jenna and use coco pops and white pom poms.

Fruit Loop Scooping Sensory Bin

Megan shared this simple toddler sensory bin with us - fruit loops and scoops (get the scoops HERE).

Crushed Cheerio Sensory Bin

Rachel shared her truck sensory bin with us - she used crushed up cheerios as the sand - great idea!

Ice Skating Sensory Bin / Tray

I love this idea from Danielle - freeze ice cubes and make your toy animals ice skate! Great for a hot day!

Even More Toddler Sensory Bin Ideas

Easy Rice Sensory Bin

Farm Animal - Simple Fun for Kids

Sunflower Sensory Bin - Life Over C's

Pour & Scoop - Laughing Kids Learn

Easy Water Sensory Bin

Color Sorting Fish - Teaching 2 and 3 year olds

Frozen Under the Sea - Natural Beach Living

Paw Patrol Sensory Play - The Gingerbread House

Colored Pasta Sensory Play

Ice Cream Sensory Bin - Fantastic Fun and Learning

Shark Sensory Water Play - Mommy's Bundle

Airplane Sensory Bin - School Time Snippets

Taste Safe Insects Sensory Play

Color Changing Water Play

Fairy Mud - Laughing Kids Learn

Winter Sensory Bin

Scooping Blocks Water Play

Galaxy & Space - 3 Princesses and 1 Dude

Lady Bird Sensory Bin - Clare's Little Tots

Nature Sensory Play - How Wee Learn

Ocean Sensory Water Play - Frogs and Fairies

Jell O Sensory Play - In the Kids Kitchen

If you enjoyed these sensory bins for toddlers and babies then...

Some posts you may enjoy are ourSensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers

250 Sensory Play Ideas for Toddlers

If you loved this post why not PIN IT!You can also follow us on Pinterest HERE.

FAQs

Are sensory bins good for toddlers? ›

Sensory bins support your child's development in several ways: Improve fine motor skills. Digging, pouring, stirring, and scooping can strengthen your child's hand muscles and improve their fine motor skills.

What are the learning outcomes of sensory bins? ›

Learning through sensory play is descriptive and provides many opportunities for children to learn new concepts and vocabulary words in a hands-on way. For example, sensory bin activities can help teach concepts like “empty and full”, “up and down”, “sort and pour”, or “above and below”.

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What are the rules for the sensory bins? ›

Use visual supports to help your learners remember the rules for the sensory bins (use hands only, put on lid when finished, complete seek and find, raise hand if you need help, keep the materials in the box.) Use a visual timer to help your students transition when the time comes.

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What are the learning outcomes for sensory play for toddlers? ›

Supporting brain development, enhancing memory, complex tasks and problem solving. Developing fine motor skills through tactile play (useful when children want to hold a pen or use scissors for example). Supporting language development, communication and social skills. Enhancing memory and observational skills.

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What age do kids like sensory bins? ›

At the toddler stage, from ages 2 to 3, kids are typically ready to engage with more toys. A great place to start are sensory bins—literally, a bin or box filled with various materials meant to stimulate the senses.

Are sensory bins good for autism? ›

Sensory bins are growing in popularity—and for good reason! Parents are realizing sensory play is crucial toward enhancing child development. Sensory play is great for neurotypical children and children with sensory processing disorder and autism.

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How to promote children's sensory development? ›

Sight and Sound

The magic of color through art activities, light tables, and brightly illustrated books can help bring a variety of experiences to children. To help children develop their sense of hearing, educators can bring read aloud books to life with various character voices and nuances through storytelling.

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How does sensory input impact a child's Behaviour? ›

When children have difficulties with sensory processing, they might also have difficulties with: Behaviour; as the child may be unable to regulate themselves appropriately to settle and attend to a task for extended periods of time.

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How to improve sensory? ›

These five tactile sensory input ideas are especially great for elementary school students:

Play in a sandbox.
Play with shaving cream on a cookie sheet or in the bathtub.
Finger-paint.
Make your own play dough.

More items...

Sep 14, 2022

Why are sensory bins developmentally appropriate? ›

Sensory bins are a great way to allow children to explore multiple senses at the same time in a fun way. This includes touch, smell, sight, and even sound. Learning to engage with and stimulate several senses at once in a healthy way is incredibly beneficial and loads of fun!

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What age should I get a sensory table? ›

What age is best for a sensory table? If your kids can stand, they can play on a sensory table! Our table is designed at a height that is accessible for children as young as 12 months while not being too low for your big kids, too. We would recommend the table for children ages 18 months to 10 years old.