Sensory Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
One thing which every parent is constantly searching for is enjoyable and stimulating activities to occupy and stimulate our young ones. One of the best ways to do that is through sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers. These are fantastic to encourage exploration, play, and learning. Sensory learning is a teaching approach that engages multiple senses in the learning process to enhance memory and retention. Fun sensory activities should arouse a child’s senses of touch, sight, smell, and sound. Only if this happens, will it provide them with a well-rounded and exciting experience. In this blog, we will explore ten different sensory activities that are perfect for young children. After all, sensory play allows them to explore their environment, develop their motor skills and creativity, and have fun while doing it!
Sand Play
Sand play is one of the most popular sensory activities for young children. You can provide a sand table or a small sandbox and let children explore the sand with their hands and other tools. This kind of sensory play helps to develop fine motor skills, as well as providing a tactile and visual sensory experience. Playing with sand also encourages children to use their imagination and creativity as they build and design different structures.
Water Play
Water play is one of the best sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Whether you have a water table or just a simple bucket of water and some cups and spoons, this activity allows children to explore the properties of water, such as its temperature, texture, and sound. They can pour, splash, and scoop the water, which is a fun and engaging experience for them.
Play Dough
Playdough is a great sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers. A lot of parents even make play dough at home using food ingredients like flour, food colours etc. But if it’s too much of a hassle for you, you can also purchase non-toxic play dough from a store. Children can squeeze, mold, and shape the play dough, which helps to improve their fine motor skills. You can also add different scents and colours to the play dough to create a more engaging sensory experience. Dough play also provides a tactile and visual sensory experience, allowing children to explore different textures, colours, and shapes
Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are containers filled with different materials that provide a sensory experience. And these materials can be found right at home such as rice, beans, pasta, colourful beads or shredded paper. Children can scoop and pour the materials, which is a great way to develop their fine motor skills. You can also hide small objects in the bin for children to find, which is a fun and engaging activity. Sensory bins can be themed around different concepts, such as seasons, animals, or colours, which can help to spark children’s curiosity and creativity. Setting up a sensory bin will hardly take you a few minutes. So it’s great when you are pressed for time and need to engage your child.
Finger Painting
Finger painting is a fun and messy sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers. You can use non-toxic paint and provide paper for children to paint on. When children use their fingers to create different patterns and shapes, it helps them unleash their creativity. They tend to concentrate and express themselves effortlessly. This is one of the sensory activities that also helps to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, as children learn to control their movements and apply the paint in a specific area.
Music and Movement
Music and movement activities are great sensory activities for toddlers. You can play music and encourage children to dance, jump, or clap along. This activity helps to develop their gross motor skills and provides a sensory experience through sound and movement. This activity can be done not only in different dance styles but also in varying rhythms and beats. Every type of music and dance has a unique benefit for the child and it helps them understand different emotions and moods.
Nature Walks
Little ones actually love being amidst nature. Taking them on walks where they discover nature in their own way is a wonderful sensory experience for them. You can take children on a walk through a park or a nature trail and encourage them to explore their surroundings. They can touch different textures, listen to the sounds of nature, and smell different scents. This activity helps to develop their sensory skills and provides a fun and educational experience.
Sensory Bottles
Sensory bottles are containers filled with different materials, such as glitter, beads, or small toys. Children can shake the bottle and watch the materials move around, which is a visual and tactile sensory experience. Sensory bottles can be adapted for different themes and concepts, such as seasonal changes, holidays, or colours, making them a versatile option for young children.
Cooking and Baking
Cooking and baking activities provide a sensory experience through smell and taste. You can involve children in simple cooking or baking activities, such as making cookies or muffins. Children can help to mix ingredients, which is a great way to develop their fine motor skills. They can also smell and taste the different ingredients, which provides a fun and engaging sensory experience.
Storytelling
Storytelling activities are a great way to provide a sensory experience through language and imagination. You can read stories to young children and encourage them to use their imagination to visualize the story. This activity helps to develop language and communication skills, as children learn new vocabulary and sentence structures.
You might also want to read about Developmental Skills Every Toddler Should Have
Fun sensory activities are a wonderful way to promote exploration, creativity, and learning in young children. Sensory learning can be used to teach a wide range of concepts and helps your toddler learn and grow and have fun.
For this reason, EuroKids, one of the most reputed preschools in India, has structured its entire curriculum around a child’s holistic development. Sensory activities are a huge part of our curriculum. Our enrichment programs, like EuPhonics, MathLab, EuroFit, and EuroMusic, which are a part of their day-to-day schedules, give your child that extra edge they deserve.
Sensory learning can elevate the learning experience for a child and can be incorporated in every subject and aspect of learning.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit a EuroKids centre near your home to see how they plan developmental activities that positively impact the little ones.