If you’ve ever looked at sensory play posts on Instagram or Reels and thought, “Where on earth are people buying all these fillers?”, you’re definitely not alone. I saw one lovely mum ask:
“Where is everyone getting their sensory tray/bin fillers from please?
And honestly? I love this question, because the truth is wonderfully freeing: You don’t need to buy anything special. You already have everything you need at home.
We often think sensory play requires fancy fillers that cost a fortune or come in beautiful matching sets. But toddlers and preschoolers don’t care about any of that. They care about textures, pouring, scooping, pretending, and discovering something new. And you can create all of that with the simplest household bits and bobs.
Think:
- Flour
- Rice
- Dry pasta
- Oats
- Water
- Ice cubes
- Pom poms (if you have them… but they’re not essential!)
- Old gift wrap
- Cotton balls
- Leaves, sticks, pinecones from the garden
Honestly, your kitchen alone is a treasure chest of sensory gold.
A Perfect Example: The “Snow Tray”
Here’s a little setup I shared recently in my Facebook group — and it shows just how easy and magical sensory play can be without buying a single thing:
“If you’re stuck indoors this week, here’s a simple little setup your toddler or preschooler will love – a “snow tray”!
Just grab a shallow tray, add some flour, sugar, salt or rice for pretend snow, and pop in scoops, spoons, and a few Christmas decorations or animals for playtime magic.
I also added in a clean margarine tub for Santa’s sleigh and any small containers I could find for scooping and pouring practise. For preschoolers, throw in some numbers from 1-10/20 (either use magnetic numbers or write them om pieces of card in the shape of a snowflake, scatter them around and ask your preschooler to find a snowflake, identify the number and scoop the number of snow into Santa’s sleigh, for example.).
This kind of sensory play helps strengthen those little hand muscles (perfect for pre-handwriting skills later on!) and encourages imaginative play as your child creates their own mini winter world.
Simple, engaging, and wonderfully messy fun, just how toddlers like it!”
See? Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. And yet — full of learning, joy, and engagement.
Why Simple Sensory Play Works So Well
The beauty of everyday fillers is:
1. They support real developmental skills.
Scooping, pouring, grasping, pinching… these all build the muscles needed for early writing, dressing skills, and using cutlery. And they don’t require special toys to work.
2. Toddlers prefer novelty, not perfection.
Give them a tray of rice or flour and a wooden spoon, and they’ll often play longer than they do with the expensive bits. (If you do use flour, I always err on the side of caution, bake it first in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-15 minutes to kill bacteria, then let it cool completely before use.)
3. Easy setups = more consistent play.
If sensory play feels complicated, avoid it. When it feels doable with what’s in your cupboard? It becomes part of your week.
4. It’s budget-friendly (and guilt-free!).
Raising little ones is expensive enough — sensory play shouldn’t be.
So… where do you actually get sensory tray fillers?
Right here:
✨ Your kitchen cupboards
✨ Your garden
✨ Your recycling bin
✨ A walks’ worth of natural bits
✨ Things your child already plays with
Once you shift your thinking, sensory play becomes simple, accessible, and fun — the way it’s meant to be.
Want Some Inspiration?
If you’d love more realistic, mum-friendly ideas that fit into your actual life – not social media perfection — come join us in my free Facebook group. It’s where I share simple setups (just like the snow tray), child development tips, and weekly play inspiration you can use straight away.
You don’t need a cupboard full of fillers.
You just need a few everyday items… and a little spark of playfulness.
Karmal x
⭐ Visit my website www.learninglighthouse.net for free resources to help you.
💡Need help with getting your preschooler to grow and thrive at home? My Developmental Activity Cards give you 30 simple play-based activities that support learning in a fun and playful way. I guide you through each activity step by step. Just click on the relevant link below to learn more about each set.
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