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 you're looking for some exciting and engaging sensory activities for your little ones, you've come to the right place. Toddlers have a natural curiosity and love exploring the world through their senses. And I am happy to share 25 captivating toddler sensory activities that will ignite your child's curiosity.

1. Splash and Play with Water

Let's kick things off with some good ol' water fun! Fill up a tub or water table with some warm H2O and let your toddler splash, pour, and experiment with different water toys. Watch as they explore the wet and wild world of water, developing their senses and fine motor skills along the way.

2. Dig and Discover in a Sensory Bin

Time to get hands-on with a sensory bin filled with materials like colored rice, beans, or pasta. Let your little one scoop, pour, and sift through the sensory treasures while engaging their tactile senses and fostering sensory exploration.

3. Squish and Squeeze Playdough

Grab a batch of colorful playdough and watch your toddler's creativity come to life! Let them squish, mold, and create various shapes and figures using this sensory-rich material. Playdough play helps strengthen hand muscles and promotes sensory stimulation.

4. Smell and Identify Scented Jars

Create a sensory game with scented jars filled with items like coffee beans, lavender, or citrus peels. Let your toddler sniff and guess the scents, enhancing their olfactory senses and boosting their vocabulary with new smells.

5. Listen and Dance to Music

Turn up the tunes and have a dance party with your little one! Encourage them to move, groove, and express themselves through music. Dancing to the beat helps with coordination, rhythm, and sensory integration.

6. Taste and Explore with a Food Sensory Bin

Set up a sensory bin with different food items like dried fruits, crackers, or cereals. Let your toddler taste, touch, and explore the textures and flavors of the edible items while expanding their sensory palate.

7. Feel and Play with Textured Balls

Introduce your toddler to a variety of textured balls like bumpy, squishy, or spiky ones. Encourage them to roll, bounce, and squish the balls to experience different tactile sensations and improve their sensory awareness.

8. Create and Colorful Sensory Bottles

Craft sensory bottles filled with glitter, water beads, or colored liquids for your toddler to shake and observe. These mesmerizing bottles provide visual stimulation and promote calmness and focus in your little one.

9. Splash and Paint in a Bubble Bath

Combine bath time with art time by adding some non-toxic bath paint to your toddler's bubble bath. Let them create colorful masterpieces on the bathtub walls while engaging their senses and sparking creativity.

10. Jump and Hop in a Sensory Obstacle Course

Set up a mini obstacle course in your living room or backyard with pillows, cushions, and tunnels for your toddler to navigate. Encourage them to jump, crawl, and hop through the course, stimulating their proprioceptive senses and improving motor skills.

11. Roll and Massage with Play Foam

Bring out some squishy play foam for your toddler to roll, squish, and mold into different shapes. Encourage them to give themselves or their toys a mini massage with the foam, providing tactile sensory input and relaxation.

12. Scrunch and Play with Sensory Bags

Create sensory bags filled with items like hair gel, glitter, or pom-poms for your toddler to squish and scrunch. These sensory bags offer tactile stimulation and sensory exploration in a mess-free way.

13. Balance and Walk on a Sensory Path

Set up a sensory path with different textured surfaces like foam mats, bubble wrap, or fabric scraps for your toddler to walk, balance, and explore. Walking on varied textures enhances sensory integration and body awareness.

14. Explore and Taste Fruity Ice Pops

Cool down on a hot day with fruity ice pops made from pureed fruits and juices. Let your toddler explore the cold and sweet treats while engaging their taste buds and sensory preferences.

15. Build and Stack with Sponge Blocks

Craft sponge blocks or shapes for your toddler to stack, build, and squeeze. These soft and squishy blocks provide tactile sensory input and promote fine motor skills and creativity.

16. Cuddle and Snuggle with Sensory Toys

Introduce your toddler to soft and textured sensory toys like plush animals, fidget spinners, or squishy balls. Encourage them to cuddle, squeeze, and explore the sensory features of the toys for comfort and sensory regulation.

17. Find and Match Sensory Cards

Create sensory cards with textured materials like sandpaper, felt, or cotton for your toddler to touch and match. This sensory matching game helps improve tactile discrimination and sensory awareness.

18. Trace and Draw in Sensory Trays

Fill trays with materials like salt, flour, or sand for your toddler to trace and draw shapes, letters, or patterns. Sensory trays offer a tactile sensory experience and encourage creativity and fine motor skills.

19. Splash and Swim in a Sensory Pool

Take your toddler for a dip in a sensory pool filled with colored water beads or floating toys. Let them splash, swim, and explore the watery environment, promoting sensory play and motor skills.

20. Hop and Jump on a Sensory Pathway

Set up a sensory pathway with stepping stones or sensory mats for your toddler to hop, jump, and balance on. This sensory pathway activity enhances proprioceptive and vestibular senses and improves coordination and body awareness.

21. Explore and Touch Sensory Walls

Create sensory walls with different textures like fabrics, sponges, or ribbons for your toddler to touch and explore. Encourage them to feel the various textures and patterns, stimulating tactile senses and sensory curiosity.

22. Blow and Play with Sensory Bubbles

Get out the bubble wands and trays for some sensory bubble fun with your toddler. Encourage them to blow, pop, and chase bubbles, engaging their visual and tactile senses in a magical sensory experience.

23. Scribble and Draw with Sensory Sand

Fill a tray with sensory sand for your toddler to scribble, draw, and explore. Sensory sand provides a mess-free sensory play experience while promoting creativity, fine motor skills, and sensory input.

24. Twist and Bend with Sensory Ribbons

Provide your toddler with colorful ribbons for them to twist, twirl, and dance with. Encourage them to explore the sensory feel of the ribbons while moving and grooving to the music, engaging their visual and proprioceptive senses.

25. Taste and Explore Sensory Smoothies

Blend up some sensory smoothies using fruits, yogurt, and vegetables for your toddler to taste and explore. Let them sip and savor the nutritious treats while engaging their taste buds and sensory preferences.

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.