Toddler Sensory Play

Toddler sensory play is an important element in allowing your toddler to discover and interact with their environment. Movement combined with multi-sensory input really helps to build your toddler's brain. 

You may be tempted to keep that mess inside a ziplock bag taped to the floor or highchair tray. I was years ago, but I found that this kind of toddler sensory play was boring and didn't hold the little one's attention at all. In comparison, direct contact with the materials allows for a larger range of opportunities and sensory input, which increases their learning and enjoyment. In my opinion, toddler sensory play is worth the mess.

I recommend that toddler sensory play be closely supervised, as some of these activities include choking hazards. I've found that the most effective way to help them break the habit of putting sensory play in their mouths to focus on what they should be doing, i.e., "it needs to stay out of your mouth, just use your hands to play with it", teaching them how to pretend to eat it away from their mouths and packing away the activity if they continue to put it in their mouths. 

What Makes Great Toddler Sensory Play?

I've noticed that toddlers tend to focus more on toddler sensory play that involves transferring items between containers. Adults enjoy adding various play figures to sensory activities, which attracts toddlers' attention, but doesn't tend to hold it for long. 

Did you know that simply transferring materials between containers introduces the basics of mass, area, and volume? It also helps to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills that prepare their hands for writing later. 

Lentil Toddler Sensory Play

I love giving toddlers dry red split lentils to play with; however, whole red, black, or green lentils would work just as well. Lentils have a satisfying pouring flow that works well with reused scoops, measuring spoons, and small containers. 

Oobleck or Goop Toddler Sensory Play

Oobleck or goop, made from cornstarch (in the UK) or cornflour (in the USA) mixed with water, makes for very interesting toddler sensory play. It drips from still fingers like slime but becomes firmer when moved around and handled. Food dye is optional and is best added to the water first. Scoops or measuring spoons make Oobleck easier for toddlers to pick up in a high-sided tray. A cleaning tip is to let it dry while washing hands or bathing your toddler. Sweeping or vacuuming dry oobleck or goop is much easier than wiping it while wet. 

Dried Pasta Toddler Sensory Play

Raw dried pasta feels different depending on which type you provide for toddler sensory play. The smaller shapes can be used with toy diggers (especially if they have moving parts). These diggers have also been used with oats and lentils as well. 

Jelly (UK) or Jello (USA) Toddler Sensory Play

Personally, I've only given little ones jelly/jello that I made from pure gelatin and water. I have seen toddlers play with regular jelly/jello too. Choose what you feel comfortable with. When making the jelly/jello, you could do it in a silicone tray with compartments and remove them when set. I create jelly/jello in plastic containers. Even a toddler can cut jelly with a child's butter knife. An empty muffin or cupcake baking tray with scoops or spoons is a fun addition to this toddler sensory play.

Mud Toddler Sensory Play

The easiest mud play is in a spare flowerbed, a patch of yard that no one cares for, or a hidden muddy area of a public forest, allowing toddlers to dig with sand toys. Another option is to weigh down a tarp or cut open a large black trash bag on a deck or patio. I fill a large container or sturdy planter with soil or compost. I lay out other containers, spoons, reused scoops, or sand toys (that you don't mind getting scratched and stained). An additional option is water. I fill up two large plastic bottles (designated for messy play) and hand them one at a time. We use specific old clothes or full waterproofs for this toddler sensory play, so they can get messy freely.

Vinegar and Baking Soda (USA) or Bicarbonate of Soda (UK/Australia) Toddler Sensory Play

Toddlers love the fizzing reaction from the combination of clear distilled vinegar and baking soda/bicarbonate of soda! I've found that vinegar is best given to a toddler in a small plastic bottle (ideally with a spout that slows the flow). Small containers or an ice cube tray with tiny amounts of bicarbonate of soda in each at first are helpful. Guard the rest of the bottles and packets carefully. Have a small container or bottle from which you decant small quantities at a time, ideally out of their reach. 

Dried Beans Toddler Sensory Play

Dried beans are great for encouraging toddlers to use the pincer grasp, which prepares their hands to write later. Trays with compartmants, egg boxes and deep well paint palettes are fun with beans. Pill daily dose containers have become very popular for storing beans and craft pom-poms as well. I’ve kept dried beans for play for months at a time. The beans are only for toddlers who don't tend to put things in their mouths. This needs to be a closely supervised activity due to choking hazards. 

Pom-Pom Toddler Sensory Play

Tiny pom-poms are sold as craft supplies; however, we reuse them in various activities instead. Pom-poms work really well with pureé food trays that have compartments. Containers and scoops have been used with them too. Watch out: these could also become choking hazards. 

Kinetic Sand Toddler Sensory Play

I wish I had a recipe, and someday I will figure it out. In the meantime, we use a small pack of store-bought kinetic sand. We use small sand molds and reused scoops in a high-sided tray. Watch out: it stains clothes, so I keep a long-sleeved apron in the bag where I store this toddler sensory play. The key is to keep the kinetic sand in an airtight container. 

Toddlers also love these Baby Sensory Play ideas.

Find more Activities for 1-year-olds or Activities for 2-year-olds or Activities for 3-Year-Olds.