Engaging Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Toddlers explore their world through their five senses, constantly engaging with their surroundings with boundless curiosity, often leaving behind a delightful trail of chaos. While cleaning up might not always be fun, these playful explorations, known as sensory activities for toddlers, are crucial for their development. Sensory play encourages brain growth, cognitive skill development, and enhances both language and motor abilities. But don't worry—sensory play can be both fun and tidy! By providing structured and engaging activities, you can make sensory play both fun and manageable for your little one.

At Primary Beginnings, a certified 5-star care center, our preschool program in Raleigh is designed to incorporate a variety of sensory activities to support the developmental journey through creativity and enjoyment. To help parents and caregivers continue this at home, we've curated a list of easy and effective sensory activities for toddlers that you can enjoy both at home and in your community. Join us as we share sensory activities for toddlers that are equally as fun as they are productive for growing minds.

Easy Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Sensory activities for toddlers don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are some simple ideas using materials you likely already have at home

Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are among the easiest yet most impactful sensory activities for toddlers. Fill a bin with a variety of materials like rice, beans, or sand, and include their favorite interactive toys. Toddlers can explore textures, scoop and pour, and discover hidden objects, promoting cognitive development in a fun way.

Rainbow Spaghetti Play

Prepare spaghetti, separate into bowls, and add different food coloring to each bowl. Once cooled, place the colorful spaghetti into a bin for your toddler to explore by squishing, stretching, and even tasting! 

DIY Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are simple and can captivate your toddler's attention without screen-time. Fill a clear bottle with water and small items like glitter, beads, or buttons. Seal the bottle tightly, and let your child shake and watch the contents swirl around.

Water Play

Fill a tub with water and provide cups, spoons, and small containers. As toddlers splash and pour, they explore textures and temperatures, enhancing tactile senses and observing basic scientific principles like buoyancy. Add food coloring, ice cubes, or bubble bath for extra sensory fun!

Fun Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Making sensory activities for toddlers fun can make playtime a great learning experience. These activities are designed to be tons of fun while stimulating your child's senses, helping them develop important skills during playtime.

Edible Finger Painting

Use pudding or yogurt with food coloring as "paint" and let your toddler create art on a tray or a piece of wax paper. This activity is great for sensory and creative play, combining touch, sight, and taste without the worry of ingesting harmful materials.

Ice Excavation Adventure

Freeze small toys in ice blocks and provide your toddler with warm water and safe tools like plastic spoons to excavate the treasures. This activity promotes problem-solving and a sensory-rich experience as the ice melts to reveal the surprises.

Obstacle Courses

Create a simple obstacle course for your preschooler in your living room or backyard using pillows, tunnels, and balance beams. Encourage your toddler to crawl, jump, and balance through the course to promote physical development, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

Play Dough Fun

Play dough is a classic sensory activity for toddlers that encourages creativity and fine motor skills. You can buy play dough or make your own play dough at home with flour, salt, water, and food coloring. Provide cookie cutters, rolling pins, and plastic knives to let your toddler’s imagination run wild.

Mess-Free Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Discover sensory activities that keep the mess to a minimum, making playtime enjoyable for both parents and toddlers. These clean and fun activities help your little one explore and learn without creating a chaotic aftermath.

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags are mess-free and easy to create. Fill a zip-lock bag with hair gel, water beads, or small objects, and seal it tightly. Your toddler can squish and manipulate the bag, exploring different textures and movements.

Sensory Flashlight Play

Turn off the lights and let your toddler explore the magic of shadows with a flashlight. Create a variety of fun different shapes and shadow puppets to spark imagination and improve visual tracking. Light play is also a great choice for children who are sensitive to sensory stimulation.

Sound Shakers

Fill small, sealed containers with different materials like rice, beans, or beads. Let your toddler shake the containers and listen to the different sounds each one makes. Developing auditory skills through fun sensory activities for toddlers is essential for language and focus development.

Ziplock Bag Painting

Place a few drops of paint inside a large plastic bag and seal it tightly. Your toddler can squish, mix, and spread the paint around inside the bag. This colorful activity allows for creative expression without the mess and stains.

Outdoor Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Enjoy the sunny summer days by taking sensory play outdoors! These activities not only provide a wealth of sensory experiences but also make use of the natural environment, offering endless opportunities for exploration and fun. Best of all, these ideas are cost-free, using materials you already have or can easily find outside. 

Nature Walks

Take your toddler on a nature walk to a nearby park, forest, or even your backyard. Point out various natural elements such as flowers, bird sounds, or interesting insects. The vast world of nature allows for unlimited sensory activities for toddlers.

Bubble Fun

Head outside with a bubble wand or bubble machine and watch as your child delights in chasing and popping the bubbles. This simple activity helps improve hand-eye coordination and encourages physical movement. For added fun, try using different-sized bubble wands to create a variety of bubble sizes.

Nature Sensory Bin

Get outside and gather natural elements like dirt, small rocks, leaves, and flowers from your yard or a park to create a nature sensory bin. Allowing your toddler to explore different textures, shapes, and scents, in a free and eco-friendly way.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is a peaceful and educational activity that can be enjoyed right from your backyard or a local park. Encourage your toddler to observe different kinds of birds, notice their colors, or  listen to their songs!

Sensory Activities for Toddlers in Daily Routines

Sensory activities for toddlers don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. For those juggling busy schedules, incorporating these activities into everyday tasks can provide enriching learning experiences for your child, no matter how busy life gets.

Bath Time

Turn everyday bath time into an opportunity for sensory play with elements like bath crayons, bubbles, and textured washcloths. This can even help make bath time easier and more enjoyable for toddlers who typically dislike it.

Cooking and Baking Together

Toddlers love to imitate their family and “help” with everyday tasks like cooking and baking. Involve your toddler by letting them help with simple tasks like stirring, pouring, or washing fruits and vegetables. Discuss the textures, smells, and sounds involved in the process. 

Multi-Sensory Mealtime

Incorporate different textures and tastes into mealtime, making it engaging and helping with sensory processing related to food. Encourage your toddler to explore the textures of foods with their hands before eating, and use colorful plates and utensils for visual stimulation.

Car Adventures

Turn daily car rides into sensory activities for toddlers. Play lively music for dancing and singing, or find items in the scenery and make up a fun story, engaging imagination and observation skills on the go.

Schedule a Tour at Primary Beginnings in Raleigh, NC

At Primary Beginnings in North Raleigh, our teachers prioritize teaching age-appropriate sensory activities to growing minds. If you’d like to learn more about Primary Beginnings or schedule a tour, we have 3 convenient locations! From Spring Forest Road to North Hills Drive and Falls of Neuse Road, get started by filling out the contact form below.