Easy Sensory Activities for Toddlers

Sensory play is a fantastic way to support your toddler’s early development—and it doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated. From squishy textures to bubbly water, these sensory activities for toddlers are fun, safe, and easy to set up at home.

Why Sensory Play Matters for Toddlers

Whether your toddler is 12 months or 3 years old, sensory play helps them build motor skills, language, problem-solving abilities, and confidence.

• Supports brain development
• Improves fine motor skills
• Encourages language and social interaction
• Reduces stress and improves focus

A Personal Note from Me

When my son was a toddler, sensory play was our go-to. He could spend what felt like forever splashing in a tub of water on the kitchen floor—cups, spoons, and a few floating toys were all he needed for a morning of discovery.

One of my favorite memories? Digging for small ocean animals in a pan of blue Jell-O! Oh, and finger painting with yogurt paint!

These kinds of moments are why I love sensory play so much. It’s not just about learning textures or developing motor skills (though those are great too)—it’s about watching your child explore, experiment, and light up with joy. That’s what makes sensory play so magical.

🛑 Safety First with Toddler Sensory Play

• Always supervise
• Use taste-safe or edible materials (do not encourage eating materials)
• Avoid small choking hazards
• Set up on a mat, towel, or outside for easy cleanup

Simple Sensory Activities to Try

Here are our favorite non-bin sensory play activities perfect for toddlers:

1. Bubble Soap Foam Play

• Mix 2:1 water and tear-free soap with a hand mixer
• Add food coloring for extra fun
• Scoop onto a tray with whisks and cups

💡Take a look at our soap foam recipe here.

2. Edible Paint

• Use yogurt or pudding mixed with food coloring
• Let toddlers finger paint on a tray or paper

💡Try this recipe for edible paint and enjoy an art activity with snack time.

Water Play in the Sink (or container)

• Set up a sturdy step stool
• Let toddlers wash toys or scoop and pour
• Add small toys, sponges, and kitchen utensils
• Color the water with food coloring if desired

💡Look through all of our water sensory play options here.

Texture Walk

• Tape down strips of fabric, bubble wrap, foam, etc.
• Let your toddler walk barefoot to explore textures

Nature Sensory Tray

• Fill a tray with leaves, pinecones, grass, and rocks
• Great for outdoor exploration too!
• Perfect for a tuff tray setup

Taste-Safe Frosting Playdough

• Make our homemade and taste-safe dough
• Add cookie cutters, mini rolling pins

💡Learn how to make taste-safe playdough with frosting and try this pudding slime!

Cornstarch and Water (Oobleck)

• 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water
• Safe but messy! Add spoons and toys

💡Learn how to make oobleck here!

Scoop & Transfer Station

• Set up two bins—one with a sensory material (rice, oats, ice, or water), one empty.
• Toddlers transfer material back and forth using cups and scoops.

Jell-O Dig

• Set small toys in prepared Jell-O.
• Let your toddler dig them out with their hands or small spoons.

Pompom Drop

• Tape cardboard tubes to the wall or a box
• Set out a container of pompoms or small lightweight objects that fit through the tubes
• Drop items through for fun and motor skill practice

Frozen Toy Rescue

💡Look through our ice melt activities here.

• Freeze toys or flowers in a muffin tin
• Once frozen, empty into a large bin
• Use warm water and droppers to melt them out
• Add scoops and tongs for extra play
• LEGO ice melt and icy flower sensory play are shown below.

Sensory Bottles

💡Learn how to make sensory bottles here.

• Fill clear plastic bottles with oil, glitter, water, or colored beads
• Seal the lid with a strong adhesive
• Great for visual stimulation and calm-down time

Toddler-Friendly Sensory Bin Ideas

Keep a few simple sensory bins on hand, too:

• Cooked pasta bin
• Oats, cornmeal, or cereal bin (process to make edible sand) with scoops and containers
• Water + cups bin
• Sredded Coconut bin
• Taste-safe cloud dough (vegetable oil and flour)

How to Get Started with Sensory Play

• Choose one new activity at a time.
• Set up in a contained area (bathtub, sink, towel, outdoors).
• Dress for mess—smocks or old clothes are great!
• Keep sessions short and fun!
• Don’t have any specific expectations for how the play should go!

Make It a Learning Moment

Even the simplest sensory activity can build:

• Vocabulary (wet, cold, squishy, splash)
• Color and shape recognition
• Cause and effect
• Social skills (if playing with others)
• Add a fun-themed book or turn on music

Related Toddler Activity Resources

Start Exploring Today!
You don’t need expensive toys to make sensory play meaningful. With just a few everyday materials and a little creativity, you can create a world of wonder for your toddler to explore.

• Easy Toddler STEM Activities
• Science Activities for Toddlers
• Playdough Recipes
• More Sensory Play Ideas
• Mess-Free Sensory Bags
• 75 Fantastic Preschool Activities
• Board Games for Toddlers

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