Play is one of the most valuable ways young children learn, and sensory play is one of the most powerful types of play for babies and toddlers. It doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive or even particularly messy. Most sensory activities can be set up in minutes using things already in the kitchen cupboard or the backyard.
Sensory play helps babies and toddlers make sense of the world around them. It stimulates the senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch) through hands-on, unstructured exploration, and supports the development of problem-solving, coordination, language and early maths and science concepts.
Below are five types of sensory play worth trying at home, from low-mess options through to the full-on messy stuff.
Here are five different types of sensory play activities for you to try at home, including extremely messy play to the more tidier play.
Water play
Water play is always a popular activity with kids, particularly in summer. It’s one of those play activities that is often set-up with not much thought, but next time you get it out why not change it up a little by simply adding detergent/bubble bath, food colouring or glitter/spices to the water. Or even better, freeze the water with hidden treasures inside.
Add different sized bowls/cups/containers/jugs, scoops, syringes, sifters, spray/pump bottles, funnels, strainers… and leave your child/ren to explore (it really is that simple). Water play teaches numerous skills such as problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and attention span, as well as science and maths concepts (e.g. volume, space, temperature).
Light play
This is always a fun one and it can often be explored by simply using nature such as sunlight. However some other useful resources include coloured perspex/cellophane, mirrors/metal objects/aluminium foil, fairy lights/torches, bubbles, coloured/shiny glass stones, and many other light/glow-in-the-dark toys. This type of play introduces babies and toddlers to reflection, shadow and colour mixing in a way that’s genuinely captivating for little ones.
Messy play
Messy play, including slime, play dough, shaving foam, hair gel, oobleck, kinetic sand, mud and cloud dough, tends to be the one parents avoid first. It’s worth pushing past the mess factor, because this is where a lot of the developmental benefit happens. You just might be surprised by how much fun it is!
Messy play supports problem-solving and experimentation, improves fine motor coordination, and helps children regulate emotions and behaviour. It also introduces concepts like texture, consistency and measurement. A splash mat or an old shower curtain on the floor makes clean-up far less daunting.
Sensory bins
The possibilities of sensory trays or bin are endless and there are so many creative ideas to try.
Options include:
- Cooking ingredients: cooked spaghetti, dry pasta or rice, oats, dried cereal, popcorn kernels, dried beans or lentils, flour
- Natural materials: sand, pine cones, feathers, pebbles, leaves, shells
- Small loose parts: water beads, buttons, corks, beads, pom poms, pipe cleaners, ribbon
Sensory trays provide children with an opportunity to explore different textures whilst also encouraging science and maths concepts as mentioned above. Another option is to introduce utensils like scoops or tongs for those who struggle with sensory issues to encourage them to get involved in a more comfortable way.
Sensory bottles and more
Sensory bottles / bags / frames / hoops – these are simple DIY resources that can be made using everyday items. They use many of the same resources as above- messy play ingredients, cooking ingredients, natural resources and small loose parts but in these activities, the resources are more restricted e.g. within a bottle, plastic sleeve/bag or photo frame, or attached to a hula hoop.
Some other alternative resources include fake grass, corrugated cardboard, bubble-wrap, a fluffy mop-head, bells, and glitter water. Sensory resources such as these explore concepts such as music and sound (using as shakers), eye coordination, fine-motor development, and can be used as a calm-down resource to help regulate emotions.
You can also offer mess-free painting by filling a bottle or plastic sleeve/bag with paint which is a great first art experience for babies.
This is a guest post from a Newcastle-based Early Childhood Director and Teacher, who brings hands-on experience supporting children’s play and development every day.
Safety note: Always supervise children during sensory play, and choose age-appropriate materials. Take particular care with water play and any small items that present a choking hazard.
Looking for more ways to fill the days at home or out and about? Check out our guide to the best things to do with a baby in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter for age-specific activities beyond sensory play, or browse our things to do with toddlers in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter guide for outings and activities suited to the toddler stage. You might also like 10 Play-Based Activities for Preschoolers.