• 1 week ago

Sensory Play for Babies and Young Children

What Is Sensory Play?

Sensory play is any activity that stimulates a child’s senses—touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. These activities are often open-ended, exploratory, and led by the child’s curiosity.

Benefits include:

  • Improved brain connectivity
  • Fine and gross motor skill development
  • Emotional regulation and self-calming
  • Enhanced focus and body awareness
  • Language and communication growth

Sensory experiences help children make sense of the world—literally and developmentally.

Sensory Focus by Age Group

Sense

0–6 Months

6–12 Months

1–3 Years

3–6 Years

Touch

Massage, soft fabrics

Water, textured objects

Sensory bins, playdough, slime

Clay, kinetic sand, mixed materials

Sight

High-contrast images

Bright toys, mirrors

Shadow play, color sorting

Light table, color mixing

Hearing

Lullabies, rattles

Shakers, sound bottles

Musical instruments, rhythm games

Sound discrimination, beat mimicking

Smell

Familiar scents (mom)

Citrus, soap, herbs

Spice jars, scent matching

Nature scents, kitchen experiments

Taste

Breastmilk/formula

Safe food sampling

Sweet–sour–salty tasting

Homemade food exploration

At-Home Sensory Play Ideas

Sensory Bin Exploration

Fill a shallow container with:

  • Rice, lentils, cotton balls, fabric scraps
  • Add scoops, small toys, or containers to transfer

Boosts fine motor skills, focus, and touch exploration

Edible Finger Painting

Make baby-safe paint using:

  • Yogurt + natural colorings (turmeric, blueberry juice, spinach purée)

Enhances tactile and visual stimulation

Water & Ice Play

Provide bowls with:

  • Floating toys, cups for pouring
  • Colored ice cubes for melting and sensory discovery

Develops cause-effect understanding and temperature awareness

DIY Sound Bottles

Use clear plastic bottles filled with:

  • Rice, beads, bells, dried pasta
  • Shake, roll, and guess the sound

Builds auditory discrimination and attention

Edible Dough Exploration

Mash banana + oats + a drizzle of molasses to form a baby-safe dough. Let your child squeeze, pat, and nibble.

Combines tactile play with taste exploration

Tips for Safe and Effective Sensory Play

  • Always supervise your child
  • Use non-toxic, baby-safe materials
  • Introduce new textures or sensations gradually
  • Expect mess—and embrace it as part of the experience
  • Focus on exploration, not achievement
  • Watch your child’s cues and don’t force interaction

Every child has sensory preferences. Some may avoid certain textures—this is normal and should be respected while gently offering variety.

Support from Dr. Ekin Pasinlioğlu

  • Creating personalized sensory play plans by age
  • Monitoring sensory processing and developmental milestones
  • Guidance for children with sensory sensitivity or avoidance
  • Recommending safe materials and home setups
  • Parent coaching for daily routines with sensory learning
  • Referrals to occupational therapists if sensory challenges persist