18 DIY Sensory Activities for Toddlers

As a parent, I know how vital it is to give toddlers fun and learning activities. Sensory play helps their brains grow and lets them explore the world. I’m excited to share 18 DIY sensory activities that use simple items for fun and learning.

These activities are easy to set up and stimulate your toddler’s senses. You’ll find colorful sensory bins, homemade playdough, and more. They’re great for all ages and interests. Plus, they’re easy to prepare, perfect for busy parents.

Key Takeaways

• Sensory play is essential for toddlers’ brain development.
• The article covers 18 DIY sensory activities for toddlers.
• Some activities use readily available household items.
• The activities cater to different age groups and sensory needs.
• Certain activities focus on fine motor skill development.

What Are Sensory Activities?

Sensory activities are fun ways to learn by using our senses. They help us see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. These activities make learning exciting for toddlers. They help with thinking, talking, and moving better.

Definition and Importance

Sensory activities are key in early learning. They help toddlers understand the world. By using their senses, they learn in a deeper way.

Benefits for Toddler Development

• Enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through hands-on exploration
• Promote language development as toddlers describe their sensory experiences
• Improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills as toddlers investigate and experiment
• Foster emotional regulation and self-awareness by providing calming or stimulating sensory input
• Support overall cognitive, social, and physical development in toddlers

Adding sensory activities to a toddler’s day can change their learning. It could be making a colorful bin, playdough, or touching natural things. These activities spark curiosity and love for learning.

Getting Started with DIY Sensory Activities

DIY sensory activities are great for your toddler’s growth and fun. As a parent, you need the right stuff and safety first. With basic supplies and safety in mind, you can make a world of fun for your child.

Essential Materials to Gather

DIY sensory activities have endless options. Common stuff like flour, water, sand, rice, and dried beans are great. You can also use things like spoons, cups, and plastic containers. These can mix and match to excite your toddler’s senses.

Safety Considerations

Always think about safety in sensory play. Make sure everything is safe for your toddler. Watch them closely, like when they play with small things or water. This helps avoid choking hazards.

By being creative and following safety rules, you can make your toddler’s world more fun. They’ll enjoy toddler entertainment, easy crafts, and developmental activities that spark their curiosity.

“Sensory play is crucial for a toddler’s development, as it helps them make sense of the world around them and lays the foundation for future learning.”

For DIY sensory fun, keep it simple and safe. Tailor it to your toddler’s likes and skills. With a bit of creativity, you can create engaging experiences that help your child grow.

1. Colorful Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are great for toddlers to learn by doing. They can be filled with many things, like rice, beans, or sand. This lets kids explore and learn in a fun way.

Ideas for Fillers

Choose materials that make sounds, feel different, and look interesting. Here are some ideas:

• Colored rice or pasta
• Dried beans or lentils
• Kinetic sand or cloud dough
• Soft, textured materials like cotton balls or pom-poms
• Small toys, letters, or counting objects

Try mixing different things to make it more fun for your toddler.

Themed Sensory Bins

Make your sensory bins themed to match your child’s interests. For example, a beach bin could have sand, shells, and ocean toys. A fall bin might have rice, leaves, and small pumpkins.

These bins are great for playing and learning. They help kids use their hands and think creatively. Let your child explore and have fun!

2. Homemade Playdough

Let your child’s creativity shine with homemade playdough! It’s great for toddlers, helping them have fun and learn. Plus, you can make it at home with just a few things.

Basic Recipe

To make your own playdough, you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1.5 teaspoons canola oil
• 4-5 drops of food coloring (or 1 pack of Kool-Aid for scented playdough)

The ingredients mix to make soft, pliable playdough. Flour and water are the base. Oil makes it less sticky. Cream of tartar makes it stretchy, and salt keeps it fresh. Food coloring or Kool-Aid adds color and smell.

Variations to Try

After you get the basic recipe, you can try lots of things! Add glitter, essential oils, or natural stuff like herbs and spices. You can make playdough for different themes by changing scents, colors, or textures. Your imagination is the only limit.

Homemade playdough is great for easy crafts, sensory play, and learning. With simple ingredients and a bit of creativity, you can make a playdough that will keep your child busy for hours.

3. Edible Sensory Activities

Toddlers love to explore with all their senses. Edible sensory activities are a safe, mess-free way for them to learn. These fun activities help them understand important concepts in a fun way.

Yogurt Paint

Yogurt painting is a favorite among toddlers. Mix plain yogurt with food coloring to make a fun “paint.” Let your child use their hands to paint on paper or a high-chair tray.

Oobleck Fun

Oobleck is a fun, non-Newtonian fluid made from cornstarch and water. Toddlers love playing with it because it changes texture when they touch it. It’s a great way to teach science in a fun way.

Edible sensory activities help toddlers learn and grow. They are safe, simple, and lots of fun. These activities will be a hit in your home.

4. Nature-Inspired Sensory Play

Getting toddlers to explore the outdoors is great for their curiosity. A nature-inspired sensory bin is a fun way to do this. It lets them learn by doing.

Gathering Natural Materials

To make a nature sensory bin, start by collecting items from your backyard or park. Some good things to find are:

• Pine cones
• Clementines or other citrus fruits
• Cinnamon sticks
• Walnuts
• Leaves
• Twigs
• Flowers

Choose items that smell, feel, and look interesting. This way, toddlers can learn about nature in a fun way.

Creating a Nature Sensory Bin

After you’ve collected your items, it’s time to make the bin. Start with a layer of rice or something else neutral in a big, clear container. This makes a calm base for exploring.

Then, put the natural items in the bin in a way that looks good and feels good. Mix different textures, colors, and shapes to excite their senses. This bin is great for quiet time or before dinner.

The beauty of nature play is its simplicity. With just a few things, you can make a fun, learning experience. It’s all about exploring and discovering the outdoors.

5. Water Exploration Activities

Water-based sensory play is fun and engaging for toddlers. It includes squishy water beads and ice play. These activities help them learn and grow.

Water Beads

Water beads are squishy and fun for little hands. They grow as they soak up water. This makes a fun play area for toddlers.

They can be put in a clear bag. This makes them safe and mess-free for young kids. Kids love to squeeze and explore them.

Ice Sensory Play

Ice play teaches toddlers about temperature. They can freeze toys in ice cubes or make colored ice blocks. It’s a fun way to learn.

It’s important to watch them closely. Make sure they are safe while playing with ice.

Water play is great for toddlers. It helps them learn and grow. They get to explore and learn new things.

6. Hands-On Textures

Exploring different textures is key for toddlers in sensory play. It helps them develop fine motor skills and boosts creativity. Here are two fun DIY activities for toddlers to explore the world through touch.

Sensory Bags

Make sensory bags by filling plastic bags with various materials. Use hair gel or liquid hand soap as a base. Then, add items like beads, buttons, or small toys with different textures.

Seal the bags and let toddlers squeeze and explore. They’ll enjoy the squishy, slimy, and bumpy textures inside.

Textured Collages

Help toddlers make textured collages with different materials. Use sandpaper, fabric scraps, foam shapes, and dried pasta or cereal. Let them glue and arrange these textures on cardboard or construction paper.

This activity boosts their sensory awareness and creativity.

Texture exploration is great for your toddler’s development. It helps them build fine motor skills and learn new words. Plus, it lets them discover the world in a fun, hands-on way.

7. DIY Sensory Bottles

Making your own sensory toys is fun for your toddler. Creating sensory bottles is an easy and rewarding DIY project. You can fill them with different things to make your child curious and engaged.

Step-by-Step Guide

You need clear plastic bottles, water, glitter, and small items like beads or rice. Fill the bottle two-thirds with water. Add a few drops of food coloring or glitter for fun.

Then, close the lid and shake it well. This mixes everything inside.

Filling Ideas

• For a lava lamp look, mix water and oil.
• Use colored rice or pasta for a different feel.
• Add small toys or natural items for new textures.

There are many ways to make homemade toys for sensory play. Try different fillings and let your child’s creativity shine.

Sensory bottles are calming and fun for toddlers. They help with emotions, focus, and learning. Making these toddler entertainment items is a great way to help your child learn and grow.

8. Creative Art Projects

Art projects are great for toddlers to play with their senses and improve their fine motor skills. They can mix colors in shaving cream or make cool sand art. These activities let young learners explore and create in many ways.

Shaving Cream Art

Shaving cream art is fun and colorful for toddlers. Just add a bit of food coloring to shaving cream. Then, let your child paint with it. This helps them learn about colors, hand-eye coordination, and being creative.

Sand Art Techniques

Sand art brings nature inside. Toddlers can make colorful, textured art with colored sand and glue on paper. It helps with fine motor skills, creativity, and loving nature.

Shaving cream and sand art are fun and easy for toddlers. They keep kids busy and help them grow. With a little help, these activities can make your child feel like an artist.

9. Exploring Sounds

Sound exploration activities help your toddler’s hearing grow. They learn about the world through sounds. Making music and sound jars is fun and educational.

DIY Musical Instruments

Help your toddler make their own music. Use household items like empty bottles and rubber bands. These projects teach music basics like rhythm and pitch.

Mesmerizing Sound Jars

Sensory jars are full of sounds for your toddler. Use plastic bottles or glass jars and fill them with different things. Crunchy rice and jingling bells make great sounds.

These activities help your toddler grow in many ways. They improve hearing, language, problem-solving, and motor skills. And they have fun doing it!

10. Seasonal Sensory Activities

As a homeschool mom, I’ve found that seasonal themes in our sensory play help my toddlers connect with nature. Whether it’s fall-themed activities or summer sensations, these hands-on experiences offer endless learning opportunities.

Fall-Themed Sensory Play

When leaves start to turn, I set up simple yet engaging fall sensory bins. Leaf rubbing is a big hit, letting little hands feel textures and veins. And who doesn’t love the cozy scent of pumpkin spice?

I make pumpkin-spice scented playdough for my kids to mold and shape. It’s a fun way to explore.

Summer Sensations

As temperatures rise, we dive into water-based sensory activities. Building sandcastles, scooping and pouring water, and squishing toes in the sand are fun. I also set up a small pool or water table for splashing and floating toys.