10 Simple Sensory Play Activities for Children

There’s a reason why sensory play is so popular in the kids’ activity area.

Sensory play activities are not only a trend. They don’t do scripted dances on TikTok, nor are they the newest fad. Long a staple of early childhood, sensory bins, games, and play, they have just recently begun to earn the attention and elegant plaudits they so deserve.

While it may appear that sensory is everywhere on your social media feeds, these adorable children treasures weren’t overnight successes. They have long been present in daycares, preschools, and recreation facilities.

But now is the time to use their strength and magical learning powers in the home environment.

What is sensory play?

With real-world objects, a child may investigate, interact with, and manipulate during sensory play. It doesn’t matter if this happens indoors or outside; what matters is that kids are interacting with their surroundings.

Using sensory bins in the home environment, we may promote sensory play. To make sensory bins, take a tub, jar, or bin and fill it with a tactile substance that kids can play with.

Although the idea is straightforward, sensory bins are everything from simple and fulfill a lot of the requirements for sensory play.

Little ones’ attention spans are more easily captured and maintained by sensory bins than by most other activities.

Finding the ideal sensory activities for your child, your house, and your degree of messy play tolerance is essential despite the abundance of sensory activity ideas that are available online. Although there are several sensory standouts in the sensory category that could just be the ideal choice for your family, this won’t be the same for everyone.

What makes sensory play activities so crucial?

In a nutshell, sensory play is not simply dirty play for the sake of messy play. I have a whole piece on why sensory is so essential that I would love for you to check out.

Children learn in a serious and substantial way through sensory experiences. A youngster has a unique chance here to develop their math, science, problem-solving, critical thinking, fine motor, pretend play, and communication abilities (just to name a few).

The best sensory play activities for children: a go-to list

Let’s examine some of the greatest indoor sensory play activities for kids nowadays. These are the top of the top, the 10/10, the champions who consistently win again.

The great thing about sensory bins is that they are age-appropriate; bins that are good for toddlers are equally good for third graders. Because only with a sensory bin can a 12-month-old and a 12-year-old actually play side by side, I refer to sensory play as “the great equalizer.”

These are the hobbies that I always turn to.

These are the sensory play activities that I frequently choose to engage in. When it comes to sensory concepts, we don’t always need to reinvent the wheel; a few solid parenting hacks may go a long way.

1.Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Nothing makes a more beautiful sensory experience than rainbow rice. It’s shockingly easy to make and lasts 3-5 years when stored tight. How many other toys last YEARS of play?

2.Pom Pom Soup

Love pom pom balls? Try adding water. I’m not kidding! This is a unique spin on a sensory classic – but don’t worry, the pom pom balls dry up perfectly at the end.

3.Toy Washing Station

YES, water is a sensory moment! Seems almost too easy, am I right? Have your kids wash their toys in water and bubbles for one of the simplest (and cleanest) sensory bins around.

4.Bubble Foam Sensory

This is what happens when you mix bath soap and water in a blender or with a mixer. I’m not kidding: this is life changing stuff. You only need soap and water (coloring optional).

5.Muddy Trucks

Mud is sensory (is your mind blown?). Sensory experiences occur in nature, but in case Mother Nature didn’t leave you any mud to work, just add hose to a kiddie pool full of dirt. This is EPIC.

6.Water Pouring Station

I know we’ve gone over this, but let’s review. WATER IS SENSORY. And nothing is more engaging for kids than learning to pour in this A+ activity.

7.Oatmeal Sensory Bin

Uncooked oatmeal is mesmerizing to play with, and it stores for years of play. This simple bin is reminiscent of one I played with in a church basement as a kid.

8.Oobleck

You can’t talk sensory activities without oobleck. This mix of cornstarch and water creates an epic non-Newtownian fluid. It’s not a liquid. It’s not a solid. It’s just plain awesome.

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9.Kinetic Sand

This is my kids’ favorite material: kinetic sand. It’s fluffy sand that doesn’t get in eyes or spread all over the place. It’s store bought – I’m not fancy enough to make this!

10.Colorful Ice Cubes

While some people have frozen meals in their freezers to divert disaster, I keep colorful ice cubes. It makes my life so much better knowing I can pull together some epic sensory fun in seconds.