Giving kids the freedom to be messy is not only good fun, it can help develop their hand-eye coordination and basic motor skills, too. Toddlers especially take great pleasure from exploring tactile objects – anything involving bright colors, unusual textures and satisfying sounds is bound to be a hit!
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These projects for sensory play are all easy to prepare, budget-friendly and use everyday items that you’re likely to already have at home. They’re all child-safe, although adult supervision during play is always recommended.
Need extra ideas for keeping the kids entertained? Discover even more with our activities for kids guide.
Top 10 Sensory Play Ideas
1. Colorful spaghetti
Cook a batch of spaghetti, then divide it between bowls and add different food coloring to each one. Mix well, and soon you’ll have a whole rainbow of squidgy ‘worms’ for toddlers to play with.
2. Blowing bubbles
Mixed race boy blowing bubbles outdoors
Mix one part washing-up liquid with six parts water to make your own homemade bubble mixture. If you don’t have store-bought wands, have fun finding your own versions. Can the children make their bubbles using a biscuit cutter, paperclip or colander?
3. Pom-pom sorting
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Blank blue envelope surrounded by multi-colored pom poms on a light wooden background and a caucasian child’s hand reaching out
Create a simple matching game to teach little ones about color. Find a pack of readymade pom-poms in your local craft shop, or get an older sibling to help make a pom-pom using wool. Draw colored circles onto a large sheet of paper, then help your toddler to sort the different pom-poms into the right color groups.
[mellis9]
4. Ice block treasure hunt
Dinosaur in a block of ice
Freeze small toys inside a block of ice and older kids can excavate their very own artefacts! Put a few toys, such as dinosaurs, in the bottom of a container, then partly fill with water and freeze; repeat until full. Provide children’s tools or cutlery and help them bash into the ice.
5. Play with slime
Our simple recipe for edible slime is perfect for toddlers – it’s safe enough for them to put in their mouth to explore the texture, but we’d advise against making a meal of it! Combine cornflor, icing sugar and coconut milk with your choice of food coloring to make your own squidgy slime at home.
6. Make a mud kitchen
Children outdoor wooden mud play kitchen
If they’re old enough to stand, explore our mud kitchen ideas for some messy creative play. Provide some old pots, spoons and plastic bowls for them to mix together their own weird and wonderful concoctions from the garden.
7. Rainbow rice
Children play educational games with a sensory bin in kindergarten
To make your own brightly coloured rice, put about a cup (185g) of any dried rice with your choice of gel food colouring in a container. Add ½ tsp vinegar to the rice – this stops the dye from transferring – then put the lid on and shake well to mix. Spread the rice out in a thin layer on a baking sheet to dry for 2-3 hours before using.
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8. Homemade playdough
Girl playing with play dough
Raid the kitchen cupboards and follow our easy playdough recipe – you’ll soon have a tactile diversion that can be used time and time again. Provide some different tools to help your child engage with it, such as plastic biscuit cutters, silicone ice cube trays, small rolling pins or travel cups.
9. Make some maracas
If you don’t mind a little bit of noise, learn how to make maracas and your toddler will love discovering a new sound sensation! You can either use plastic spoons and an old toy egg, or cardboard tubes to make triangular versions.
[mellis11]
10. Fake snow
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There’s no need to wait for Christmas to make a snowman! Learn how to make fake snow using just three ingredients. Young children will love squishing together this ‘snow’ to make clumps and snowballs for a winter scene. You can add a few drops of food colouring for a summertime version – be sure to add the colour before the water to achieve the right consistency.
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australian made wooden toys
, australian wooden toys
, baby boy 1st birthday gift ideas
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These projects for sensory play are all easy to prepare, budget-friendly and use everyday items that you’re likely to already have at home. They’re all child-safe, although adult supervision during play is always recommended.
Need extra ideas for keeping the kids entertained? Discover even more with our activities for kids guide.
Top 10 Sensory Play Ideas
1. Colorful spaghetti
Cook a batch of spaghetti, then divide it between bowls and add different food coloring to each one. Mix well, and soon you’ll have a whole rainbow of squidgy ‘worms’ for toddlers to play with.
Sensory Play
2. Blowing bubbles
Mixed race boy blowing bubbles outdoors
Mix one part washing-up liquid with six parts water to make your own homemade bubble mixture. If you don’t have store-bought wands, have fun finding your own versions. Can the children make their bubbles using a biscuit cutter, paperclip or colander?
Sensory Play 
3. Pom-pom sorting
Sponsor content - Useful Tips About Toys and games Which Are Easy To Comply with :
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, baby girl gifts australia
, baby shower gifts australia
, benefit of sensory play
, benefits of pretend play
Blank blue envelope surrounded by multi-colored pom poms on a light wooden background and a caucasian child’s hand reaching out
Create a simple matching game to teach little ones about color. Find a pack of readymade pom-poms in your local craft shop, or get an older sibling to help make a pom-pom using wool. Draw colored circles onto a large sheet of paper, then help your toddler to sort the different pom-poms into the right color groups.
[mellis9]
4. Ice block treasure hunt
Dinosaur in a block of ice
Freeze small toys inside a block of ice and older kids can excavate their very own artefacts! Put a few toys, such as dinosaurs, in the bottom of a container, then partly fill with water and freeze; repeat until full. Provide children’s tools or cutlery and help them bash into the ice.
5. Play with slime
Our simple recipe for edible slime is perfect for toddlers – it’s safe enough for them to put in their mouth to explore the texture, but we’d advise against making a meal of it! Combine cornflor, icing sugar and coconut milk with your choice of food coloring to make your own squidgy slime at home.
Sensory Play
6. Make a mud kitchen
Children outdoor wooden mud play kitchen
If they’re old enough to stand, explore our mud kitchen ideas for some messy creative play. Provide some old pots, spoons and plastic bowls for them to mix together their own weird and wonderful concoctions from the garden.
7. Rainbow rice
Children play educational games with a sensory bin in kindergarten
To make your own brightly coloured rice, put about a cup (185g) of any dried rice with your choice of gel food colouring in a container. Add ½ tsp vinegar to the rice – this stops the dye from transferring – then put the lid on and shake well to mix. Spread the rice out in a thin layer on a baking sheet to dry for 2-3 hours before using.
Sponsor content - Have You Been Looking ForToys and games? Check This Out Initially:
benefits of sensory play
, benefits of sensory play for babies
, benefits of sensory play for toddlers
, benifits of sensory play
, best baby shower gifts for boy
8. Homemade playdough
Girl playing with play dough
Raid the kitchen cupboards and follow our easy playdough recipe – you’ll soon have a tactile diversion that can be used time and time again. Provide some different tools to help your child engage with it, such as plastic biscuit cutters, silicone ice cube trays, small rolling pins or travel cups.
9. Make some maracas
If you don’t mind a little bit of noise, learn how to make maracas and your toddler will love discovering a new sound sensation! You can either use plastic spoons and an old toy egg, or cardboard tubes to make triangular versions.
[mellis11]
10. Fake snow
Sponsor content - Helpful Tips About Playthings That Are Simple To Follow :
best educational toys for 2 year olds
, best educational toys for 4 year olds
, best gifts for baby's first christmas
, best pretend play
, birthday gift ideas for 2 year old baby girl
There’s no need to wait for Christmas to make a snowman! Learn how to make fake snow using just three ingredients. Young children will love squishing together this ‘snow’ to make clumps and snowballs for a winter scene. You can add a few drops of food colouring for a summertime version – be sure to add the colour before the water to achieve the right consistency.
