25 Toddler Sensory Activities To Keep Those Fingers Moving

Toddler sensory activities are the secret ingredient to unlocking your little one's full sensory potential!

Have you ever marveled at how your child's face lights up when they touch something soft or explore intriguing textures? These experiences are not just magical – they are sensory activities that crucial for your child's growth and sensory development.

Fun Toddler Sensory Activities

If your toddler is constantly touching, tasting, bouncing, and exploring everything in sight — congratulations, you’ve got a sensory superstar! Sensory play is a powerful way to support your child’s development while having loads of fun together. From squishy textures to bubbly baths, here are 25 playful activities that will spark joy and learning in your little one.

1. Listen and Dance to Music

Turn up the tunes and let your toddler groove! Whether it’s nursery rhymes or your favorite throwback hits, dancing helps build coordination, rhythm, and sensory integration. Bonus points for silly moves and freeze dance games!

2. Dig and Discover in a Sensory Bin

Fill a bin with rice, beans, or pasta and hide small toys inside. Your toddler will love scooping, pouring, and discovering treasures. It’s tactile, calming, and perfect for quiet playtime.

3. Squish and Squeeze Playdough

Playdough is a sensory classic. Let your child squish, roll, and mold it into shapes, animals, or pretend food. It strengthens little hands and sparks big imaginations.

4. Smell and Identify Scented Jars

Create a guessing game with jars filled with coffee beans, lavender, cinnamon sticks, or citrus peels. Let your toddler sniff and name the scents — it’s a fun way to explore smells and build vocabulary.

5. Splash and Play with Water

Set up a water table or fill a tub with warm water and toys. Pouring, splashing, and scooping helps develop fine motor skills and is endlessly entertaining. Add bubbles for extra fun!

6. Taste and Explore with a Food Sensory Bin

Use dried fruits, crackers, or cereal in a bin and let your toddler explore with their hands and mouth. It’s a safe way to combine sensory play with snack time — just be ready for a few crumbs!

7. Feel and Play with Textured Balls

Introduce balls with different textures — bumpy, squishy, spiky — and let your toddler roll, bounce, and squish them. It’s a great way to build sensory awareness and hand-eye coordination.

8. Create Colorful Sensory Bottles

Fill clear bottles with glitter, beads, or colored liquids. Shake them up and watch your toddler get mesmerized. These bottles are perfect for calming moments too.

9. Splash and Paint in a Bubble Bath

Add non-toxic bath paint to your toddler’s bubble bath and let them create masterpieces on the tub walls. It’s art and bath time rolled into one — and cleanup is a breeze!

10. Jump and Hop in a Sensory Obstacle Course

Use pillows, tunnels, and cushions to build a mini obstacle course. Let your toddler crawl, jump, and balance their way through. It’s a full-body sensory workout and tons of fun.

11. Roll and Massage with Play Foam

Play foam is squishy and moldable — perfect for rolling into shapes or giving toys a “massage.” It’s soothing and silly, and great for tactile input.

12. Scrunch and Play with Sensory Bags

Fill zip bags with hair gel, glitter, or pom-poms. Toddlers can squish and scrunch without the mess. These are great for travel or quiet time activities.

13. Balance and Walk on a Sensory Path

Lay out bubble wrap, foam mats, or fabric scraps and let your toddler walk barefoot across them. Each step is a new texture adventure that builds body awareness.

14. Explore and Taste Fruity Ice Pops

Make homemade popsicles with pureed fruit and juice. Let your toddler explore the cold, sweet treat while engaging their taste buds — perfect for a hot day!

15. Imagine with Transforming Toys

Toys that change shape or function — like building blocks or pop-up figures — spark imagination and problem-solving. Watch your toddler’s eyes light up as they transform a robot into a car!

16. Cuddle and Snuggle with Sensory Toys

Soft plushies, squishy balls, or textured fidgets offer comfort and sensory input. Perfect for winding down, story time, or just a cozy cuddle session.

17. Find and Match Sensory Cards

Make cards with different textures like felt, sandpaper, or cotton. Let your toddler match pairs by touch — it’s a fun way to build tactile discrimination and memory.

18. Trace and Draw in Sensory Trays

Fill trays with salt, flour, or sand and let your toddler trace shapes or letters with their fingers. It’s messy in the best way and builds fine motor skills and creativity.

19. Splash and Swim in a Sensory Pool

Fill a kiddie pool with water beads or floating toys and let your toddler splash and explore. It’s a sensory wonderland that’s perfect for outdoor play.

20. Hop and Jump on a Sensory Pathway

Set up stepping stones or mats and encourage hopping, jumping, and balancing. It’s great for coordination and proprioception — and feels like a mini adventure course!

21. Explore and Touch Sensory Walls

Create a wall with ribbons, sponges, and fabrics. Toddlers can touch and explore textures while standing or crawling — perfect for curious fingers and sensory seekers.

22. Blow and Play with Sensory Bubbles

Bubble wands + toddlers = magic. Let them blow, pop, and chase bubbles. It’s visual, tactile, and totally delightful — and great for outdoor play.

23. Scribble and Draw with Sensory Sand

Use kinetic or sensory sand in a tray and let your toddler draw, build, and squish. It’s a mess-free way to explore textures and creativity.

24. Twist and Bend with Sensory Ribbons

Hand your toddler colorful ribbons to twirl and dance with. It’s a great way to combine movement with visual stimulation — and makes for adorable videos!

25. Taste and Explore Sensory Smoothies

Blend fruits, yogurt, and veggies into a smoothie and let your toddler sip and explore flavors. It’s nutritious, delicious, and a great way to introduce new tastes.

Sensory play doesn’t have to be complicated — just a little creativity and a willingness to get a bit messy (or splashy!). These activities are perfect for bonding, learning, and watching your toddler’s senses come alive. Want help turning this into a printable checklist or themed weekly planner? I can do that too!

These are fantastic toddler sensory activities that will engage, stimulate, and delight your little one. So, pick a few activities from this list, get ready for some sensorial fun, and watch your toddler grow and learn.