Sensory play is a fantastic way to stimulate toddlers’ growth and development. By engaging in hands-on exploration, creativity, and sensory integration, young children can build essential cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills. This treasure trove of 31 easy-to-execute sensory activities utilizes everyday household items, allowing you to tailor them to your child’s unique needs.
From tactile bins and squishy playdough to messy art and captivating sensory bottles, these ideas promise hours of entertainment and learning for your little ones. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of sensory discovery, as your toddler’s imagination takes flight! I’ve personally found myself enthralled by some of these activities just as much as my children have.
Paper Mache
Transforming old newspapers and magazines into creative masterpieces is a delightful way to engage your toddler in sensory play. Paper mache is an excellent activity that not only encourages imagination but also helps develop fine motor skills. Simply create any animal, craft, or project you find online using molds, trays, or even an alphabet set. We’ve had a blast making ornaments and other fun creations with this versatile medium. And the best part?
It’s a perfect indoor activity for rainy days when your little one needs something to keep them entertained!
Loom Band Sensory Bottles
Transform ordinary bottles into vibrant sensory toys by infusing them with loom bands. Simply combine water, colorful bands, and optional additives like glitter or hair gel/soap inside the bottle. Once the mixture has dried, secure the lid in place using hot glue. This unique creation is sure to delight kids, providing a tactile experience that’s just as engaging as it is visually appealing.
While it’s unlikely that children will be able to remove the lid, you may want to be aware of any particularly curious individuals who might attempt to break the seal.
Salt Dough
Combine flour, salt, and water to create a pliable dough that fosters the development of fine motor skills. Engage in creative activities together by shaping, practicing letters, or allowing your child to explore freely. What’s more, this versatile dough can be transformed into ornaments once dry, providing endless possibilities for decoration with paint or other mediums.
Sensory Bins
Transforming ordinary materials like rice or sand into a play bin can be an effective way to foster exploration and creativity in young children. Consider theme-ing your bin around their current interests or learning topics, making it a meaningful and engaging experience for them. I’m particularly fond of using these types of bins for sensory activities, as they offer the added benefits of easy storage and stackability.
Sensory Bags
When it comes to creating sensory experiences for kids, mess containment is key. One simple yet effective way to achieve this is by filling ziplock bags with materials like paint or gel. To prevent curious little hands from getting tempted to open the bag and explore its contents, duct tape the opening securely. This will not only keep the mess inside but also ensure that any sharp objects or pointy accessories don’t accidentally poke through and cause harm.
Chickpea Foam
Transform chickpea juice into a light and airy foam perfect for sensory play by whipping it vigorously. To take your creations to the next level, add a splash of food-safe dye for a pop of vibrant color. The key to maintaining the foam’s structure lies in incorporating cream of tartar – don’t be shy about whipping it until you achieve the desired consistency. As you whip, the longer you go, the stronger and more resilient the foam will become.
Chocolate Cloud Dough
Indulge your senses by blending cocoa powder and oil to create a rich, aromatic experience. The resulting cloud dough has a unique texture that retains its shape remarkably well, reminiscent of damp beach sand. To achieve the perfect consistency, use just the right amount of oil – too little can result in a dry mixture, while too much can lead to waste and unnecessary expense. Make sure to have an array of molds, toys, or diggers at the ready to unleash your child’s creativity and imagination.
This delightful activity is sure to be a hit at kids’ birthday parties!
Rainbow Spaghetti
Transform ordinary spaghetti noodles into a vibrant and interactive sensory experience by dyeing them in various colors! Ensure that the dyes used are food-safe to cater to young explorers with curious taste buds. To create this colorful concoction, divide the spaghetti among separate pots and add your chosen hues to each pool. Allow the noodles to cool completely before draining any excess water.
Finally, lightly pat the noodles dry and present them to your little ones for a delightful tactile adventure.
Squishy Mud
Combine equal parts of soap flakes and water to create a tactile mixture that can be molded and manipulated. This unique substance not only provides an immersive sensory experience for children but also offers adults a stress-free way to tidy up afterwards, leaving both spaces cleaner. It’s essential to choose a play area where you’re all comfortable cleaning up, as things are bound to get messy!
To make the cleanup process smoother, have a squeegee, plastic clipboard or similar thin, firm material at the ready.
Fake Snow
Create a magical winter wonderland in the comfort of your own home by combining two household staples – baking soda and shaving cream. This unique sensory experience is perfect for families who crave the joy of playing in the snow but don’t have the luxury of having it fall from the sky. With this clever hack, you can bring the thrill of a snowy day to life indoors, no matter what time of year it may be.
Simply mix baking soda and shaving cream together to create a fluffy, textured substance that mimics the softness and lightness of real snow.
Edible Paint
Transform your child’s creative playtime into a fun and sensory experience by whipping up a batch of edible paint using yogurt and food coloring. Simply grab a plate or large cutting board and let their imagination run wild as they explore and create with this unique medium. For an added layer of naturalness, try incorporating powdered or juice-based fruits or vegetables to the yogurt mixture before blending.
The possibilities are endless and the process is sure to delight both you and your child!
Easter Sensory Bin
Transform an ordinary sensory bin into a springtime masterpiece by combining plastic eggs, Easter-themed materials, and a stimulating base such as water or rice. Allow your child’s creativity to flourish as they explore and engage with this tactile experience. We’re particularly fond of this adorable Easter pack, which we re-purchase annually to surprise our little ones with special treats.
By repurposing retired holiday decorations, you’ll not only reduce waste but also foster a sense of environmental responsibility in your child.
Foam Sensory Bin
Transform your sensory play by creating a one-of-a-kind foam bin using shaving cream and food coloring. This tactile experience is perfect for pairing with our regular holiday sensory bin, offering a delightful combination of textures to explore. For an added artistic twist, try gently placing a piece of paper on top of the tye-dyed foam, allowing you to recreate the same vibrant colors on your page.
Once the mixture has dried, use it as a unique coloring page or add your own creative touch by drawing specific images on top.
Water Bead Calming Sensory Bottles
Transform ordinary water bottles into calming sensory tools by filling them with water beads and glitter. Once dry, seal the lids shut using hot glue and let children enjoy this soothing experience. Alternatively, reserve these bottles for times when a calming influence is needed. This unique idea can help children’s brains signal that it’s time to regulate their emotions, promoting emotional awareness and self-regulation.
Edible Water Beads
Transform regular boba or large tapioca pearls into engaging and edible sensory experiences by turning them into colorful water beads! Simply add food gel or dye to separate batches to achieve a mesmerizing multicolored effect. Meanwhile, I’m sure many of us have had the misfortune of having to reprimand or fish away water beads from a child’s mouth. It’s not hard to understand why kids are drawn to these bead-like treats – they resemble tiny pieces of candy, making them irresistible!
Homemade Slime
Indulge in a delightful tactile adventure by combining glue and borax to create a slimy concoction that’s sure to delight! To make the experience even more enjoyable, be sure to have these specially designed slime containers on hand. Just a word of caution: if you’re new to the world of slime-making, remember to keep it away from any fabrics or carpets – trust me, you’ll want to avoid those pesky stains and sticky messes altogether!
Christmas Pom Pom Water Play
Transforming everyday objects into festive sensory tools, create an immersive experience by combining pom poms and water. As children engage with these tactile stimuli, incorporate older (safe) items to encourage creativity and imagination. To elevate the activity, dye the base or water a vibrant holiday hue that resonates with your little ones.
This multi-sensory experience can be tailored to suit various learning objectives, including active listening through I Spy, counting exercises, and color recognition activities.
Surprise Water Bead Sensory Bag
Pack a sensory-rich experience by filling a ziplock bag with an assortment of beads, surprises, and textures that will captivate young explorers. To ensure durability, reinforce the bag with duct tape along all four sides and consider double-bagging for even the most enthusiastic little hands. Add some sensory spark with beads in various shapes and sizes, classic beads, and a dash of glamour with sparkly or themed figurines to keep things fresh and exciting.
As children delve into the tactile treasure trove, they’ll be simultaneously experiencing an array of sensory textures that will keep them engaged and curious.
Light Saber Sensory Bottle
Transform a humble sensory bottle into an out-of-this-world experience inspired by the iconic lightsabers from the Star Wars franchise! Start by selecting bottles that are safe and sturdy enough to withstand a ‘lightsaber duel’ – you never know when you might need multiple at once.
To create this intergalactic sensation, fill the bottle with glitter in the color of your favorite Star Wars fan’s choice.
Then, get creative with some decorative flair by turning the bottle into a lightsaber worthy of Obi-Wan or Luke Skywalker. You can add tiny figurines of beloved Star Wars characters to the water for an extra layer of excitement before sealing the bottle and letting its magic unfold.
Paint Texture Sensory Bag
Combine paint with various materials such as beads or sand to create a multi-sensory experience that will captivate your child’s imagination. Fill different bags on a board and let them explore the unique textures, discovering new ways to describe each one. This engaging activity is an excellent way to reinforce learning about descriptors in school, while also fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.
For young learners like 3-year-olds, this hands-on experience is not only enjoyable but also highly effective in developing their language and cognitive abilities.
Stamp Art
Transform household items like sponges, potatoes, or even fabric scraps into creative stampers for an engaging sensory experience. You can craft seasonal-themed ones, and once they’re non-perishable, they’ll become treasured keepsakes for years to come! To add an extra layer of uniqueness, combine these homemade stamps with store-bought ones.
Alternatively, challenge your child’s creativity by practicing patterns using different stamps, and have them build upon each sequence, creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Sensory Paint Sqush Bag
Unleash your toddler’s creativity by filling a ziplock bag with paint and allowing them to experiment with mixing colors. You can start by adding one or two colors that will combine to create their favorite hue. The tactile experience of squishing the paint alongside the texture of the bag is sure to fascinate little ones. To take it to the next level, consider adding a dash of sparkle with glitter, gel, or beads.
Yogurt Silly Putty
To craft this unique putty, begin by blending yogurt and cornstarch together in a mixing bowl. Next, add a dash of safe food dyes or natural coloring agents to create the desired hue. We prefer using small containers for our putty creations, specifically the smaller sizes of slime containers. It’s essential to note that this putty has a limited shelf life when stored in the refrigerator and should be disposed of through composting or proper waste management once it reaches its expiration date.
Apple Painting in a Bag
For a creative and mess-free painting experience, place a cut-out silhouette of an apple overtop a zip lock bag filled with paint. This activity is perfect for learning about the fall season or as a fun early school project. The same idea applies to other simple silhouettes that can add a seasonal, holiday, letter/number oriented, or whimsical touch. This mess-free art sensory experience offers endless possibilities and is sure to delight children’s imaginations.
Shaving Cream and Mirrors
Transform your toddler’s sensory experience with a fascinating fusion of shaving cream and mirrors! This interactive play allows children to freely explore, discover, and learn through tactile manipulation. For an added educational twist, incorporate shapes, letters, and numbers within the foam, making it a unique way to develop fine motor skills. Cleanup is a breeze using a trusty squeegee or laminated tool that can withstand minor scratches.
To take creativity to the next level, simply add washable paint to the mixture for an explosion of color and fun!
Halloween Squishy Sensory Bags
With a penchant for holiday crafts and projects, I’m excited to share some unique and engaging activities that bring the spooky season to life. Why not create sensory bags filled with gel and creepy crawlies? The tactile experience is sure to delight, while also providing an opportunity for children to explore their creativity. For another art-filled adventure, try pairing a simple printout of a Halloween-themed picture with the perfect paint color.
This interactive activity allows kids to let their imagination run wild, making it a great way to get them in the mood for the spooky season. And let’s be honest, this is one of the most enjoyable and engaging Halloween games for classrooms!
Alphabet Sensory Bin
Craft a multisensory experience that fosters literacy skills by combining letter-themed materials with tactile exploration. Incorporate vocabulary words or personal names to make it an adaptable activity for your child. Our versatile alphabet set has already provided endless possibilities for creative play and learning, having been used in various sensory bins, slime activities, and other letter-based explorations.
Vegetable Garden Sensory Bin
One of my favorite sensory bin ideas is actually a seasonal one that seamlessly transitions from winter to spring and then from spring to summer. This unique approach makes it an excellent way to introduce the fundamentals of vegetables and fruit to someone who’s just starting out. A vegetable garden-themed sensory bin filled with actual veggies and gardening tools is a fantastic way to do just that! The ‘This Little Vegetable Garden’ set, in particular, is ideal for our purposes.
It would be a blast to set up as an outdoor activity for preschoolers during the summer months!
Valentine’s Day Sensory Tub
Valentine’s Day is not left out of the fun when it comes to creating engaging sensory tubs for kids! A simple yet effective way to incorporate this holiday into your activities is by using heart-shaped materials or red, pink, and white pom poms. This festive approach can be a great way to encourage exploration and learning, as children develop their fine motor skills while discovering the textures and shapes of these objects.
Beyond just being a fun activity, this sensory tub can also serve as a valuable tool for teaching color recognition and identification. Consider adding different colored hearts to your bin, which not only adds an extra layer of excitement but also provides a unique opportunity for kids to practice their color-matching skills.
Arctic Ice Sensory Play
For young learners exploring winter or landscapes, this sensory bin is an engaging experience. Combine ice cubes and arctic animals for an immersive activity that sparks curiosity. To create the igloos, we froze small and medium-sized balloons in a tub of water. This tactile exploration can also serve as a valuable visual aid to discuss climate change with your child, simply by gradually adding warm water to illustrate the concept.
Rainbow Rice
Transforming plain white rice into a kaleidoscope of colors is an effortless way to create an engaging sensory bin experience. I typically re-dye my rice every couple of years or when it’s been played with extensively, especially if it’s for a themed or holiday bin. This process allows children to fully immerse themselves in the activity, making it a great way to encourage their curiosity and creativity.
The dye set I’ve found most effective is one that offers a vast array of colors, which has yielded exceptional results when applied to rice. In my experience, using this method on other materials has been met with varying degrees of success, but it’s the rainbow rice that has consistently produced the best results in sensory bins.
