5 Sensory Activities for Toddlers That Support Their Development

It can be difficult to entertain young toddlers, especially if they are still too young to understand simple instructions. One way to help support their development and keep them engaged is to plan sensory activities. Sensory activities are incredibly beneficial for toddlers, as they allow them to explore their environment and discover how things feel, sound, and look.

In this post, we’ll discuss five enjoyable sensory activities you can do with your toddler. Each activity can encourage their creativity and stimulate their senses while also helping them learn more about the world around them. We’ll also talk about the benefits of sensory activities and how they can help support your toddler’s development.

Painting With Food

Painting is the perfect way for toddlers to explore color and texture while tapping into their creativity. To encourage this exploration, set up an area outside where kids can paint with food objects such as apples, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries. Have them dip the pieces of fruit into non-toxic paint and brush the colors onto paper or other materials to create unique artwork. You can frame their finished pieces to add a little decoration to your home. For extra fun, purchase a slime-making kit to mix up batches of gooey goodness.

Exploring Nature With Sound

Exploring nature is an easy way to engage your child’s imagination as they observe creatures in their natural habitat. Take them to a park or wooded area and encourage them to use their senses to identify various sounds. Take turns making bird calls or bug noises and have them close their eyes to better focus on the sounds around them. They can also use listening sticks to amplify specific noises and discover what creatures may be behind them.

Creating Music With Everyday Objects

Making music together is a fun way for parents and toddlers to bond. Gather household items like cans, utensils, bowls, and bags to create a makeshift percussion band. Explore rhythms and create soundscapes together. You can recreate familiar songs with your homemade instruments. This enjoyable activity promotes bonding, rhythm exploration, and creativity.

Sensory Bottle Exploration

Sensory bottles are full of items, colors, and textures to create a visually stimulating object for your child. This activity will help toddlers strengthen their senses of sight and touch as they explore the contents of each bottle. Encourage your child to manipulate the bottles by shaking, turning them upside down, and listening to the objects inside as they move around. Use various items such as plain water, colorful liquids, and unique items from a slime-making kit or glitter for extra sparkle and shine.

Playing With Sandpaper Letters

Playing with sandpaper letters is an excellent way for young children to acquire reading skills by encouraging letter recognition tactics. Create some yourself by attaching sandpaper letters onto thin pieces of wood or purchase pre-made sandpaper letters from an educational store. Have your child match the sandpaper letter shapes to actual printed letters. This activity allows them to experience the connection between sight, sound, and touch.

In Conclusion

With these five sensory activities for toddlers, parents can foster their kids’ development in meaningful ways while building stronger relationships at the same time. Whether you want to paint with food or play with letters, you are sure to find an activity for everyone to enjoy. After trying out these activities at home, perhaps you’ll find that you can have even more fun when engaging in creative learning activities together.