Sensory activities are essential to support a child’s overall development. These activities can help enhance their cognitive, social, and emotional growth through interactive and exploratory play. This means they are learning while doing activities they actually enjoy! Sensory play also helps children make sense of the world around them and develop essential sensory processing skills.
This article will explore the significance of sensory activities for different age groups, from toddlers to tweens, and provide practical examples of implementing these activities at home. We also brought in one of our favorite experts, Holly Goritz, MSW, a school counselor specializing in sensory processing, to highlight the benefits of these activities for your child.
Sensory Activities for Toddlers (Ages 1-3)
It’s a common misconception that sensory activities cannot be safely done until children are older. However, starting these activities at a young age can hugely benefit a child’s development.
Toddlers, for example, experience rapid sensory and motor development characterized by significant brain growth and the formation of new neural connections. Sensory play is crucial at this stage to help toddlers explore their environment, develop motor skills, and understand cause and effect.
Some excellent sensory activities to do with children these ages include:
Sensory Bins
Create a sensory bin by filling a large container with safe, non-toxic materials such as rice, pasta, or even cereal. Add scoops, cups, and small toys for added exploration.
One of our favorite things to do for an at-home bin is grind old cereal to make a sand-like substance that is safe to put in toddlers' mouths. Then, we hide age-appropriate toys to encourage toddlers to dig and explore. This practice will enhance their tactile experiences and fine motor skills.
Finger Painting
Provide non-toxic, washable paints and large sheets of paper, and allow your toddler to use their fingers to create patterns and shapes. You can also set up a finger painting station with different paint colors and encourage your child to mix and explore textures, promoting creativity and hand-eye coordination.
Water Play
Use a shallow tub or basin filled with water (ensure you supervise any activity involving water in larger containers). Add cups, sponges, and small toys for pouring and squeezing. We love creating a water play station with plastic animals and cups to help toddlers learn about buoyancy and develop their coordination skills as they scoop and pour water.
Holly emphasizes the importance of these activities: “The process of experiencing a variety of sensory inputs while making sense of the materials creates and strengthens neural pathways used in hand-eye coordination and focusing on their activity.”
She adds, “The opportunity to explore and take initiative in play promotes individual exploration and leads to problem-solving opportunities, all of which are part of cognitive development.”
Sensory Activities for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
As your child grows, you can introduce new types of sensory play. During this time, preschool-aged children experience significant sensory and cognitive development, which is essential for language and social skills. Sensory play supports these areas by providing diverse and stimulating experiences.
Sensory play for this age group includes activities such as:
Playdough
Use store-bought or homemade playdough and provide tools like rolling pins, cookie cutters, and molds. Encourage children to create shapes and figures with playdough, strengthening their hand muscles and fostering creativity.
Nature Walks
Take children on walks in parks or nature trails and encourage them to touch, smell, and observe different plants, rocks, and animals. Observe or collect leaves, rocks, and flowers on your expedition and discuss their textures, colors, and smells to enhance sensory awareness and curiosity.
Obstacle Courses
Set up an indoor or outdoor course with pillows, chairs, and tunnels. Include activities like crawling under tables, hopping over lines, and balancing on beams. You can also create an indoor-only obstacle course in your living room with cushions and chairs to encourage your child to navigate the course, which develops gross motor skills and problem-solving abilities.
Holly states: “Children are processing sensory input all day, every day—regardless of their access to sensory play. The opportunity for children to engage in intentional sensory play provides them a space to practice responding to sensory inputs by manipulating their environment and increasing or decreasing their interaction with the sensory materials. As they engage in this open-ended experimentation, they can increase their tolerance for sensory input and learn how to regulate along the way.”
She also notes, “Social interactions are supported by sensory play as children engage in shared materials with peers or adults. As children explore, they discuss their ideas, negotiate using shared materials, and create imaginative storylines together.”
Sensory Activities for Early School-Age Children (Ages 6-8)
Sensory play doesn’t have to stop once your child hits elementary school; it can continue to benefit them throughout elementary school as well. During early school, children refine their sensory and cognitive skills, which are essential for academic and social development. Sensory activities support these areas by providing hands-on learning experiences.
Ideas for 6-8 year old children include:
Craft Projects
Provide materials like paper, scissors, glue, and markers and encourage children to create art projects like collages, models, or drawings. One of our favorite activities is setting up a craft station with supplies for making paper animals. This promotes fine motor skills and creativity.
Gardening
Involve children in planting seeds, watering plants, and caring for a garden. You can even use pots for indoor plants, allowing children to dig, water, and observe the growth process, enhancing their understanding of nature and responsibility.
Cooking/Baking
Engage children in simple cooking or baking activities, such as making cookies or preparing a salad. Allow them to measure ingredients and mix dough for the cookies, combining sensory input with practical life skills like following instructions and teamwork.
Holly states, “Sensory play can support overall learning skills such as investigating through curiosity, noticing cause and effect, and focusing for prolonged periods.”
She further explains, “As children build independence in their sensory play explorations, they can build confidence and practice important skills such as problem-solving while remaining regulated as they come across challenges.”
Sensory Activities for Tweens (Ages 9-12)
Many children find the tween years challenging. They are undergoing many changes in their lives, and while ‘play’ may be something they are growing out of, there are a number of sensory activities that will help them navigate significant sensory and emotional changes and manage stress.
These activities include:
DIY Projects
Provide materials for making homemade crafts, such as jewelry, model kits, or art pieces. Encourage your tween to design and create their own pieces to promote creativity and critical thinking.
Yoga & Mindfulness
Introduce simple yoga poses and mindfulness exercises focusing on breathing and relaxation by setting aside a quiet space for yoga and mindfulness. Guide tweens through poses and breathing exercises to help them relax and improve body awareness. If you don’t feel comfortable demonstrating that YouTube has excellent, free online classes, consider taking a class with them.
Music & Dance
Play different genres of music and encourage tweens to dance or play along with simple instruments. Have a dance party that allows tweens to express themselves through movement and improve their auditory processing and coordination in a no-pressure environment.
Holly says, “You’re never too old for sensory play/sensory activities! Young adolescents are often plugged into their devices, social media, etc. They are perfect candidates for the regulating effects of sensory activities. Studies show a correlation between screen time and increased levels of anxiety and depression. By taking a break from screen-centered activities and engaging in sensory play, tweens can bolster their sensory awareness and practice regulating behaviors that can be drawn upon during times of stress.”
She adds, “Sensory activities are also a great opportunity for children to engage with peers. The same is true for young adolescents and their peers. Even more so, tween social interactions can feel challenging due to increased social anxieties as children enter puberty. Connecting while engaging in hands-on activities can reduce this stress and create common ground over which tweens can connect.”
Start Introducing Sensory Activities to Your Child Today!
Sensory activities are essential for children at every developmental stage, offering numerous benefits from cognitive and motor skill development to emotional regulation and social interaction. By incorporating these activities into daily routines, you can help your child explore their senses, develop essential skills, and enjoy a balanced and enriched life.
For easy and fun options, check out our sensory kits, which are themed and perfectly curated to meet your child’s needs with minimal effort!