100+ of the Best Sensory Bins Ideas for Kids

UPDATED…Here are 100+ fun and amazing SENSORY BINS for toddlers and preschoolers. Learn and play with all these sensory bin ideas from rice to pom poms and more!

Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

I wrote a book on sensory bins Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids. The book has 60 fun and creative sensory bin ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. It also has tons of sensory bin filler recipes and so much more!

Super STEAM Activity Book

Looking for a fun activity book for your preschooler this summer? Check out my new book Super STEAM Activity Book: Launch Learning with Fun Mazes, Dot-to-Dots, Search-the-Page Puzzles, and More! ! Click here to learn more or order it now!

Benefits of Sensory Play

Sensory bins offer up an immense opportunity for exploration and discover for young developing minds. The reason why sensory play is so beneficial and conducive to learning is because is involves using all 5 senses in play: touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing. It’s through the stimulus of the senses that the brain receives information and is able to build neuro connections:

Here are som more of the amazing benefits of sensory bin play

Cognitive development
Enhances memory
Builds vocabulary
Fine and gross motor skills
Cause and effect
Experimental play
Problem solving
Logical thinking

Sensory Play Kits

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and thus has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Shop our ready made play kits here.

Sensory Play Leads to Independent Play

Sensory bins are perhaps the one activity that I can set up for my three year old that she is guaranteed to play with for hours and sometimes days.

One things many parents say to me is that they will set a sensory bin and their child will only play with it for 5 minutes of less. First off check out this post where I talk about the attentions spans of children and managing our expectation: How to Start Doing Activities with Your Kids.

But the reason why I still set up sensory bins even if they are not always played with for hours is because 99.9% of the time after those 5 minutes of play, may toddlers will go and play independently on their own after playing with the sensory bin.

Below is an incredible list of our favorite sensory bins for toddlers!

RELATED…Also check out 20 Pom Pom Sensory Activities for fun sensory play ideas using pom poms!

Setting Up a Sensory Bin

Setting up a sensory bin can feel daunting at first especially if you aren’t prepared.

But by following a few simple steps and establishing clear ground rules you and your toddler or preschooler can enjoy hours of fun together (you sipping your much needed coffee and them having fun with sensory play).

Here is a list of your Basic Supplies:

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Tips for Saving Sensory Bin Fillers

Use large ziplock bags to store sensory bin fillers such as coloured rice or split green peas.
Buy your supplies in bulk or at the dollar store to save.

Basic Sensory Bin Rules

When it comes to letting your toddler or preschooler play in a sensory bin it’s better to find a balance between letting them play and being prepared for a little mess and setting firm rules.

To achieve that balance I like to tape down a large plastic table cloth underneath the sensory bin and play area.

That way when wayward rice fly out of the bin you don’t panic because cleaning it up is as simple as picking up the plastic table cloth and tossing it.

The other half has to do with making sure your little one understands the golden rule of sensory bin play: the fillers stay inside the sensory bin.