Sensory Bins for Toddlers
Looking for easy and simple sensory bins for toddlers?
Sensory play is so fun and offers so many benefits for kids. This sensory bins for toddlers are all easy to set up and many are taste safe.
My toddler twins started doing sensory bins around 18 months old.
Sensory play naturally happens throughout your child’s day – they take a bubble bath, pick the grass, scoop up dirt, etc.
But sometimes for fun I like to set up sensory bins to keep my toddlers entertained and playing independently so I can get things done around the house.
Sensory bins are wonderful because you can gear it towards your toddler’s development level and interests. All of these sensory activities can be adaptable to your child! Add letters, numbers, or sight words if they are working on those. Add certain colors if they are learning colors. Add objects they don’t know the names of to build vocabulary!
What are the benefits of sensory play and sensory bins?
- Helps build brain connections
- Builds problem-solving skills- they will learn what works and doesn’t work on their own through trial and error
- Strengthens fine motor skills (good for pre-writing)
- Social skills
- Vocabulary
- Calming and relaxing
All of these sensory activities I’ve listed below are tactile – feeling with their hands. There are many other forms of sensory activities (vestibular, proprioceptive, olfactory).
I hope at least one of these sensory bin activities will work for your toddler!
Every child is different and some of these might not work for your toddler. I did all of these sensory bin activities when my toddlers were 22-37 months old. They turned 3 and still enjoy these activities. Supervise with all of these activities!
Edible/Taste Safe Sensory Bin Activities for Toddlers – these are good for 1 year olds and 2 year olds since they are taste safe:
Oats and Trucks (You can add any toys to this – not just trucks!)
Bubble Wrap Edible Paint Sensory Play
Cookie Sheet Sensory Play (Babies 7+ months)
Water Sensory Bins for Toddlers:
Miscellaneous Sensory Bins For Toddlers:
I hope at least one of these toddler sensory bins will work for your child!
Every child is different and some of these might not work for your toddler.
Things to help make sensory bin activities easier and interesting for your toddler:
- Add in some of their favorite objects (toys, spoons, etc.). I usually just find utensils I already have in the kitchen that are toddler-friendly.
- Try to go outside with the sensory activity if your toddler has a hard time keeping the items in the tub and it’s messy. I usually take my sensory activities outside so I can just let them play and not worry about clean-up too much.
- If they aren’t too interested in it at first I keep it out for awhile and see if they come back to it.
- If they still put things in their mouth do edible or taste-safe sensory activities (I have listed ideas).
- Do the sensory activity with them. Describe what your doing, what things are, and how things feel/smell. This will increase their vocabulary and teach them to keep items in the sensory bin.
- I like to use long and shallow underbed storage containers for my sensory activities since they are easy to wash out, toddlers can play easily on the ground with them, and they are cost-efficient. Water tables also work well if you already have one.
- Be creative with your sensory bins! Use what you have at home!
- Always supervise closely with sensory bins.
Easy Items for Sensory Bins you might have at home:
- dry beans
- macaroni/pasta
- dry rice
- wrapping paper
- popcorn kernels
- shaving cream
- oats
- water/ice
- cereal
Easy tools to add in to sensory bins that you probably have at home:
- ladles
- tongs
- spoons
- cups
- bowls
- strainer/colander
- tweezers
- potato masher
- sometimes I add in nothing and just let them use their hands
What do you do for sensory bin activities with your toddler? We love trying new ideas!
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