Sensory activities

Sensory play is the messy, hands-in-it kind, and it is doing far more than keeping small hands busy. Pressing into flour, squeezing a wet sponge or fishing ice cubes out of a bowl builds the finger and palm strength a child will later use to hold a crayon, and teaches them that the same stuff can feel completely different wet, dry, warm or cold. Everything here comes from the kitchen cupboard and most of it happens on a tray, so the clean-up is one shake over the sink. Each activity has a drier, calmer version for days when you cannot face the mess.

29 activities

Bubble Wrap Stomp illustration Bubble Wrap Stomp from 12 months · 5-10 min Flour Hand Prints illustration Flour Hand Prints from 12 months · 5-10 min Ice Cube Melt illustration Ice Cube Melt from 12 months · 10-15 min Jelly Squish Bag illustration Jelly Squish Bag from 12 months · 5-10 min Leaf Crunch Basket illustration Leaf Crunch Basket from 12 months · 10-15 min Pudding Finger Paint Splat illustration Pudding Finger Paint Splat from 12 months · 10-15 min Rice Bin Dig illustration Rice Bin Dig from 12 months · 10-15 min Textured Fabric Basket illustration Textured Fabric Basket from 12 months · 5-10 min Warm Rice Sock Squeeze illustration Warm Rice Sock Squeeze from 12 months · 5-10 min Wet Sponge Squeeze illustration Wet Sponge Squeeze from 12 months · 10 min Cornstarch Goop Tray illustration Cornstarch Goop Tray from 14 months · 10-15 min Cotton Ball Scoop illustration Cotton Ball Scoop from 14 months · 5-10 min Mirror Light Play illustration Mirror Light Play from 14 months · 5-10 min Play Dough Poke illustration Play Dough Poke from 14 months · 10-15 min Yogurt Finger Paint illustration Yogurt Finger Paint from 14 months · 10 min Cotton Swab Paint Dots illustration Cotton Swab Paint Dots from 16 months · 10-15 min Frozen Toy Dig illustration Frozen Toy Dig from 16 months · 10-20 min Pom-Pom Water Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Water Scoop from 16 months · 10-15 min Water Pouring Station illustration Water Pouring Station from 16 months · 10-15 min Bubble Bath Whisk illustration Bubble Bath Whisk from 18 months · 5-10 min Jelly Hands Dig illustration Jelly Hands Dig from 24 months · 10-15 min Sock Sorting By Feel illustration Sock Sorting By Feel from 24 months · 5-10 min Sponge Squeeze Splash illustration Sponge Squeeze Splash from 24 months · 10-15 min Flour Finger Drawing illustration Flour Finger Drawing from 26 months · 10-15 min Ice Cube Melt Race illustration Ice Cube Melt Race from 26 months · 10-15 min Rice Scoop And Pour illustration Rice Scoop And Pour from 26 months · 10-15 min Shaving Foam Swirl illustration Shaving Foam Swirl from 26 months · 10-15 min Texture Basket Guess illustration Texture Basket Guess from 26 months · 5-10 min Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake illustration Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake from 28 months · 10-15 min

Other types of play

Fine motor activities for toddlers · Gross motor activities for toddlers · Everyday helper activities for toddlers · Quiet & calm activities for toddlers · All activities