Sensory activities for kids: 15 easy ideas

Sensory play uses touch, sight, sound, smell, taste and movement. It helps young children explore the world, build language and fine motor skills, and calm down when they feel overwhelmed. The best sensory activities use simple things from your kitchen and garden. This guide has 15 easy sensory activities for kids, heavy work ideas, shaving cream play, sensory bin tips and safety advice.

Why sensory play matters

When children squish, pour, scoop and smell, they are learning. Sensory play builds the brain connections that support language, thinking and problem-solving. It strengthens hand muscles needed for writing, encourages children to try new textures and often has a calming effect. Many children, including those with sensory processing differences, benefit from regular sensory activities.

15 easy sensory activities for kids

1. Shaving cream on a tray. Spray shaving cream on a tray and let children draw shapes, letters and numbers with their fingers.
2. Rice sensory bin. Fill a tub with dry rice and add cups, spoons and small toys to find.
3. Homemade playdough. Mix flour, salt, water and oil, and add a drop of lavender for a calming smell.
4. Water play. Sponges, cups, funnels and toys in a tub of water.
5. Ice painting. Freeze colored water in ice cube trays and paint with the cubes on paper.
6. Sand and shells. Dig, pour and build in a tray of sand.
7. Squishy bags. Put hair gel and sequins in a sealed zip bag, tape it shut and let children squish it.
8. Texture walk. Walk barefoot on grass, sand, carpet and bubble wrap.
9. Bubble wrap stomping. Lay bubble wrap on the floor and stomp, jump and roll.
10. Finger painting. Washable paint on big paper.
11. Cooked spaghetti play. Add a drop of oil and food coloring for slippery fun.
12. Sound jars. Fill jars or bottles with rice, beans and buttons and listen to the different sounds.
13. Smell jars. Put herbs, spices, orange peel and coffee in jars and guess the smells.
14. Kinetic sand. Mold, cut and build.
15. Dot marker art. Dab bright dots onto rainbow coloring pages or big shape pages.

Shaving cream activities for kids

Shaving cream is cheap, fun and easy to clean up.

• Writing practice. Draw letters, numbers and shapes in a layer of shaving cream. Wipe and start again.
• Marbled paper. Drop food coloring onto shaving cream, swirl with a stick, press paper on top and scrape off the foam.
• Rain clouds. Put shaving cream on top of a jar of water and drip colored water onto it to make "rain".
• Hidden toys. Hide small toys in shaving cream for children to find.
• Sensory art. Mix shaving cream with glue to make puffy paint.

Use plain, unscented shaving cream and keep it away from eyes and mouths.

Heavy work activities for kids

Heavy work means activities that push, pull, carry or lift. They give strong input to muscles and joints, which helps many children feel calm and focused.

• Carrying shopping bags or laundry baskets
• Pushing a full laundry basket or a wheelbarrow
• Wall push-ups
• Animal walks: bear crawl, crab walk, frog jumps
• Tug of war
• Digging in the garden
• Climbing at the playground
• Squeezing playdough or stress balls
• Moving chairs or cushions to build a fort
• Wiping tables and windows

Try a few minutes of heavy work before homework or bedtime to help children settle.

How to make a sensory bin

A sensory bin is a tub filled with a base material and tools.

1. Choose a container. A plastic storage tub or a large tray.
2. Choose a base. Rice, dried pasta, oats, water beads (only for older children, with care), sand, water or shredded paper.
3. Add tools. Cups, spoons, funnels, tongs and scoops.
4. Add objects. Small toys, letters, numbers or seasonal items like pine cones and acorns.
5. Set rules. Keep the materials in the bin and clean up together.

Change the theme with the season: autumn leaves and acorns in fall, cotton wool and plastic snowflakes in winter, flowers in spring and shells in summer.

Sensory activities for calming down

Some sensory activities are especially soothing:

• Squishing playdough
• Slow water play
• Weighted blankets or heavy cushions
• Rocking in a chair or a swing
• Listening to calm music
• Mindful coloring with mandala pages

See our mindfulness activities for kids for more calming ideas.

Sensory activities by age

Babies

Tummy time on different textures, crinkly toys, water play in the bath and safe edible play such as mashed banana.

Toddlers

Water play, playdough, edible sensory bins (cooked pasta, oats), finger painting and texture walks.

Preschool and school age

Shaving cream writing, sensory bins with letters, smell jars, kinetic sand and science-style experiments with ice and color.

Safety tips

• Always supervise sensory play, especially with water.
• Avoid small objects with children under three, as they can choke.
• Use food-safe materials for babies and toddlers who put things in their mouths.
• Check for allergies before using foods like flour, oats or nuts.
• Water beads are not safe for young children; avoid them unless children are older and closely supervised.

Seasonal sensory ideas

• Spring: flower petals and soil in a tray with small pots and spoons.
• Summer: water tables, ice play and sand with shells.
• Fall: a bin of dry leaves, acorns, pine cones and small pumpkins.
• Winter: cotton wool snow, ice cubes, peppermint-scented playdough and fake snow made from baking soda and conditioner.

Sensory play and learning

Sensory activities are a fun way to practise early skills. Write letters in shaving cream, hide magnetic numbers in a rice bin, count scoops of sand, sort colored pasta or match textures with pictures. Children remember what they learn through their hands.

Making sensory play part of the routine

A short sensory activity each day, such as playdough after nursery or water play before dinner, gives children a reliable way to explore and unwind. Keep a small sensory box ready with playdough, a squishy bag and a few textured toys for busy days.

Frequently asked questions

What are good sensory activities for toddlers?

Water play, playdough, finger painting, cooked pasta play, rice bins with big scoops and texture walks are all great for toddlers.

What are heavy work activities?

Activities that push, pull, carry or lift, such as carrying bags, wall push-ups, animal walks and digging. They often help children feel calm and focused.

How do I clean up after sensory play?

Play on a tray or a sheet, keep a towel and wipes nearby, use a dustpan for rice and sand, and make cleaning up part of the activity.