Home » Activities » Sensory » Sensory Bins » 100+ Non-Food Sensory Bin Filler Ideas for Kids
Published: April 14, 2023 · Updated: December 24, 2023 by Sacha
Are you a teacher or parent looking for sensory play materials that aren’t food? Check out this big list of non-food sensory bin fillers for kids! These non-food sensory bin ideas are perfect for schools and daycare centres that don’t allow food to be used for play.
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If you’ve visited this website before, you probably know how much I love to share taste-safe and edible sensory activity ideas for kids. But there are also lots of reasons why you may prefer not to use food in your DIY sensory bins.
Perhaps your child has food allergies and you have to be really careful about which foods you give them.
Perhaps you find it expensive or wasteful.
Perhaps you work in a daycare centre where food items aren’t allowed to be used in sensory bins. (I’ve heard this one a lot.)
Perhaps you do sometimes use food in sensory bins and are simply looking for more sensory play ideas to try.
Whatever the reason may be, if you’re wondering which non-food items you can use to fill your sensory table, you’ll definitely want to keep reading. I have rounded up over 100 of the best fillers for sensory bins that don’t involve food—which means they should be safe to use in your classroom.
This list features a variety of sensory materials that can be used to entertain toddlers, preschool, pre K and kindergarten children. Just pick the ones that are appropriate for the age group you’re caring for and save the rest for later!
I hope this article will help you come up with lots of non-food sensory bin ideas that your kids (or students) will love to play with.
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Classic Sensory Bin Fillers
When you hear the words “sensory play”, which items immediately come to mind? Here are some of the more “traditional” materials you can use to fill your sensory table:
- Water (this is pretty much the simplest sensory bin you can set up, and if you’re looking for a taste-safe idea that’s not food-based, this one is perfect—you can add fishing bath toys, flowers or anything else you think would be fun)
- Soap foam
- Ice (add some paint to turn this into an ice painting activity!)
- Water beads (regular or jumbo—make sure you only give these to kids who are old enough not to try to eat them, as they can be dangerous if ingested)
- Play dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Kinetic sand (our kids love this scented version!)
- Sand (regular or coloured)
- Moon sand
- Slime (store-bought or homemade—try experimenting with different textures like sand slime, butter slime or jelly slime)
- Silly putty
- Play foam
Sensory Bin Fillers from the Craft Section
It’s amazing how many supplies from the craft section you can use in your DIY sensory bins—and a lot of them are available at the dollar store. If you’re looking for cheap sensory bin fillers for toddlers and preschoolers, here are some fun items you can try:
- Feathers
- Pom-poms (try experimenting with a variety of sizes and textures)
- Buttons
- Pipe cleaners (for added fun, cut them into pieces and use a magnetic wand to pick them up!)
- Googly eyes (they come in a variety of sizes and colours)
- Crinkle paper
- Construction paper (kids can have fun tearing it up and practicing their fine motor skills in the process!)
- Shredded paper (this would be a great way to reuse any paper you’ve shredded in your home office)
- Crepe paper
- Tissue paper
- Confetti (you can even make your own using a hole punch and some construction paper, which doubles as a fine motor activity)
- Streamers
- Gift bows
- Ribbon
- Lace
- Fabric scraps (try experimenting with different fabrics to provide your child with varied sensory experiences)
- Cotton batting
- Wool roving
- Yarn (try using a variety of sizes and textures)
- String or twine (jute, nylon or something else)
- Raffia
- Rubber bands (we like to use colourful ones)
- Loom bands (for added fun, you can add water and try to fish them out with bent pipe cleaners)
- Beads (thread them onto pipe cleaners or string to turn this into a fun fine motor activity!)
- Alphabet magnets
- Sequins
- Chunky glitter (I wouldn’t recommend using it on its own, but it could be fun to mix in with other materials)
- Clay
- Styrofoam balls
- Chalk dust
Toy Sensory Bin Fillers
If you’re a parent, chances are you already have some of these toys at home… so why not use them as sensory bin fillers? Unlike a lot of sensory bin ideas, most of these have the advantage of being mess-free:
- Fidget toys
- LEGO (add water for extra fun!)
- Puzzle pieces
- Marbles
- Silly string
- Paint
- Glow-in-the-dark stars
- Bingo chips (regular or magnetic)
- Playsilks
- Play scarves
- Costume jewelry
- Foam shapes, letters and numbers
- Foam blocks
- Plastic balls
- Plastic baby links
- Plastic leis
- Plastic coins
- Floam beads
Recycled Sensory Bin Fillers
What is cheaper than buying sensory materials at the dollar store? Grabbing them out of the recycling bin! Here are some sensory bin ideas that will help both the environment and your wallet:
- Plastic jugs or containers (add water to turn it into a DIY pouring station!)
- Plastic lids
- Cardboard tubes or toilet paper rolls (whole or cut into pieces)
- Broken crayons
- Corks
- Packing peanuts
- Bubble wrap (regular or large)
Sensory Bin Fillers from the Personal Care Aisle
If your child loves getting messy, but you don’t love the idea of them getting food everywhere during play, here are some fun non-food messy play ideas you can try:
- Shaving cream (with or without paint)
- Lotion (this is great for kids who have dry skin!)
- Aloe vera
- Hair gel
- Soap shavings
- Toothpaste (add some plastic teeth and toothbrushes to turn this into a fun activity for Dental Health Month!)
- Baby powder (you may want to mix this with some sort of liquid as baby powder can be dangerous to inhale, especially if it’s talcum-based)
- Baby oil
- Epsom salts
Sensory Bin Fillers from Around the House
Looking for cheap sensory bin fillers that you may already have lying around the house? Here are some more non-food items you can use to fill your sensory bins:
- Paper clips (add a magnetic wand to make this extra fun!)
- Mini erasers
- Aquarium rocks (consider buying a bag with fluorescent accents if you have a black light)
- Glass stones
- Acrylic vase fillers
- Polished rocks
- Sponges (whole or cut into pieces)
- Plastic or styrofoam cups (bonus points if they’re stackable and can be used to build things!)
- Plastic straws (cut into pieces)
- Pot scrubbers
- Plastic ice cubes
- Tin foil
- Toilet paper
- Cotton balls
- Makeup sponges
- Polyfill pellets
- Flex mesh tube
- Sawdust
Natural Sensory Bin Fillers
If your child loves to spend time outdoors (or if that’s something you would like to encourage), why not grab some items straight from nature and include them in your next sensory bin?
You can even get your child involved in finding their own sensory materials… and a lot of them happen to be free:
- Dirt
- Mud (yes, you can absolutely use real mud in sensory bins instead of making your own using food ingredients—throw in some fake worms or fake insects for added fun!)
- Gravel
- Rocks
- Real or fake grass
- Straw or hay
- Real or fake leaves (use colourful fall leaves to make an autumn-themed sensory bin)
- Moss
- Dandelions (when your kids are done playing with them, use the petals to make Homemade Dandelion Play Dough)
- Real or fake flowers (stick with one type to create a theme or use a variety of different colours and textures if they are available to you)
- Real or fake flower petals
- Pinecones
- Sticks
- Wood chips
- Tree bark (try using various textures and comparing how they feel)
- Birdseed
- Snow (if you live in a Northern climate—if not, use artificial snow or instant snow instead!)
- Seashells (we don’t live anywhere near the beach, so we bought some at the dollar store—my kids like to put them in water and fish them out with toy nets)
Seasonal Sensory Bin Fillers
Finally, there are lots of ways to create non-food sensory bins that are appropriate for specific seasons or holidays. Here are a few ideas to get you started, but feel free to use your imagination (and make sure you visit the seasonal aisle at your local store for more inspiration):
- Easter grass
- Plastic eggs
- Cut up pool noodles (with water or on their own)
- Water balloons
- Tinsel garlands
- Plastic fillable ornaments (add pom-poms, beads or anything else your child can fill the ornaments with to add a fine motor component to the sensory bin!)
- Jingle bells
Can you think of any more non-food sensory table ideas? Share them below in the comments!
Related Non-Food Sensory Play Ideas
Looking for more sensory play ideas that don’t involve food? Check out these articles:
- Shape Sorting Sensory Bag
- Pom-Pom Rainbow Sensory Bag (with Free Template!)
- Shaving Cream Foam Dough
- Dish Soap Silly Putty
- 2-Ingredient Cloud Dough
- Easy Pom-Pom Sensory Bottle
- DIY Aquarium Rock Slime
- Heat-Sensitive Colour-Changing Slime
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
YouChat, Sensory Play Enthusiast and Expert
As a passionate advocate for sensory play and a seasoned expert in the field, I have extensive experience in creating and implementing sensory activities for children. My expertise spans across various sensory materials, including classic fillers, craft section items, toy fillers, recycled materials, personal care aisle items, household items, natural materials, and seasonal fillers. I have a deep understanding of the importance of sensory play in child development and the diverse range of non-food sensory bin filler ideas that cater to different age groups and preferences.
Classic Sensory Bin Fillers
When it comes to sensory play, water is a classic and versatile filler that offers endless possibilities for exploration and play. Additionally, soap foam, ice, water beads, play dough, kinetic sand, regular or colored sand, moon sand, and slime are popular choices for sensory bins. These materials provide tactile stimulation and encourage imaginative play, making them ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten children [[1]].
Sensory Bin Fillers from the Craft Section
The craft section offers a treasure trove of sensory bin fillers, including feathers, pom-poms, buttons, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, crinkle paper, tissue paper, confetti, ribbon, fabric scraps, and beads. These items not only stimulate sensory exploration but also promote fine motor skills and creativity in children [[2]].
Toy Sensory Bin Fillers
Toys can also serve as excellent sensory bin fillers, with options such as LEGO, puzzle pieces, marbles, foam shapes, and plastic balls. These items not only add a playful element to sensory activities but also encourage cognitive and motor skill development in children [[3]].
Recycled Sensory Bin Fillers
Repurposing items from the recycling bin is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. Materials such as plastic jugs or containers, cardboard tubes, corks, and bubble wrap can be transformed into engaging sensory experiences for children, fostering creativity and sustainability [[4]].
Sensory Bin Fillers from the Personal Care Aisle
Items from the personal care aisle offer unique sensory experiences, including shaving cream, lotion, hair gel, and baby powder. These materials provide opportunities for messy play while promoting sensory exploration and tactile learning [[5]].
Sensory Bin Fillers from Around the House
Everyday household items can be repurposed as sensory bin fillers, such as paper clips, aquarium rocks, sponges, plastic straws, and cotton balls. These readily available materials offer diverse textures and sensory stimuli for children to explore [[6]].
Natural Sensory Bin Fillers
Connecting children with nature, natural sensory bin fillers like dirt, mud, rocks, leaves, and seashells provide sensory-rich experiences that encourage outdoor exploration and tactile learning. These materials foster a deeper connection to the natural world while stimulating the senses [[7]].
Seasonal Sensory Bin Fillers
For themed sensory experiences, seasonal fillers such as Easter grass, plastic eggs, jingle bells, and tinsel garlands offer opportunities to create sensory bins tailored to specific seasons or holidays. These themed fillers add an element of excitement and variety to sensory play activities [[8]].
Related Non-Food Sensory Play Ideas
In addition to the extensive range of non-food sensory bin fillers, there are numerous related sensory play ideas that don't involve food. These include activities like shape sorting sensory bags, shaving cream foam dough, 2-ingredient cloud dough, and DIY aquarium rock slime. These additional sensory play ideas expand the possibilities for engaging and educational sensory experiences for children [[9]].
By leveraging these diverse non-food sensory bin filler ideas, educators, parents, and caregivers can create enriching sensory play experiences that cater to children's developmental needs and preferences. Whether it's through classic fillers, craft materials, recycled items, or natural elements, the world of sensory play offers endless opportunities for children to explore, learn, and grow.
I hope this comprehensive overview of non-food sensory bin fillers and related play ideas inspires you to create exciting and educational sensory experiences for the children in your care. If you have any specific questions or need further guidance on sensory play, feel free to ask!
