Sensory-Based Activities to Try with Your Child – Engaging your child in sensory-based activities can be a wonderful way to support their development while creating memorable experiences together. Sensory play stimulates your child’s senses—touch, sight, sound, smell, and sometimes even taste—helping them explore the world in a hands-on way. Bowdon Prep, an Independent School Cheshire have pulled together five sensory-based activities you can try with your child, no matter their age or interests!

Sensory-Based Activities to Try

Sensory-Based Activities

 

  1. Create a Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a versatile and easy way to encourage tactile exploration. Simply fill a container with materials like rice, beans, pasta, or sand. Add small toys, spoons, scoops, or cups, and let your child dive in. For a themed twist, try:

  • A beach bin with sand, seashells, and toy sea creatures.
  • A winter wonderland bin with cotton balls, silver glitter, and snowflake-shaped trinkets.

Sensory bins allow kids to develop fine motor skills, practice scooping and pouring, and engage in imaginative play.

  1. Play with Homemade Playdough

Making and playing with homemade playdough is a sensory activity that incorporates both touch and smell. You can easily create a batch with common ingredients like flour, salt, water, and food colouring. Add scents such as vanilla, lemon, or lavender for an extra layer of sensory fun.

Encourage your child to roll, squish, and shape the playdough into creations. This activity helps develop hand strength and creativity while offering a calming tactile experience.

  1. Explore Nature with a Sensory Walk

Take a walk outdoors and immerse your child in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Let them:

  • Feel the texture of tree bark, leaves, or grass.
  • Listen to the rustling of leaves, chirping birds, or running water.
  • Smell flowers, pine needles, or fresh air after a rain.

A nature walk stimulates multiple senses at once while encouraging mindfulness and physical activity. You can also collect natural items like rocks, sticks, or feathers to create a nature-inspired art project at home.

  1. Make Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are mesmerizing and easy to make. Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, glitter, and small objects like beads, sequins, or tiny toys. Secure the lid tightly, and your child can shake, swirl, and watch the contents settle.

These bottles are excellent for calming moments and can help kids focus or relax. For added fun, try making themed sensory bottles like an ocean wave bottle (blue water and tiny sea creatures) or a galaxy bottle (purple water, silver glitter, and star confetti).

  1. Have Fun with Water Play

Water play is a timeless sensory activity that’s perfect for hot days—or even indoors with a shallow tub. Provide cups, sponges, funnels, and floating toys, and let your child experiment with pouring, squeezing, and splashing.

For added creativity, freeze small toys in ice cubes and let your child melt them with warm water or their hands. This activity enhances tactile exploration while introducing basic science concepts like temperature and melting.

Why Sensory Activities Matter

Sensory-based activities not only entertain but also promote cognitive, emotional, and motor skill development. They encourage children to explore their environment, develop problem-solving skills, and process sensory input in a fun, engaging way.

Try these five activities to create moments of discovery and joy with your child. Who knows—you might even enjoy the sensory play as much as they do!