My kids love the sensory table ( I use an outdoor sand table that I keep inside). Because I have young toddlers, I include larger items that they can't choke on and I tend to keep with our monthly themes. I.e Christmas time, we had a bunch of Christmas bows in it, for any colour theme I put in an assorted array of items of that colour. I've put in large fake flowers, blocks, cars, animals, shredded paper,...the list is endless.

If I do any "messy" sensory bins, I tend to use my rubbermaid containers..I have several so there is no pushing and fighting and I'm there with them the whole time and when we're done the items get packaged away. I've used colored rice, pasta, beans, water etc...with spoons, funnels, cups bowls etc...

And now that the weather is nice, they have a sandbox and water table for endless fun.