Kiddos LOVE exploring with their hands and making messes (shhh, don’t tell, but I do, too). To help them along with this adventure, I made a list of my favorite sensory tools and toys for preschool and kindergarten.
The really great part about sensory tools and toys is that we can intentionally add items to sensory tables, bins, and bottles that help these kiddos learn important math, science, and literacy concepts and skills, as well as strengthen those fine motor muscles.
You will find all of these plus MORE sensory items on my Amazon list!
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Favorite Sensory Tools and Toys for Preschool and Kindergarten
Sensory Table
This sensory table is made of plastic and metal, unlike the sensory tables with wood frames; these last much longer with less visible wear and tear. I had this one in my full-day classroom, and I loved it!
Gator Grabber Tweezers
Practicing fine motor skills can be a chore for little learners, so make it fun with the help of these gator grabbers. These are my FAVORITE tweezers because the kids can pinch them, they are made of quality plastic, and they are just the right size for their little hands!
Handy Scoopers
You can use these scoopers with a variety of sensory table fillers for scooping and filling! Plus, when they open and close the scoopers, it’s the same motion as opening and closing scissors, so they will be developing scissor skills without using scissors.
Twisty Droppers
These sensory tools are perfect for exploring liquids and dabbling in art. The twisty structure always piques my kiddo’s interest.
Mini Animal Figures
Use small animals to encourage pretend play and vocabulary by hiding these toys in bins of sand or water beads. This set includes a set of dinos, bugs, sea creatures, and zoo animals.
Mini Construction Vehicles
Bulldozers, excavators, and dump trucks, oh my! Playing with these construction vehicles opens a new world of imagination for little learners.
Number and Counting Blocks
Throw some numbers, counting, adding, and subtraction into your sensory toy collection for even more learning fun! One side is hollow. You can fill it up or use it as a stamp, too! These are also fun in the blocks center when you are not using them in the sensory table!
Letter Blocks
These are just like the Number Blocks above. I try to add letters to sensory tubs any chance I get, and these letters are AMAZING! Challenge them even more by stamping or stacking specific letters, making their name, or spelling, and beginning reading words such as cat or dog.
Colorful Set of Bowls
Keeping a set of bowls on hand will help take sensory time to the next level. Pour, separate, and play with water beads, sand, and other fillers.
Melissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
Another great item to embrace sensory play. These pots and pans look just like the real thing, and they last forever.
Melissa & Doug Stir and Serve Cooking Utensils
Little learners can cook up anything with this set of utensils along with the pots and pans set listed above.
Mini Spatula Set
Perfect for small hands! Students love playing with these spatulas because they look like the real thing.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Introduce little learners to measurements by adding a set of measuring cups and spoons. Students can compare the sizes and amount of material each holds to explore the concepts of volume and capacity!
Water Play Kit
Invest in this magnificent sensory tool to give your little learners a real splashing good time. It comes complete with funnels and tubes to make water play even more fun. Students weave the tubes and funnels through the grid, pouring the water and observing where it does (and doesn’t) travel.
Sensory Table Fillers
The items listed below are the perfect addition to sensory tables. Change it up! Change the sensory table filler based on the theme. Now, I get all the noodles, rice, and beans at the grocery store, but here are some of my FAVORITE fillers!
Kinetic Sand
Forget regular play sand; this kinetic sand is so much more fun! Little learners can mold the sand into shapes, make castles, and even practice drawing their letters and numbers in the sand.
Insta Snow
This stuff is GREAT! It makes it possible for little learners to play in the snow any time of the year.
Pom Poms
These fluffy and colorful balls make a great textile to add to sensory tables because they are great for sorting, counting, dumping, and pouring. Plus, when they spill on the floor, they don’t make a mess!
Liquid Watercolors
You can use these watercolors to easily color dry Pasta, Chickpeas, and Rice. This set comes with a variety of colors.
Playdoh
Mix, mold, mash, shape, and cut by filling your sensory tables with good old Playdoh. If you want a bigger set than 10, you can get a pack of 24 or even 32!
Voss Water Bottles
These bottles make fantastic sensory bottles, or just put them in the sensory table with rice or noodles. They are durable, the perfect size, and easy to fill.
Glitter Glue
Use this Glitter Glue to fill the water bottles above. It gives the little learners an opportunity to relax and unwind.
I have so many favorite sensory tools and toys! Little learners enjoy exploring sensory items… and they don’t even know they are learning! Share your sensory learning tips and tricks with everyone in the comments!
Be sure to check out my GIANT list of sensory table fillers and tools, plus easy ways to intentionally plan learning experiences in the sensory table HERE or by clicking on the photo.
Want to know my FAVORITE SLIME recipe that my students and I both LOVE? It’s LETTER SLIME because it gets kiddos talking about letters and sounds, making names and words. It’s super easy to make, too!
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Want more to check out more of my favorite things for little learners? Check out myFavorite Things Blog Serieswith over 15 different favorite things lists (and growing)! If there are any favorite things for a theme you need, just let us know so we can create it for you.
