As a former early childhood educator and mama to two littles, sensory play is one of my favorite types of play. The benefits and possibilities of sensory play are enormous! Its play is flexible, easy, and engaging.
My biggest tip? Don’t overcomplicate it!
When I tell you that sensory play holds my kids’ (ages 7 and 4), attention more than any other toy or type of play, I’m not kidding! This type of play can strengthen different types of play and skill sets (independent play, exploratory play, etc.). These skills and abilities take time to build.
Sensory play has all kinds of emotional and developmental benefits.
- It stimulates brain development
- It helps regulate emotions and emotional processing in children
- Encourages creativity and imagination
- Boosts and encourages social skills (turn-taking, assertiveness, etc)
- Enhances cognitive functions
Sensory Play with Nature
My kids will spend hours in the backyard each summer playing with water, dirt, sand, and any other part of nature they get their hands on. I rarely facilitate too much intentional play in the backyard regarding outdoor sensory play.
However, there are several ideas you can try if you want to nudge your kids to a little more intentional play with nature.
- Flower sorting (by color, type, etc.)
- Grass bin
- Build with sticks
- Bins with “habitats” (water, grass, twigs, dirt)
Water Play
My favorite parenting motto when things get stressful is “Put them in water or take them outside.” And while I am a big fan of combining both things (especially in the summer) water anywhere works just fine.
Showers and baths keep kids entertained for a while. But maybe take it further and add some shaving cream, paints, or bubbles!
Some ways you might encourage water play include:
- Providing children with water toys or sprayers outside
- Getting a child-sized watering can
- Setting up containers with colored water to mix and pour
- Set up a relay race where kids fill their containers and pass/pour into another
Chalk Play
Chalk play is another popular summer sensory play idea for kids. You can use it as it’s intended or change its form. Stomp it, crush it, get it wet. There are many unexpected ways to play with chalk. You can soak chalk sticks in water and make it a mushy, darker type of paint.
You can use chalk to set up obstacle courses and increase motor skills. You can use chalk for a little extra learning or games. Or just let your kids use their creativity and hand them a large bucket of chalk to do as they wish!
Sensory Play with Kitchen Creations
Too hot to go outside to play? No problem!
There are so many ways to still reap the benefits of sensory play during the summer inside. There’s homemade or store-bought Play-dough, kinetic sand, and Oobleck. You can make a sensory play base using household items like rice, flour, cornstarch, bath soap, conditioner, or shaving cream.
Looking for some specific recipe ideas? Check out this post for some of our favorites!
If you want to take it further, add some scents! Lemon, cinnamon, mint, and lavender are a great way to enhance play through smell. You can make taste-safe sensory bases for younger, mouthy babes. Try a taste test with blindfolds to activate your child’s taste buds. Experiment with sweet, sour, and salty foods like lemon, strawberries, and pretzels! Ask your child about texture, taste, and smell, and have them compare each one.
Sensory Play with Sound
Chances are, your home is a little extra loud in the summer with kids home and staying busy. Try using pockets of your day to make intentional sound experiments. You can buy or make instruments at home. Experiment with closing off your sense of sight by covering your ears and listening closely.
Some ideas for sensory play with sound might include:
- A DIY rain stick or instrument with elastic bands and a tissue box
- Go outside at certain times of the day and have your child name five things you hear
- Standing near the window during a rainstorm and noticing what you hear
- Take a nature walk in the woods to listen for different bird sounds
- Stopping while out at the pool or shopping to hear unique sounds and voices
The developmental benefits of sensory play are expansive. But sensory play is even better when you have kids home in the summer clamoring for some added fun! (Especially if it keeps their attention for a while!)
So lean in. Find what works for you and your family. Don’t be afraid to try out some different ingredients or mixes. Give your kids some space and a few basic ideas, then enjoy seeing where their play takes them!
Oobleck Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 3 drops food coloring (optional)
- 1 cup water
Directions:
Mix ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. (Slowly add the water slowly since you may not need the entire cup!).
Enjoy watching your child experiment with the different forms of liquid and solid! Easy, washable, and hours of fun.
Embrace the messy play – or do this outside on the back deck!
Check Out Our DIY SIDEWALK CHALK PAINT! 🎨
Looking to build your library?
Grab your goggles and a family member to get started on a journey to spark curiosity, critical thinking, and fun family times!
SUPER FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT BOOK: With chapters like Magic Tricks, Kitchen Science, and Fun with Physics, this book is packed with experiments that will delight little scientists and their lab assistants.
FOR SCIENCE KIDS & NON-SCIENCE KIDS: For anyone who loves to try out kitchen science or STEM experiments at home, this book is brimming with ideas.
