15+ Creative Sensory Bin Filler Ideas for Kids

Creating sensory bins is a fantastic way to engage kids in hands-on, exploratory play. Let’s dive into some unique and fun ideas for sensory bin fillers that will delight children and maybe even give you a moment to sip your coffee while it’s still hot!

Birdseed

Birdseed makes a fantastic outdoor sensory bin filler. Once playtime is over, you can hang it up for the local birds to enjoy!

Possibly handy products:

Premium Wild Bird Seed Mix: Engage your kids with birdseed and attract beautiful birds to your garden post-playtime!
Natural Wooden Sensory Bin: Enhance sensory play with a natural wood bin, perfect for birdseed exploration.
Eco-Friendly Silicone Scoop Set: Add excitement to play with durable, eco-friendly scoops perfect for sensory exploration.

Aquarium Gravel

Bring a touch of texture with aquarium gravel. It’s great not just for sensory play but also for sorting and pattern-making activities.

These products might help:

Colorful Aquarium Gravel: Enhance sensory play with vibrant tones and varied textures for creative exploration.
Natural Polished Pebbles: Introduce natural charm to activities through smooth, colorful pebbles perfect for sorting games.
Assorted River Stones: Engage hands-on learning with natural river stones ideal for pattern-making and tactile fun.

Water and Ice

Don’t underestimate water and ice! They create endless opportunities for experimentation and sensory exploration, especially when it’s hot outside.

A few things you might like:

Silicone Ice Cube Trays: Create perfect ice cubes for your sensory bin with flexible, easy-release silicone molds.
Clear Plastic Bin with Lid: Keep your sensory bin organized with this durable and transparent storage solution.
Water Play Toys: Enhance sensory exploration with colorful toys designed for water play and safe fun.

Rocks and Pebbles

Discover the tactile magic of nature with these beautifully curated pebbles for your sensory bin.

My kids love the tactile experience of rocks and pebbles. These are perfect for creating naturalistic sensory bins, like riverbeds, and can be used for sorting and stacking.

Try these:

Natural Polished River Rocks: Enhance your sensory bin with these beautiful polished rocks, perfect for sorting and exploration.
Decorative Pebbles and Stones: Add a natural touch with these decorative pebbles, ideal for tactile sensory play.
Assorted Colorful Pebbles: Brighten sensory activities with these assorted colorful pebbles, great for creativity and fun.

Coconut Flakes

Use coconut flakes for a sensory bin that’s safe for little ones who might taste-test. It’s a great filler for tropical or beach themes.

May just do the trick:

Bulk Organic Coconut Flakes: Explore textures with organic coconut flakes perfect for sensory play. Safe and natural for toddlers.
Natural Coconut Bowls: Enhance sensory experiences with eco-friendly coconut bowls, ideal for tactile and visual exploration.
Eco-Friendly Play Tray: Create engaging sensory setups with a versatile, eco-friendly play tray for endless creative play.

Pluffle

If you haven’t tried Pluffle yet, you’re in for a treat! It’s a fluffy, light filler that moves like it’s alive, captivating kids and adults alike.

Consider these options:

Wooden Sensory Bin: Engage kids with a natural feel using a durable wooden sensory bin for endless fun.
Colorful Sensory Pluffle: Add vibrant colors and textures to sensory play with delightful, textured Pluffle.
Kids Play Scoop Set: Enhance tactile exploration with scoop sets, perfect for digging into fluffy Pluffle.

Colored Rice

Add a splash of color to your sensory play with beautifully dyed rice, perfect for sparking curiosity and creativity!

Nothing beats the versatility of colored rice! It’s an easy DIY project that lets you match colors to any theme, and kids love the feel of it slipping through their fingers.

You might give these a try:

Food-Safe Gel Coloring Set: Create vibrant colored rice with this versatile gel coloring set. Perfect for any sensory bin activity!
Rice Sensory Bin Starter Kit: Jumpstart creativity with this rice sensory bin kit. Includes accessories for endless fun and learning.
Wooden Mixing Bowls Set: Mix and store your colored rice in style with this eco-friendly wooden mixing bowls set.

Pom Poms

Colorful pom poms are an inexpensive way to add a splash of color and fun. They’re perfect for little fingers to grab, sort, and count.

A few helpful options:

Multi-Colored Pom Pom Assortment: Add vibrant colors to your sensory bin, perfect for sorting and counting activities.
Large Soft Pom Poms: Engage little fingers with these soft, easy-to-grasp pom poms for playtime fun.
Fluffy Pom Pom Variety Pack: Boost creativity with an exciting range of fluffy pom poms for endless fun.

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic sand is like magic in a sensory bin! It flows through fingers and holds shapes beautifully, making it a staple in my studio for creative endeavors.

A few relevant products:

Kinetic Sand Bulk Pack: Unlock endless creativity with bulk vibrant colors for molding and sculpting fun.
Kinetic Sand Molding Tools Kit: Enhance your sensory bin experience with diverse tools for creative sand shaping.
Kinetic Sand Sandbox Tray: Keep your play area tidy with a spacious tray perfect for kinetic sand activities.

Dried Beans

Dried beans offer a satisfying tactile experience and are perfect for imaginative play. I love using them for ‘construction site’ themes with little trucks and scoopers.

These products might be useful:

Mixed Dried Beans: Explore various textures and colors. Perfect for sensory play or creative craft projects.
Toy Construction Trucks Set: Enhance imaginative play with these durable trucks, perfect for construction-themed sensory bins.
Children’s Scoopers and Tools: Ideal for sensory bins, these tools encourage fine motor skills and imaginative play.

Shredded Paper

Got some shredded paper lying around? It’s a super fun sensory bin filler that’s perfect for treasure hunts or themed play, like a ‘jungle’ or ‘beach’ adventure.

A few suggestions:

Colored Shredded Paper: Enhance your sensory bins with vibrant colored shredded paper for exciting theme play.
Wooden Bowls for Sensory Play: Use sturdy wooden bowls to hold sensory fillers and create a rustic play environment.
Natural Jute Placemats: Add texture beneath sensory bins with natural jute placemats for an earthy feel.

Colored Pasta

Colored pasta adds a playful twist to sensory bins, and you can easily dye it to suit any theme. It’s also a fun way to introduce shapes and textures to little ones.

Possibly helpful picks:

Edible Food Coloring Set: Customize your pasta’s color effortlessly with this vibrant food coloring set, perfect for sensory activities.
Plastic Storage Bins: Organize and contain your sensory play fun with sturdy plastic bins, ideal for colored pasta.
Pasta Varieties Pack: Explore diverse pasta shapes and textures, enhancing sensory bins with creative and educational play.

Fake Snow

Make your own fake snow for a winter wonderland sensory bin. It’s easy to make at home and adds a cool, soft texture that kids love.

Check these products out:

Instant Snow Powder: Create a fluffy, snow-like texture instantly to delight and engage kids in sensory play.
Sensory Play Snow Kit: Dive into a winter wonderland with ready-to-use fake snow perfect for tactile exploration.
Eco-Friendly Fake Snow: Enjoy sustainable, non-toxic fake snow that’s safe and soft for endless creative play sessions.

Cloud Dough

Cloud dough is a dream for sensory play – soft, moldable, and so much fun to squish! Plus, it’s easy to make with just a couple of ingredients.

Useful items to consider:

Wooden Mixing Bowl Set: Mix your cloud dough easily in a durable wooden bowl; perfect for sensory play sessions.
Essential Oils Set: Add soothing scents to your cloud dough with this variety of essential oils, enhancing sensory play.
Natural Food Coloring: Create vibrant cloud dough with safe, natural food coloring, sparking creativity in sensory play.

Playfoam

For a no-mess alternative, Playfoam is a squishy delight. It’s fun to mold and doesn’t dry out, making it a favorite in my crafting classes.

A few choices to try:

Colorful Playfoam Bulk Pack: Craft imaginative worlds effortlessly with colorful Playfoam that never dries out or makes a mess.
Non-Toxic Playfoam Sensory Set: Experience endless creativity with non-toxic Playfoam, perfect for safe, endless fun for kids.
Playfoam Variety Pack for Kids: Encourage creative play with a variety pack of Playfoam, ideal for classrooms and home activities.

Sand Dough

Create a sand dough sensory bin for a moldable, squishy experience. It’s a bit messy but oh-so-fun, and perfect for beach-themed play indoors.