Sensory Play Ideas to Help Children Develop and Learn

August 18, 2025

Sensory play helps children develop and learn by exploring the world with their hands and senses. They’re wired to learn through their senses, and that’s exactly what sensory play is all about. 

Whether it’s squishing mud between their fingers or listening to the rustle of leaves, these experiences do more than entertain; they help shape growing minds. 

So, how can we help our children develop with sensory play?

What Is Sensory Play?

Sensory play simply refers to any activity that stimulates your child’s senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. It can also involve movement, balance, and spatial awareness. From squelching jelly to watching bubbles float through the air, sensory experiences are how babies, toddlers and preschoolers make sense of the world.

These sensory play activities aren’t just about keeping kids busy. They support a whole range of developmental skills:

• Fine motor control (e.g. scooping, pouring, pinching)
• Language development (describing textures, colours, and actions)
• Problem-solving and reasoning
• Emotional regulation (especially calming sensory inputs)
• Creativity and imagination

And best of all? They’re loads of fun, and easy to set up with everyday materials.

Why Sensory Activities Matter for Development

As young children grow, their brains make countless new connections. Sensory activities help build and strengthen these connections by encouraging children to explore, experiment and discover.

Whether tasting edible creations or listening to rain hit a window, these moments help children understand cause and effect, build vocabulary, and learn to focus their attention.

Regular sensory play also supports emotional well-being. Many calming activities (like playing with rice or watching glitter swirl in a bottle) can help children settle after a busy day or manage big feelings like frustration or anxiety.

Sensory Play Ideas for Everyday Fun

You don’t need expensive toys or fancy setups. These tried-and-tested sensory play ideas use simple materials and are easy to tailor to different ages and interests.

Messy Play (Touch & Texture)

These activities let children get hands-on with different textures, a favourite for toddlers and preschoolers.

• Shaving foam fun: Spray onto a tray and let kids swirl, stamp and explore. Add a few drops of food colouring for extra interest.
• Jelly digging: Hide small toys in a bowl of jelly and let little hands dig them out.
• Mud kitchen: Set up pots, pans and spoons in the garden and let kids cook up muddy meals.

Calm Play (Sight & Sound)

These are great for quieter moments and help develop visual tracking and listening skills.

• Sensory bottles: Fill plastic bottles with water, glitter, beads or buttons. Shake and watch them settle.
• Sound walks: Take a walk and see how many sounds your child can identify: birds, traffic, rustling leaves.
• Coloured lights: Use torches and coloured filters (or cellophane) to explore light and shadows indoors.

Taste-Safe Sensory Activities (Perfect for Toddlers)

For little ones who like to explore with their mouths, keep it edible!

• Cereal bins: Fill a tub with Cheerios or cornflakes and add cups, spoons and scoops.
• Cooked spaghetti: Add food colouring and let kids squish and sort the noodles.

Outdoor Sensory Play

Nature is the best sensory playground, no setup required!

• Barefoot walk: Let your child walk on different textures such as grass, bark, pebbles, and sand.
• Water wall: Use recycled bottles, funnels and tubing to create a DIY water play station.
• Nature scavenger hunt: Collect items by texture or colour. Find a smooth stone, a bumpy leaf or something soft. 

DIY Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are endlessly customisable and great for independent play.

• Dry rice or pasta: Add scoops, diggers or hidden objects.
• Themed bins: Create a beach scene, a mini garden, or even a dinosaur world using toys and textured fillers.
• Ice play: Freeze small toys in ice cubes and provide warm water or tools to melt and rescue them.

Tips for Sensory Play at Home

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of sensory play:

• Contain the mess: Use trays, bins or shallow boxes to keep everything in one place.
• Dress for mess: Old clothes or aprons work best, especially for messy activities.
• Be present, not perfect: Follow your child’s lead and let curiosity guide the play.
• Start small: You don’t need to do a big setup; even a bowl of water with a sponge can be fascinating to a toddler.

Adapting Sensory Play for Different Ages and Needs

One of the best things about sensory play activities is how easily they can be adapted:

• For babies: Stick to high-contrast visuals, soft textures, and safe sounds.
• For toddlers: Use taste-safe materials and activities that encourage grasping, stacking and pouring.
• For preschoolers: Add more imagination and storytelling, e.g. pretend cooking, sensory-themed small worlds.
• For children with sensory sensitivities: Go slowly, observe their responses, and choose textures and sounds they enjoy. Sensory play should be calming, not overwhelming.

Let Learning Happen Through Sensory Play Ideas

Sensory play isn’t just a way to pass the time; it’s a chance for children to learn, explore and grow through hands-on experiences. From messy fun to calming activities, there’s something to suit every child and every kind of day.

So grab a tray, gather some simple materials, and watch as your child’s imagination takes off.