Have you tried sensory activities with your kids? Sensory play is awesome for young kids and has so many benefits that you can read about in our sensory play ideas guide. Here you will find a list of our favorite homemade sensory recipes. Super easy and quick to make, most play recipes have only a few ingredients you will find at home. Let’s get started!
EASY SENSORY RECIPES FOR HOMEMADE SENSORY FUN!
The BEST Sensory Play Recipes
When you want to keep the kids away from the television and engaged with hands-on play, open up your kitchen cupboard! Here’s a list of sensory recipes, that nicely complements our favorite sensory bin fillers.
We have had a blast with sensory play for preschoolers. Everyone should try and incorporate sensory activities into their daily plan. Just a few of the benefits include tactile sensory processing, fine motor development, social skills development, and early cognitive learning.
You can even pair your favorite books with our sensory play ideas. Take a look through your kid’s favorite story and see how you can add a tactile element to it.
Simple sensory play makes awesome anytime activities! With a few {mostly kitchen} ingredients, you may already have on hand everything you need to get started. I like to keep a stocked pantry for quick sensory projects anytime. These sensory recipes have proven to be real winners in our house and are asked for time and time again!
It’s always important to keep in mind the age of the kids you are preparing sensory activities for! You need to take into account whether or not your kids are still in the taste-testing phase. Many of the recipes are not taste safe, but some are! See below.
15 Sensory Recipes You’ll Love!
Most of these homemade recipes use only two or three common household ingredients! Click on the links below to go straight to the full recipe.
CLOUD DOUGH RECIPE
- Ocean Theme Cloud Dough
- Fizzy Cloud Dough
- Pumpkin Cloud Dough
- Hot Chocolate Cloud Dough
- Christmas Cloud Dough
SAND DOUGH RECIPE
So easy and fun to make, this sensory recipe is very similar to our cloud dough recipe. Sand dough uses just three simple ingredients, and has a cool new texture. It also makes a great sensory bin filler too!
OOBLECK RECIPE
Have fun with this quick and easy sensory recipe. Great for both young and older kids, with just 2 ingredients! Oobleck is a must try sensory activity.
FUN VARIATIONS OF OOBLECK
OUR FAVORITE SLIME RECIPE
Slime is one of our top sensory activities of all time! We have many homemade slime recipes to check out ranging from the traditional borax or liquid starch slime to taste safe/borax free recipes. Learn everything you need to know about making the best slime out there!
MORE SLIME RECIPES
EDIBLE SLIME
Taste safe, borax-free, and somewhat edible (not snack-able) slime recipe ideas are a great resource for kids who love to make homemade slime!
Edible slime is non-toxic and chemical free. However, is it a slimy snack for your kids to chow down on? NO. Although everything is labeled edible, I like to think of these slime recipes as TASTE-SAFE.
If your kids taste it, they will be safe. With that said, some of these recipes will be tastier than others anyway. Some kiddos will naturally want to taste slime and some won’t. Always keep the needs of your kids in mind when making slime!
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE EDIBLE SLIME RECIPES
IVORY SOAP SLIME
IVORY SOAP FOAM
NO COOK PLAYDOUGH
CORNSTARCH DOUGH RECIPE
This sensory dough has some cool movement to it. It is almost like slime but made from common kitchen ingredients.
SENSORY BIN FILLERS
Super quick and easy recipes for making a variety of fun colored sensory bin fillers. Check out…
EDIBLE PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH
A little bit different this sensory recipe is a great edible alternative for the child who has to taste everything!
KINETIC SAND
Kinetic sand is a really neat sensory play material because it has a bit of movement to it. It’s still moldable, shapeable and squishable! Find out how to make your own kinetic sand at home with our kinetic sand recipe.
SAND FOAM RECIPE
There’s nothing better than quick and easy sand foam sensory play ! My favorite sensory activities are ones I can create with what I already have in the house. This super simple sensory recipe only uses two easy ingredients, shaving cream and sand!
MOON SAND
Simple classic recipe with 3 easy ingredients!
GLITTER BOTTLES
Our glitter bottles are easy to make with a few simple ingredients. They also makes a great calm down jars!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SENSORY RECIPE?
SIMPLE HOMEMADE SENSORY RECIPES KIDS WILL LOVE!
Click on the image below or on the link for more sensory activities for kids.
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Jackie Houston
November 15, 2014 at 6:11 amThanks for linking up at The Crafty Mamas! I loved your sensory round up and featured your Frozen Themed Slime this week!
Susan
March 11, 2017 at 3:17 amI keep scrolling and clicking and I can not locate the simple slime recipe
littlebins
June 27, 2017 at 7:03 pmI think I fixed the problem! Thank you for letting me know that it wan’t clear enough.
Mary
May 2, 2018 at 7:42 amI am curious. how do you help a child with sensory issues with touching anything slimey or sticky? my 3 yr old grandson simply refuses to even touch any of the above items.
littlebins
May 30, 2018 at 8:14 amReally all you can do is offer it but never force it. You may need to try other types of sensory materials first like sensory bins, play dough etc. You could also try putting the slime in a clear plastic gallong bag, secure it tightly, and let them squish it through the bag!