Sensory Bin Ideas for 2 Year Olds – Printable Filler List and Themed Play Ideas

Sensory bins are one of the easiest and most engaging ways to spark curiosity, creativity, and learning in toddlers. For 2-year-olds, sensory play is more than just a fun activity, it’s a hands-on way to support development, encourage imaginative play, and build fine motor skills.

Whether you’re new to sensory bins or just looking for fresh inspiration, this post is packed with sensory bin ideas and a free printable list of sensory bin fillers to make playtime easier and more fun than ever.

Why Sensory Bins Are Great for 2-Year-Olds

At this age, toddlers are busy exploring the world through touch, sight, and movement. Sensory bins offer a safe and exciting space for sensory exploration using different textures, colors, and materials. They can help develop fine motor skills as little hands scoop, pour, squeeze, and sort. And best of all, they encourage independent and imaginative play with endless ways to mix and match materials and themes for so much fun.

Safety Disclaimer:
Always supervise children closely during sensory play. Many sensory bin fillers listed here may pose a choking hazard, especially for toddlers under 3 years old. Use your best judgment, avoid small items that could be swallowed, and never leave young children unattended with sensory materials. Safety comes first — sensory play should always be fun and safe!

Free Printable: Sensory Bin Filler Ideas (Food and Non-Food)

To make it simple for you to put together a sensory bin at a moment’s notice, we’ve created a free printable with over 60 sensory bin filler ideas, divided into food-based and non-food options. Just print it out and hang it near your craft shelf or play area for instant inspiration!

Here’s everything included on the list:

Non-Food Sensory Bin Fillers

Non-food fillers are a great choice if you’re looking for reusable, mess-free options that can be stored and used again and again. Many families prefer these for sustainability or to avoid wasting edible items. They’re perfect for quick setup and easy cleanup, and you can often find many of these materials around the house or at the craft store.

Pom-poms
Cotton balls
Water beads (supervised)
Shredded paper
Colored foam balls
Kinetic sand
Fabric scraps
Plastic building blocks
Small animal toys
Buttons
Feathers
Pipe cleaners
Wooden blocks
Mini cars or trucks
Beads (large)
Plastic leaves
Sponges
Toy figures
Yarn or string
Craft foam shapes
Plastic eggs
Playdough
Corks
Small plush toys
Plastic flowers
Fake grass
Seashells
Glow sticks
Plastic spiders or insects
Rubber bands (thick)

Food-Based Sensory Bin Fillers

Food fillers can offer a wonderfully soft and squishy sensory experience that’s especially appealing to toddlers. Items like cooked spaghetti, oats, or dyed rice add rich texture and are usually safe if a bit ends up in little mouths — though supervision is still a must! Food-based bins are great for themed play or when you want to explore taste-safe options with younger children.

Dry rice (colored or plain)
Dry beans (variety of colors)
Dried corn kernels
Oatmeal
Dried pasta (colored or plain)
Cooked spaghetti
Popcorn
Lentils
Instant mashed potatoes (dry)
Flour
Cornmeal
Cheerios or puffed cereal
Cooked rice (soft sensory play)
Cooked oatmeal
Cornstarch
Chia seeds (pre-soaked)
Puffed rice
Dried peas
Split peas
Dry quinoa
Rolled oats
Grated coconut (unsweetened)
Breadcrumbs
Chopped pasta
Dried fruit bits (supervised)
Soft crackers
Goldfish crackers
Sesame seeds
Tapioca pearls (uncooked)
Sugar (colored)

You can add extra excitement by including a few drops of food coloring to brighten dry rice or pasta. These small touches create a colorful sensory experience that kids will want to come back to again and again.

Want to make your sensory bins even more colorful?
Check out our step-by-step guides:
👉 How to Color Pasta for Sensory Play
👉 How to Color Rice for Sensory Play

These easy tutorials show you how to use simple ingredients like food coloring and vegetable oil to create bright, beautiful fillers your kids will love, in all different colors!

Download the Free PDF Sensory Bin Filler List

You can download the full sensory bin filler list as a handy PDF below

Print it, save it, and keep it close for endless sensory play inspiration!

How to Use the List: Mix & Match Fillers and Themes

Creating a sensory bin is as easy as 1-2-3:

Choose one or more fillers from the list — you might use just dry pasta, or combine pom-poms, buttons, and shredded paper for more texture and fun.
Add a theme to guide the play — themes help bring meaning and excitement to sensory play and tie it into what your child is learning or interested in.
Add simple tools — spoons, scoops, cups, tongs, or even just fingers! These build fine motor skills and invite open-ended play.

Fun Sensory Bin Themes for Toddlers

Need a little theme inspiration? Try these fun ideas for 2-year-olds:

Little girl playing in handmade swamp of green-dyed chia seeds with insect, fish and plant models. Sensory development and experiences, themed activities with children, fine motor skills development.

Dinosaur Dig – kinetic sand + toy dinosaurs + rocks
Ocean Adventure – blue dyed rice + seashells + plastic sea animals
Construction Site – dried corn + mini trucks + scoops
Rainbow Color Sort – pom-poms + cups labeled by color
Farmyard Fun – shredded paper + small animal toys + fences
Weather Bin – cotton balls (clouds) + blue gems (rain) + sun shapes
Under the Sea – water beads (supervised) + fish + treasure
Garden Bin – fake grass + plastic flowers + bugs
Frozen Bin – ice cubes + scoops + plastic animals (outside fun!)
Bug Hunt – rubber bands (pretend worms) + plastic spiders + magnifying glass

Remember that you don’t need a ton of supplies to create a powerful sensory experience. Often, the simplest combos are the most engaging. Big kids might love these bins too, especially with more detailed themes or added challenges.

Example Sensory Bins

Take a look at some of the fun sensory bins we’ve put together! These examples show how easy it is to mix and match fillers and themes for an engaging sensory experience your toddler will love.

Fire Rescue Chickpeas Sensory Bin

Savannah Animal Sensory Bin

So the next time you’re wondering what to do on a rainy afternoon or need a calm but enriching activity, pull out your list and set up a sensory bin. It’s a great way to enjoy screen-free time and make memories together.

If you found this printable list and these sensory bin ideas helpful, please take a moment to share this post with a friendor save it to Pinterest for later! Sharing helps other families discover easy ways to bring more sensory fun into everyday life.