5 Sensory Bin Ideas for Toddlers

With all the time inside due to the lockdown going on, now is a perfect time for sensory play! Sensory play is great for self regulation, exploration and developing fine motor skills so I thought I would share some ideas of things I have done with X when he was a toddler that are easy to try at home.

1. Pom Poms and Tubes/Containers

Pom poms can be used for so many things and are a great loose part for toddlers. Here I dumped them  them in a sensory bin with a couple containers and paper towel rolls. X especially liked fitting the poems through the small holes in the container as he explored ideas of containment. 

2. Snow and/or Ice 

 If you are currently still in a cold climate and getting snow, you can use it as a great sensory table base! For this bin, I just scooped some clean snow from our porch and put it in a bin with some construction trucks. You could also use scoops or shovels. However, if snow is not readily available you could also try just ice in a bin or if you are lucky enough to have one, use a shaved ice machine. We have also paired little penguins and arctic animals with our bins when using ice or snow which makes for some great small world pretend play.

3. Reusable Ice Cubes and Ice Tray

Another way we have played with ice is by using reusable ice cubes! Here I paired them with empty ice trays and containers. X sorted the cubes into the ice tray and also tried some stacking. Here again, you could also try pairing the ice cubes with arctic animals for small world play or add a little water and they could also experiment with sink or float as the cubes tend to float until melted.

4. Sand, Rocks and Constructions Trucks

The classic construction bin has always been a favorite of X's. Here I paired sand, rocks and construction trucks for some fun construction play. You can usually find these exact construction trucks at the Dollar Tree. I also used their fine sand and a bag of rocks from the Dollar Store too

5. Cotton Balls and Egg Carton

Cotton balls are a great sensory material you may already have around the house. Here, I paired them with containers and half a leftover egg carton for sorting and containment. 

These are just a few ideas to get you started with sensory play at home with your toddler. I'd love to hear if any of you try these and how it goes. Comment below!