Sensory play is an important aspect of child development.
But let’s face it… Creating sensory bins are overwhelming!
As parents, we’re busy and you deserve a break!
Instead of finding all the pieces and supplies for making a themed sensory bin, cut all the hassle by purchasing one of these sensory kits for toddlers.
Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you click on them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
What Is Sensory Play?
Sensory play is any type of play that activates one or more senses.
Humans have seven senses we use to interpret the environment around us.
The 7 senses consist of:
- Auditory (hearing)
- Visual (sight)
- Olfactory (smell)
- Tactile (touch)
- Gustatory (taste)
- Vestibular (movement)
- Proprioception (body position)
The basic human senses are hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste.
But both the senses of movement and body position are equally as important.
Our sense of proprioception teaches us where are body is in relation to space.
This includes how much force we apply on objects like cracking an egg for example.
Vestibular sense or our sense of movement helps with balance, coordination, standing, sitting upright, and walking.
Each of the seven senses activated during sensory activities help your toddler learn how to interact with the world around them.
What Are The Benefits Of Sensory Play?
There are many benefits to sensory play that go beyond play time fun.
Here’s everything your toddler has to gain by engaging with sensory kits for toddlers!
- Improve cognitive development and complex learning
- Benefits special needs children
- Hands-on, self-directed play
- Enhances memory
- Helps develop fine and gross motor skills
- Aids problem-solving skills
- Increases creativity
- Provides a sense of calm when the senses are activated through play
- Supports language development
- Helps children learn differences and attributes
- Introduces scientific thinking
Sensory Kits For Toddlers
Water Bead Ocean Theme Sensory Kit
This ocean themed all-in-one sensory kit is suggested for children three plus.
It includes non-toxic light blue water beads, three cups, two scoops, and one shovel.
Best of all the sensory this sensory kit comes with the following sea animals:
- Starfish
- Seahorse
- Stingray
- Blue marlin fish
- Lobster
- Seat turtle
- Whale
- Sea lion
- Shark
- Octopus
- Crab
- Walrus
Dinosaur Sand Sensory Kit
This miniature indoor sandbox is great for creative building because of its soft almost wet texture that allows the sand to mold well to dinosaur forms.
A child of three years and over will have hours of fun digging through the sand to find dinosaur fossils.
Or your child can engage in creative play and set the scene with a large T-rex, a variety of small dinosaurs, trees, bushes, and even a small fence for corralling dinosaurs.
Construction Site Sensory Kit
Do you have a three to five year old that loves construction sites?
Then, this construction site sensory kit is perfect for them!
With moldable sand your child can make new structures, bulldoze them, dig and create whole construction site scenes with one of the best store away sensory kits for toddlers.
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Deep Space Sensory Kit
Calling all future astronauts! This is one of the best sensory kits for toddlers that combines not only tactile play, but also visual sensory integration.
Your toddler can fly to the moon and back with this sensory kit that includes foam planets, sparkly pom poms, plastic spirals, tongs, scoop, an astronaut, and a large squishy alien.
After your child’s dived through space, they can continue their adventure at night with glow in the dark stars!
Montessori Wooden Sensory Bin
Based on the principles of Montessori education, your toddler can be engaged in a child-centered and led education.
Best of all… This sensory bin is perfect for children between the ages of one to three years old!
However, be advised that small wooden pieces still pose a chocking hazard, so adult supervision is required!
This Montessori sensory bin is perfect for children with special needs as well for building cognitive development and fine motor skills with child-led exploration.
Farm Sand Sensory Kit
Similar to the dinosaur sensory kit, this all-in-one sensory kit is perfect for children who dream of being on a farm!
Let your child’s imagination soar with plastic farm animals, signs, farm equipment and tools.
The farm sand play set is designed for children between the ages three and five.
Basic Montessori Sensory Kit
Are you just wanting a very basic sensory kit to introduce your toddler to child-centered sensory play?
Then, this is the sensory kit for you!
This is a basic sensory kit based off of Montessori principles.
The kit comes with 12 pieces that includes the following wooden tools…
- 12 inch box
- Tong
- Spoon
- 3 scoops
- Brush
- Honey canister
- Round canister
- Small wooden canister
- Saucer
- Cup
From these basic tools you can add white rice, colored rice, sand, and dirt to create imaginative play and introduce new concepts to your child.
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Mermaid Water Bead Sensory Kit
This is one of the best sensory kits for toddler because it allows little girls (or boys) to believe in the magic of mermaids.
The sensory kit comes with an array of different colored water beads, two mermaids, sea stars, fish, corral, cups, scoops and even a treasure chest.
Final Thoughts
Sensory play is messy, but it’s an important play aspect for children to be involved it.
It helps children develop child-centered play, and best of all improves cognitive development.
The above 8 sensory kits for toddlers are the perfect activity to help build life-long skills.
Plus, with these all-in-one sensory kits you no longer have to worry about finding all the pieces to make a themed sensory kit or worry about cleaning up the mess!