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Sensory Play Activities for Babies

January 28, 2014 by Anna Ranson

Here’s a collection of simple sensory play activities for babies and toddlers, for a fun exploration into the world around them! All are little to no effort or cost and encourage engaging play and exploration, both independently and in shared one to one sessions between baby and a special adult. Enjoy!A great collection of sensory play activities for babies and toddlers!

 

Little ones don’t need extravagant play times set up for them. Absolutely everything is something to explore and wonder at when experiencing it for the first time! From toes in the grass to splashing in water, babies find out about this brand new world around them using all of their senses, sometimes all at the same time! Here are some ideas for safe tastes, hands on exploring and tactile investigating. As always, never leave your baby unattended when playing with any of these ideas. Play together to increase the opportunities for sharing and communicating as they explore and make this a special bonding time! Remember, their attention spans are not long at this stage and that is fine. A few minutes of one of these ideas per day is plenty, and come back to revisit them often as repetition is what leads to familiarity and building on learning skills later.

Exploring the texture and “stickiness” of hair rollers

Baby-playing-with-hair-rollers-666x1000

Smelling, tasting and mark-making with jello finger-paints

How-to-make-edible-jello-fingerpaints-666x1000

Watch bubbles float and pop

baby+bubbles+3

Explore sounds and sights of DIY discovery bottles

discovery+bottles

Splash and explore with coloured water

baby+splashing+in+water+2

Discover light and shadows on a DIY light box

baby+on+light+box

 

Watch the trees and feel the breeze outside!Baby outdoor sensory play

Explore the contents of a Treasure Basket

Baby play

Discover the amazing feeling of frozen jelly!

Defrosting-frozen-jello-680x453

Listen to the sound of rain with mini rainsticks!

Baby Rainsticks

Discover textures and tastes with raspberry spaghettibaby+eating+spaghetti

Smoosh, smear and paint with homemade edible finger-paints!homemade-edible-finger-paint

For more ideas for baby and toddler play activities check out the archives here

Here is a baby play area for 0-6 months olds and for 6-18 month olds

Here is a list of some of our very favourite baby and toddler toys and play resources!

 

Related Posts

  • Wash the Muddy Farm Animals Sensory PlayWash the Muddy Farm Animals Sensory Play
  • DIY Sensory Mats for Babies and ToddlersDIY Sensory Mats for Babies and Toddlers
  • Colour Theme Baby Treasure Basket
  • Easter Sensory Eggs for Babies and ToddlersEaster Sensory Eggs for Babies and Toddlers
  • Taste Safe Digger Sensory Bin for ToddlersTaste Safe Digger Sensory Bin for Toddlers
  • Baby and Toddler Sensory Play Tray: Reflections

Filed Under: Age, Baby, Heuristic Play, Messy Play, Play, Sensory, Toddler Tagged With: Baby Play, Baby Sensory, Sensory Play

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Comments

  1. Jay says

    January 28, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    I tried making some edible paint according to your recipe. It was wonderful! Loved the way it felt nice & warm when it was freshly made.Great for sensory play. I can’t wait to take it out of the fridge for some play tomorrow! Thank you for sharing!

  2. Krystal says

    January 30, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Oh hair rollers! What a brilliant idea. When my son was little he use to cry when he was inside. He loved lying on a blanket watching the leaves dance. Thank you for igniting that memory.

  3. Christie Gray says

    February 15, 2014 at 3:26 am

    You are an exceptionally creative person and it is wonderful that you openly share your ideas!!! Thank you so much – I will be taking ideas and making things for my own children (boys aged 8months and 2 1/2years) as well as for the children I work with who have Autism!

    I will be sharing your page on my blog if you’d like to pop over and check it out!

  4. Jen says

    March 25, 2014 at 12:27 am

    I love the toys you selected for 6-18 months. I’d like to purchase the Robinia blocks and Mirror blocks, but I’m having a hard time finding them in the USA. Do you know where I can find them?

    Do you recommend certain soft dolls?

    Thank you!

  5. Julia says

    June 25, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    Fantastic selection thank you! Have not yet made edible paints so will be definitely be giving that a go. My boy just can’t keep paint out of his mouth lol Cheers, Julia 🙂

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About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

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