Sensory Play Inspiration to Get You Going

Children are natural-born explorers.  Present them with a bin of dry beans and random tubes, and they will dive in hands first.  They will manipulate the medium — scooping, pouring, burying — creating stories and structures and, oh yeah, brain connections. 

Sensory play is a powerful and alluring learning experience for children.  Last year, I wrote this post explaining why sensory play is so important for preschoolers and this one about how to find sensory media inexpensively.  Recently, a reader commented asking for a quick-reference list of sensory media as well as ideas for tools and storage tips for those who might just be starting out with their sensory play adventures.

The first thing I would point out is that sensory play is happening all around you, whether you have a dedicated sensory table or not.  Children will naturally utilize their senses to investigate the world around them.  And because they use their senses to explore everything and anything, that means almost everything and anything can be used in a planned sensory play activity.  Notice the things they are drawn to in their impromptu sensory play.  To get your own creative juices going, here are some of the basics of sensory play to get you started.

Media 

Here’s a quick list with hot links for 42 Ideas for Sensory Media.  (Why 42?  Well, I started out thinking I’d put in 25 and after adding “just one more” and “just one more”, I had to draw the line somewhere!)  This is in no way an all inclusive list.  When it comes to sensory media, the sky’s the limit!  If there’s room to explore it, manipulate it, pour it, scoop it, or squeeze it, chances are it will make a good sensory medium.

Storage

So how does anyone manage limitless media in a limited space?  The first thing to consider is that you don’t have to store all of it.  Some items that are being repurposed (such as shredded paper or packing peanuts) may be used for a time and then continue on their way to the recycling bin as was initially intended. 

You may also want to consider a sensory rotation.  Network with other parents or teachers and create a list of reusable sensory materials.  Assign each person one or two sensory items to collect and store.  Then rotate the media after a set time period.  This keeps the sensory contents novel for your children while only requiring you to store a small amount at any given time.

For those that you do keep on hand, you have several options.  For items like beans, sand, or rice, I use shoe-box sized stackable storage containers.  For compressible contents or smaller collections, like feathers, foam shapes, and sawdust, I use plastic bags for each group and then put all the bags into a repurposed Costco-sized detergent bucket.  Of course, if you’re storing much, it’s important to label your containers to keep your collection organized.

Tools

While you could certainly present a sensory material all by itself and be quite sure that your children would still explore it, adding tools and other items serves to make it more inviting and exciting.  Here are just a few ideas:

Scoopers: Cups, spoons, ladels, garden shovels, fish nets, repurposed scoops from formula, drink mixes, and detergents

Tubes: Tubes from paper towels or gift wrap, PVC pipes, clear refrigerator tubing

Texture: Rakes, combs, and paint brushes

Figures: Animals, people, dinoaurs, cars, bugs, and on and on!

Treasures: Coins, rocks painted gold, sequins, large beads

Motion: Funnels, waterwheels, hand-powered egg beaters, whisks,

Measuring: Measuring cups and spoons in a variety of sizes, scale/balance, bowls of differing sizes

Finding a Space

Many people feel a little nervous about setting small children loose with several pounds of dry rice or a few gallons of water, and rightfully so.  A free-for-all could swiftly spell disaster.  It’s important to set appropriate boundaries, which I discuss in this ancient post found here.  You may also want to start out having your sensory play activities outside until you feel more comfortable and your children have become more familiar with the procedures and limits.

 When you’re introducing sensory play activities, having a designated area helps to create appropriate boundaries.  But that doesn’t mean that you have to shell out the extra money for a commercial grade sensory table (though who wouldn’t have fun with one of these?).  My first home sensory table was a large, shallow storage bin with a lid.  I would set it on a table cloth on the kitchen floor and let my son have at it while I made dinner.  I’ve since graduated, though only slightly.  I’m still using a shallow storage bin, but it now has it’s own child-sized table and the two have been secured together using velcro to increase stability during play but movability during clean up.  (Though I still bring out that same table cloth from time to time and give my youngest a few metal bowls and cups along with some dry pasta to manipulate while I cook.)

Sensory play can also happen in other everyday locations.  It can take place at your kitchen sink while washing dishes or incorporating other water, ice, or shaving cream play.  A muddy patch in your back yard can give limitless avenues for wriggly, squishy play as well.  A bedtime bath can become a sink- or-float experiment or a time for exploring with a number of tools for water play.   A simple cookie sheet  on a table can hold salt, playdough, or slime.  And simply helping with dinner can turn into a delightful sensory extravaganza.  Opportunities for sensory play are all around if you’re ready to see the world through a child’s eyes.

What are your favorite sensory play activities?  Share your ideas for sensory media, tools, storage, and space!

Top photo by Nico.