Try these fun sensory activities for toddlers and babies and see what creative things they do
Sensory play is critical for toddlers’ and babies’ developing brains, and you’ll enjoy watching as your child discovers new textures and learns about cause and effect, all while having tons of fun. So the next time sensory activities for toddlers is on your mind, try these easy DIY ideas you can put together in a jiffy. Many use household items you already have on hand, like baby-safe paint, to stimulate babies’ senses and satisfy their need for exploration. Others may require you to grab a few things the next time you’re out at the store so can create these sensory activities for toddlers when the time comes. Either way, planning sensory play at your house has never been easier.
Sensory Activities for Toddlers
1. The Sweet Sound of Velcro
The family at Mama.Papa.Bubba discovered their little one’s fascination with VELCRO and share lots of creative ways to use it to engage your curious kid. VELCRO can be used on its own, so kids can learn about how it sticks together and comes apart, or with different materials (think shoelaces, stuffed animals, socks) so they can figure out what sticks and what doesn’t. This is a no-mess activity, making it a great choice for days when you just can’t clean up another spill.
2. Sponge Bombs
On warm days, these sponge bombs are fun for kids of all ages. Your littlest explorer will be fascinated by the shape, color and texture of the sponges, and how they absorb and release water, while older kids can play catch, surprise friends with an unexpected shower, or score baskets. These can also be enjoyed in the bath or in your kitchen (perhaps with cookie sheets or towels to contain the water). Find out how to make them at Inner Child Fun.
3. Bubbles & Blocks
And speaking of bubbles... Mama.Papa.Bubba put them together with DUPLO bricks for an easy way to keep kids entertained for a long time. Lay down a towel or plastic tablecloth, and fill a plastic container with blocks, soapy water (use baby wash or dish soap), and a dish brush or sponges. Then watch as your child explores the bricks, splashes the water, plays with the bubbles, and picks up the scrubber to get those bricks clean.
4. Cool Painting Trick
On a warm day, try out this idea fromDomestic Mommyhood: painting with colored ice cubes. Using ice trays from your freezer, liquid watercolor, and tap water, make ice cubes and then head outside with some big sheets of white paper and watch kids use them like crayons to make their own masterpieces. Holding onto slippery ice cubes is a great way for little fingers to practice their grip strength, and we love that any mess from this activity is left outside.
Related:
5. Wonderful Water Beads
Pop by any preschool classroom and you’re likely to find kids and parents equally enamored with water beads. Something about their squishy texture just screams “play with me!” However, because they aren’t edible, sharing them with young children means getting creative. Meri Cherry has the great idea to fill resealable bags with these beads, seal ‘em up with duct tape, and let your little one squish, mush and roll to their heart’s content (under your supervision, of course).
6. A Rainbow of Exploration
Fill a container of any size and shape with almost any assortment of objects and voila! Instant entertainment for your little one. Little Bins for Little Hands tells you all you need to know to make one (or several bins), using items already in your home. Raid the pantry for beans, rice or cereal; head to the kitchen for measuring cups, spoons and whisks; duck into the yard for flowers, grass, pinecones and rocks; or hit up your closet for bracelets, shoelaces, old keys and buttons.
7. Spectacular Spaghetti
What’s colorful, slimy and completely fascinating? Cooked spaghetti. Spice it up with a bit of color, throw in some alphabet shapes, and you have an afternoon of sensory play for wandering toes, exploring mouths and bright eyes. It's another great idea from Anna at The Imagination Tree.
8. Make It Rain
Rain sticks take some time and work to create, but this is a musical instrument that will keep kids engaged for a long time. The Imagination Tree shares the instructions, which involve putting nails into a cardboard tube and filling it with small items (like rice, lentils, and barley) to make interesting sounds. Use one item per tube so each will make a different sound, just perfect for an impromptu jam session.
9. Welcome to the Coffee Shop
This coffee shop activity from Happy Hooligans combines two of our favorite things: imaginative play and sensory exploration. With just a few ingredients, including sand, water, dish soap and coffee cups, your toddler can set up a play coffee shop and explore mixing ingredients in different proportions and serving your family, all while learning about cause and effect, textures, and the basics of running their own restaurant.
10. Cotton Ball Bonanza
Want to take a quick shower? Let your child entertain themselves with a container of water and some cotton balls. As with most sensory play, simpler is often better when it comes to engaging little minds. Kids can explore how cotton balls absorb water, how the water comes out when you squeeze them, and how dry cotton balls stick together and come apart. This easy, inexpensive idea comes from Fun at Home with Kids.
11. Super Seeds
Also from our friends at Fun at Home with Kids comes this edible, safe-for-little-mouths activity uses basil seeds instead of the more common water beads. These seeds absorb water, resulting in a squishy, jelly-like consistency, and can be dyed any color you like. From there, your little one can scoop, pour, fill, empty, press, swirl, and more, all without you worrying about a choking hazard.
Sensory Play for Babies
12. Foamy Fun
Bubbles! Grab your hand mixer, dish soap, water, and food coloring to make this foamy soap that will entrance your child. Spoon it into a tray or low plastic bowl and add plastic animals or bath toys for even more fun. If you can't play outside, lay down a large towel underneath or put your tray in the bathtub for minimal mess. This good, clean fun doubles as an easy way to clean some kid toys. Get the instructions for this sensory play idea at Little Bins for Little Hands.
Related: Let's Play! Sensory Activities for All 5 Senses
13. Jiggling Jello
Hands On As We Grow has an anthropological spin on the snack-time favorite by suggesting you insert small toys (or beans, rice, or beads) into the Jell-o, let it set, and then let your little one study how objects are suspended inside, and dig into it to see what they can extract. Your child will probably smell the fruity Jell-o, but if they take a nibble, watch closely for any choking hazards. It can get messy, so you might want to lay down a towel or tray or take this project outside or into the tub to minimize clean-up.
14. Toddler Tunnel
The folks at Toddler Approved are onto something with this simple yet brilliant idea to attach ribbons of varying lengths, widths and textures to an old box and letting your little one crawl in and out, feel the ribbons passing over their body, drag the box around, and play peek-a-boo with it. This creation can be left out and re-used or re-purposed, given it extra longevity and entertainment value.
15. Rice, Rice, Baby
One of our favorite bloggers, Fun at Home with Kids, came up with a fun and super-easy idea for rice play. Why rice? It makes a neat swishy sound and is safer than sand for babies who put everything (and we mean everything!) in their mouths. Just add a tray and some wooden toys and your tot will be occupied for a good chunk of time.
16. It's in the Bag
These baby sensory bags are so cool, older kids will want to have a go. They're made using resealable bags and hair gel. Fill 'em with all kinds of items, from hair bands to buttons, so baby will have interesting things to squish and push. Tip from blogger Jen, a.k.a Plain Vanilla Mom: Seal the bag with duct tape to keep contents contained.
17. Pinterest for Babies
Make a cool "pin" board in a flash. Just grab the hot glue and some kid-friendly scraps you may have lying around the house for an eclectic collection of textures and colors. Check out Laughing Kids Learn for the DIY guide.
Related:
18. Star Light, Star Bright
Fill a jar with twinkle lights for your child's own personal light show! Watch them roll it, bang on it, even gnaw on the jar. Just make sure that the top is on tightly. Dayna and the gang at Lemon Lime Adventuresshow you how it’s done.
19. Splish, Splash!
All children love water play. To engage younger kids, you just need to dribble a little water on a cooking sheet, add a couple of balls, and watch baby explore the wet space. Get more on this from the mama at Dirt and Boogers.
20. Rolling in the Dough
Soft and shimmery, light and flaky, this baby-safe cloud dough is made with just two ingredients (whole-grain rice cereal and coconut oil) and is safe for wee ones to get in their hands, hair and even mouths. Head to the Lemon Lime Adventuresblogfor supermom Dayna's recipe for cloud dough.
Make sure to capture all the messy fun—and share it with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Sensory Activities for Toddlers and Babies
Sensory play is an important part of a child's development, helping them explore their senses and learn about cause and effect. There are many fun and easy sensory activities that you can try with your toddlers and babies using household items. Let's explore some of these activities:
1. The Sweet Sound of Velcro
One activity that toddlers and babies may enjoy is playing with Velcro. They can learn about how it sticks together and comes apart, and you can also incorporate different materials like shoelaces, stuffed animals, and socks to see what sticks and what doesn't. This activity is mess-free and can be a great choice for days when you don't want to clean up spills. [[1]]
2. Sponge Bombs
On warm days, you can make sponge bombs for your little ones to play with. They will be fascinated by the shape, color, and texture of the sponges, as well as how they absorb and release water. Older kids can play catch or surprise their friends with an unexpected shower. This activity can also be enjoyed in the bath or in the kitchen with cookie sheets or towels to contain the water. [[2]]
3. Bubbles & Blocks
Bubbles are always a hit with kids, and you can make it even more fun by combining them with DUPLO bricks. Lay down a towel or plastic tablecloth, fill a plastic container with blocks, soapy water, and a dish brush or sponges, and watch as your child explores the bricks, splashes the water, plays with the bubbles, and even cleans the bricks with the scrubber. [[3]]
4. Cool Painting Trick
On a warm day, you can try painting with colored ice cubes. Using ice trays, liquid watercolor, and tap water, make ice cubes and then head outside with big sheets of white paper. Kids can use the ice cubes like crayons to make their own masterpieces. This activity also helps little fingers practice their grip strength. [[4]]
5. Wonderful Water Beads
Water beads are a popular sensory material that kids and parents alike enjoy. You can fill resealable bags with water beads and let your little one squish, mush, and roll them to their heart's content. This activity provides a squishy texture for exploration and can be a great sensory experience. [[5]]
6. A Rainbow of Exploration
You can create an instant entertainment for your little one by filling a container with various objects. Raid your pantry for beans, rice, or cereal, head to the kitchen for measuring cups, spoons, and whisks, explore your yard for flowers, grass, pinecones, and rocks, or check your closet for bracelets, shoelaces, old keys, and buttons. The possibilities are endless, and your child can have fun exploring different textures and objects. [[6]]
7. Spectacular Spaghetti
Cooked spaghetti can be a colorful, slimy, and fascinating sensory material for babies and toddlers. You can add a bit of color and even alphabet shapes to make it more engaging. This activity allows children to explore with their senses and can be a great way to introduce different textures. [[7]]
8. Make It Rain
Creating rain sticks can be a fun and engaging activity for kids. By putting nails into a cardboard tube and filling it with small items like rice, lentils, and barley, you can make interesting sounds. Each rain stick can make a different sound, making it perfect for impromptu jam sessions. [[8]]
9. Welcome to the Coffee Shop
This activity combines imaginative play and sensory exploration. With sand, water, dish soap, and coffee cups, your toddler can set up a play coffee shop and explore mixing ingredients in different proportions. This activity helps children learn about cause and effect, textures, and the basics of running their own restaurant. [[9]]
10. Cotton Ball Bonanza
A simple and engaging sensory activity for babies and toddlers is playing with water and cotton balls. Children can explore how cotton balls absorb water, how the water comes out when squeezed, and how dry cotton balls stick together and come apart. This activity is easy and inexpensive to set up. [[10]]
11. Super Seeds
Instead of water beads, you can use basil seeds for a safe and edible sensory activity. These seeds absorb water and have a squishy, jelly-like consistency. Your little one can scoop, pour, fill, empty, press, and swirl them, providing a sensory experience without worrying about choking hazards. [[11]]
Sensory Play for Babies
12. Foamy Fun
You can make foamy soap for your baby using a hand mixer, dish soap, water, and food coloring. Spoon it into a tray or low plastic bowl and add plastic animals or bath toys for even more fun. This activity can be done outside or in the bathtub to minimize mess. [[12]]
13. Jiggling Jello
Inserting small toys or other objects into Jell-o can be a fun sensory activity for babies. They can study how objects are suspended inside the Jell-o and explore the texture. However, it's important to closely supervise your child to prevent choking hazards. This activity can get messy, so it's recommended to lay down a towel or tray or do it outside or in the tub. [[13]]
14. Toddler Tunnel
Attaching ribbons of varying lengths, widths, and textures to an old box can create a simple yet brilliant sensory activity for babies. They can crawl in and out of the box, feel the ribbons passing over their body, drag the box around, and play peek-a-boo with it. This activity promotes sensory exploration and can be re-used or re-purposed for extended entertainment. [[14]]
15. Rice, Rice, Baby
Rice play can be a fun and easy sensory activity for babies. Rice makes a swishy sound and is safer than sand for babies who tend to put everything in their mouths. Just add a tray and some wooden toys, and your baby will be occupied for a good amount of time. [[15]]
16. It's in the Bag
Baby sensory bags are a cool activity that can also be enjoyed by older kids. These bags are made using resealable bags and hair gel, filled with various items like hair bands or buttons for babies to squish and push. It's recommended to seal the bag with duct tape to keep the contents contained. [[16]]
17. Pinterest for Babies
You can create a "pin" board for babies using hot glue and kid-friendly scraps. This board will provide a collection of textures and colors for babies to explore. It's a simple DIY project that can engage babies in sensory play. [[17]]
18. Star Light, Star Bright
Filling a jar with twinkle lights can create a personal light show for your child. They can roll it, bang on it, and explore the jar's texture. It's important to ensure that the top is tightly secured to prevent any accidents. [[18]]
19. Splish, Splash!
Water play is always a hit with children, and even younger kids can enjoy it with a simple setup. Dribbling a little water on a cooking sheet and adding a couple of balls can create a wet space for babies to explore. [[19]]
20. Rolling in the Dough
Cloud dough made with whole-grain rice cereal and coconut oil can be a safe and enjoyable sensory material for babies. It has a soft and shimmery texture that babies can explore with their hands, hair, and mouths. This recipe is easy to make and provides a sensory experience for babies. [[20]]
These are just a few examples of sensory activities for toddlers and babies. Remember to always supervise your child during sensory play and ensure that the materials used are safe and age-appropriate. Enjoy exploring and having fun with your little ones!
