Sensory Play
Sensory play is fantastic for young children—it supports cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving, and language development. Here are engaging sensory play ideas organized by sensory type:
Tactile (Touch-Based) Sensory Play
Sensory Bins – Fill containers with:
Rice, pasta, or beans (dry)
Sand or kinetic sand
Water beads
Shredded paper or cotton balls
Themed fillers (e.g., dinosaurs in soil, arctic animals in ice)
Playdough or Clay Play
Add scents (lavender, lemon)
Mix in glitter or beads
Use cookie cutters and rollers
Slime & Oobleck
Slime (with glitter or foam beads)
Oobleck (cornstarch + water)
Water & Messy Play
Water Tables or Buckets
Add sponges, cups, and ladles
Colored water or bubbles
Floating vs. sinking objects
Ice Play
Freeze small toys in ice cubes
Paint ice with salt and watercolors
Foam or Shaving Cream Fun
Sensory trays with shaving cream and safe food coloring
Write letters or shapes with fingers
Scent-Based Sensory Play
Scented Playdough or Paint
Smell Jars
Fill containers with items like cinnamon, coffee, vanilla, citrus peel
Guess the scent with eyes closed
Sound-Based Sensory Play
Homemade Instruments
Shakers with rice/beans
Drums from pots/pans or oatmeal containers
Listening Walks
Identify nature sounds (birds, wind, leaves)
Visual Sensory Play
Color Sorting Games
Use pom-poms, buttons, or paper scraps
Light Play
Shadow puppets
Flashlight exploration in a dark room
Calm Down Bottles
Fill bottles with water, glitter, oil, and small toys
Combo Activities (Multi-sensory)
Nature Sensory Scavenger Hunt
Find smooth, rough, soft, noisy, colorful things outdoors
Edible Sensory Play
Cooked pasta, mashed potatoes, whipped cream
Baking Together
Measure, stir, smell, and taste – all senses engaged!
