The Great Big List of Sensory Play Ideas for Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers & Big Kids

Inside: A great big list of fun sensory play ideas suitable for kids of all ages.

What is sensory play?

Sensory play is any playful activity that engages one or more of the five senses – sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing.

What are the benefits?

Sensory play is important to brain development as research shows that engaging in experiences that stimulate the senses develops nerve connections within the brain (read more about sensory play and brain development here). Depending on the type of activity and the frequency of play, it can also support the development of thinking and reasoning skills, scientific and mathematical understanding, fine and gross motor skills, language and social skills. And it can also act as an important stress reliever – for children of all ages.

My baby/toddler still puts everything in her mouth? Isn’t my school aged child too old to play?

There are sensory play ideas suitable for children of all ages.

For babies and toddlers who are still mouthing objects, stick with taste safe options that are not choking hazards. You might try coloured water in a bin, or custard, a little cold cooked spaghetti, or playing with jelly (jello) for something fun. You can see more specific  baby and toddler suggestions below.

Once children are past the stage of mouthing objects, you can try all manner of different sensory play bases – just be mindful that supervision and some consistent expectations and guidelines about how and where the materials can be used are important.

For toddlers and preschoolers, sensory bins are about feeling the textures and manipulating the materials with their hands and simple tools (tongs, spoons, cups, etc). Preschoolers and kindergarteners will enjoy the addition of small toys, such as figurines and vehicles, to add an imaginary/pretend play element to their sensory explorations.

Even school aged children can enjoy sensory play – think of how the slime craze has taken over the world! And sensory play can provide a wonderful form of stress release for children right through to the tween/teen years (who am I kidding, even adults can enjoy running their fingers through sand or pebbles!).

Sensory Play Activities & Ideas

31 Days of Sensory Play Ideas

55 Super Sensory Bins

15 Super Sensory Play Bottles

20+ Super Sensory Play Ideas

A GIANT Play Activities List for Exploring the Five Senses

5 Games To Develop the Sense of Touch

Five Senses Scavenger Hunt {Printable}

21 Fabulously Fun Sensory Play Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Super Sensory Sludge – Picklebums

Fall Sensory Play with Maple Pumpkin Playdough

12 Days of Christmas Sensory Play

Summer Ice Block Play – Picklebums

Toys To Help Develop Sensory Awareness

Our Pick of the Top 25 Baby Sensory Toys

Best Sensory Toys for Kids of All Ages

Ideas Just for Babies

Exploring Sound Sensory Treasure Basket

Exploring Shiny Materials Sensory Treasure Basket

Treasure Baskets & Discovery Boxes for Babies (and Bigger Kids)

Baby Sensory Play: Starting Out with Water Play

Slime Recipes! Perfect for School Aged Kids

Easy Fluffy Slime Recipe

Floam Slime Recipe

Ocean Slime Recipe

Fun, Frosty Snow Slime Recipe

How to Make Crunchy Slime: Scented, Rainbow Floam Slime

Purple Monster Floam for Halloween

More Great Activities to Develop Sensory Awareness

12 Sensory Playdough Recipes and Fun Ideas for Play

21 Ways to Play with Silly Putty

15 Ways to Have Fun with Mud

12 Simple Recipes for Cooking with Kids

Active Learning Through Messy Play