Benefits of Sensory Play and 21 Sensory Activities for Toddlers (2024)

• What is sensory play
• Benefits
• Sensory play ideas

What Is Sensory Play

Sensory play is the type of activity that stimulates children’s senses which are the different ways we perceive the world. Our brains use senses to help us maneuver our surroundings, and sensory play helps children develop them.

The five most commonly known senses are taste, smell, sight, touch, and sound.

Most sensory plays focus on stimulating the touch, sight, and hearing senses because they are more accessible. Activities that can provide a sensory experience to stimulate other senses are also important although less common when people talk about sensory play.

Benefits of sensory play

Why is sensory play important?

Sensory play is important for brain development because sensory stimulation is essential for sensory integration ^​1​ and cognitive development ^​2​.

Human brains are made up of trillions of brain cells (neurons) and nerve connections (synapses). Sensory activity can strengthen sensory-related synapses and functions in the brain.

Exposing children to various sensory experiences is necessary for a young brain to develop the proper senses processing capabilities^​3​.

Sensory play activity is especially essential to children with sensory problems such as sensory processing disorder. These children tend to have difficulty engaging in sensory play activities^​4​.

Play is also essential to a child’s development, such as language development, besides sensory development. Children become more creative by playing. They also build their linguistic, cognitive, visual spatial, social, and emotional skills^​5–9​.

Simple sensory play ideas for kids

Kids of all ages, from toddlers to preschoolers, can benefit from activities that stimulate their different senses.

It is easy to create unique sensory activities using objects around the house.

There is no need to buy expensive sensory toys. Use ordinary objects in your house as sensory materials.

Here’s a list of fun sensory activities for kids.

Tactile play

These objects provide sensory input to stimulate children’s touch senses. It also promotes the development of fine and gross motor skills in those little hands.

Don’t be afraid to try something new and have some messy sensory play activities.

Both older kids and younger kids will love messy play. It is fun to play and provides great sensory learning.

It is a great way to keep kids busy and a time to bond with your child by creating memories that will last a lifetime.

• food
• shaving cream
• hair gel
• baking flour
• play dough
• cotton balls
• water play with different temperatures
• sensory rice play
• ice sensory activity

Visual play

• sensory bottles filled with water and glitter for shaking and watching
• finger-painting using art material
• scavenger hunt

Scented play

Here are some sensory tools that can stimiluate your child’s scent senses.

• fruit
• flowers
• spices

Audio play

• baby rattles
• musical instruments
• knocking on different types of materials to hear the different sounds, e.g. metal, wood, plastic, paper, etc.

Taste play

Here are some taste-safe sensory play. Kids can learn about different food and vocabulary as you teach them the names.

• sweet – apple, muffin
• sour – orange, lemon
• salty – pasta
• bitter – kale

Sensory tub

Fill a large container or sensory table with new things that children can touch, smell, or hear to give them new sensory information.

Different materials with different textures can be used in themed sensory bins for variety.

Ask your little one relevant questions about their fun sensory exploration to build their language skills, too. Create a conversation that encourages your child to use descriptive words.

For example, ask these questions:

• How does it feel?
• What does it look like?
• Does it smell good?
• Do you like the sound it makes?

Also See: 10 Types of Play Essential to Your Child’s Development

Final Thoughts On The Importance of Sensory Play

The best sensory activities don’t need to be expensive or elaborate. They are already in your house. The next time you see your child play with safe items like paper towel rolls, pots, straws, and toys, encourage them to have some sensory fun. They can also use these items for imaginative play, which is also great for child development.

Babies and toddlers can use anything and everything to explore the world. And by allowing them to follow their instincts, you help nurture their senses.

References