Sand, dirt, water, food — if it's messy, my toddlers love playing with it! Sensory play is crucial for toddlers' development [1], as research has shown that combining the sense of touch with the senses of vision, hearing, taste, and smell builds cognitive skills. But just because you want your 2-year-old to explore their world [2] doesn't mean you can't offer them opportunities to do so in a safe, controlled way. (You know, a way that won't leave sticky residue all over your kitchen or your toddler covered head to toe in mud.) Sensory toys [3] and Montessori toys [4] are great options to engage their brain, but if you are looking for some silly, messy, colourful fun, then try sensory bins! Premade sensory bins are filled with rice or beads in all the colours of the rainbow, tools to explore, toys, shapes, and more objects that make playtime exciting — and contain the mess to one bin! Shop some of the cutest sensory bins for toddlers ahead.
Space Explorer Sensory Kit
The stars are aligned — or not, it's your choice — in this Space Explorer Sensory Kit [6] ($34)! It comes with colourful marble planets, toy rocket ships, wooden stars, aliens, an astronaut and tools for scooping and playing.
Little Bee Sensory Farm Sensory Bin
How precious is this Little Bee Sensory Farm Sensory Bin [7] ($30 and up)? Toddlers will love exploring this set, which includes farm animals, hay, a vegetable garden, a shovel and rake, and more.
Good Day Felt Lady Bug Garden Sensory Bin
The Good Day Felt Lady Bug Garden Sensory Bin [8] ($24) is the most adorable backyard ever! It comes with fences, green rice "grass," daisies, ladybugs, planters, shrubs, rocks, and wooden letters that spell "bloom."
Rainbow Bins Mermaid Sensory Bin
Does your toddler dream of being a mermaid? Get this Rainbow Bins Mermaid Sensory Bin [9] ($38), which comes with blue rice or orange-scented playdough, wooden mermaids, seashells, gems, a chest, and tools for play.
Dinosaur Play Sand Kit
Dinosaurs in every colour roam in this Dinosaur Play Sand Kit [10] ($30, originally $35), which also includes fun dinosaur molds to imprint their shapes in the sand.
Farm Sand Play Set
Spend a day on the farm with this cute Farm Sand Play Set [11] ($30)! It includes farm workers, eight animals, fences, a utility tractor, play sand and more.
Set of 12 Toddlers Montessori Sensory Bin
If your toddler could spend hours digging and playing pretend kitchen, then they will love this Set of 12 Toddlers Montessori Sensory Bin [12] ($35), featuring scoops, cups, chopsticks, pots, and more, made with natural wood.
Little Wriggles Tea Party Sensory Bin
You're invited to a tea party, filled with tons of sprinkles! This Little Wriggles Tea Party Sensory Bin [13] Bin ($35) has rainbow-coloured rice that looks like sprinkles, plates, and a teapot that is just right for teatime.
Garden Critters Sensory Bin
Plant flowers and play with creepy crawlers with this Garden Critters Sensory Bin [14] ($20), which comes with green and tan sand, rocks, a shovel, and little toys to play with.
Creativity for Kids Ocean & Sand Sensory Bin
Go under the sea with this fun Creativity for Kids Ocean & Sand Sensory Bin [15] ($20), featuring a "beach" with sand, animals, and rocks, and an "ocean" with water beads, fish, sharks, and more.
Creativity for Kids Construction Zone Sensory Bin
It's a toddler-size construction zone! This Creativity for Kids Construction Zone Sensory Bin [16] ($20) is perfect for mini-builders, where you can play with trucks, a sand roller, a shovel, construction signs and more.
Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin Outer Space
Go out of this world with this Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin Outer Space [17] ($20), including aliens, space explorers, stars, and outer space rocks.
Messy Play World Ocean Sensory Kit
Discover the shells and fish floating underneath pretty blue water beads in this Messy Play World Ocean Sensory Kit [18] ($26).
Modern Silo Garden Sensory Bin
Help your kids fall in love with gardening with this spring-themed Modern Silo Garden Sensory Bin [19] ($47, originally $52, and up). It comes with black-dyed rice to look like dirt, fun plant toys, a rake, and a personalized wooden name.
Montessori Dads Way Construction Site Sensory Bin
Four construction vehicles are included in this Montessori Dads Way Construction Site Sensory Bin [20] ($35), as well as black rocks, multicolored pebbles, wooden cubes, and black-dyed pasta.
Little Bee Sensory Busy Bee Sensory Bin
Although the Little Bee Sensory Busy Bee Sensory Bin [21] ($30 and up) is for toddlers, I totally want one for my desk, too. It comes with gorgeous flowers, little bees, gems, pompoms, and tools to scoop and play with the rice.
Play at Home Mom Co Enchanted Fairy Garden Sensory Kit
This Play at Home Mom Co Enchanted Fairy Garden Sensory Kit [22] ($34) is the stuff of legends and fairytales. It is made with green seeds and gems, with wooden slices, pinecones, butterflies, fairies, mini branches, sand, flowers, and other hidden gems.
Play at Home Mom Co Frozen Inspired Sensory Kit
Inspired by Frozen, this Play at Home Mom Co Frozen Inspired Sensory Kit [23] ($34) features blue and white rice, snowflakes, white glitter pom poms, gems, a frosted tree, peg dolls, and more.
Steezy Designs by Kay Nature Sensory Kit
Embrace spring with this pretty Steezy Designs by Kay Nature Sensory Kit [24] ($48). It comes with white and green filler, colourful beads, felt flowers and bees, wood slices, and a mini bowl and spoon.
Oh So Fun Kids Rainbow Sensory Bin
I'm obsessed with the rainbow themed Just Add Imagination Co Rainbow Sensory Tray [25] ($23 and up). This one comes with rainbow-coloured rice, sorting cups, tokens, links, buttons, pom poms, stickers, and more.
Ella Roos Academy Rainforest Animals and Plants Sensory Bin
Escape to a beautiful rainforest with this Ella Roos Academy Rainforest Animals and Plants Sensory Bin [26] ($20 and up). Little ones will love playing with the animals and trees in a bin of green rice.
Humble Kind Shop Unicorn Play Dough Kit
The Humble Kind Shop Unicorn Play Dough Kit [27] ($31 and up) is a pastel explosion, complete with colourful unicorn toys, gems, rocks, flowers, and homemade glitter play dough. It's so adorable!
Play at Home Mom Co Blippi Inspired Play Dough and Magic Sand Sensory Kit
Blippi fans will love this Play at Home Mom Co Blippi Inspired Play Dough and Magic Sand Sensory Kit [28] ($24)! It comes with a Blippi-themed peg, wooden sunglasses, numbers, buttons, beads, blue glitter dough, sand, and more.
Kay and Hayes Co Outer Space Sensory Bin
Mini astronauts-in-training will enjoy searching for the alien, arranging the planets and stars, and landing on the moon with this Kay and Hayes Co Outer Space Sensory Bin [29] ($34 and up).
Little Bee Sensory Sun and Sky Sensory Bin
Play with rays of sunshine with yellow-coloured beans over a bed of blue-dyed rice in this Little Bee Sensory Sun and Sky Sensory Bin [30] ($30 and up). It also comes with a rainbow, fluffy clouds, a toy aeroplane, utensils, and Scrabble letters that spell out "Breeze."