Author: Mel WAGENAAR
Educational Psychologist, Teacher and Mother, South Africa
Sensory activities are some of the most important for the development of your toddler. These stimulating activities support young children’s holistic development, particularly their cognitive, physical, language and social-emotional skills. Young children can also develop their self-help skills and learn about their environment when engaging in activities that stimulate their senses. Playing like this with your child will also prepare them for kindergarten where they will be involved in similar activities.
Here are some simple yet effective ideas for you to do at home with your toddler:
- Sensory Sacks are a wonderful way for toddlers to explore different textures and materials. This idea also has the bonus of being mess-free! All it requires is for you to half-fill a zip-lock plastic bag with your choice of a ‘base’ liquid material such as shaving foam or jelly. You could also make a loose mixture of water and wallpaper glue – this works well too. It all depends on what you have at home. To this bag you add small objects, like buttons, plastic animals, shapes – anything that is small enough and interesting enough to go into the bag. Add some glitter if you are feeling adventurous! Seal the bag carefully and offer it to your child. Better still, make two so that you can model how to explore the bag by feeling the textures and moving the objects around. Have fun talking about what you are experiencing too. This is a good idea as a traveling activity too.
- Texture Time is a great way for children to learn through touch. Create a texture exploration activity using a shallow unbreakable container that you fill with different materials like pasta, rice, cotton balls and other commonly found non-toxic household provisions. Together with your child, explore and talk about the textures using descriptive words and helping them to understand the properties of the different materials.
- Water Water Everywhere! Water has amazing healing properties and children and adults love to play with it and in it! This kind of play engages all of a child’s senses. This can be a bath time activity, or you can use a shallow container filled with water as an outdoor activity. This is the time to splash, pour and scoop water – make sure to have some different containers for this (yoghurt cups work well too). These activities support eye-hand coordination and an understanding of cause and effect – early science! NOTE: Never leave a child alone with any kind of container of water or in the bath alone!
- Play Dough is versatile and can be bought or homemade. It is very good for developing children’s fine motor skills and creativity. Children can roll and mould the play dough into different shapes using their fingers. You can also provide a rolling pin or tools like a plastic knife that children can use. After reading the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you and your child can ‘make’ some fruit and foods based on the story. This is a great way to incorporate literacy and creativity.
- Taste Time involves all the senses, not only smell and taste. Prepare a plate of different fruits with your child. Feel the weight of the fruits before peeling; listen to the sound they make. Teach them how to peel and prepare fruit – yes, even with a knife. Help your child to arrange the fruits in an artistic way on a plate and then enjoy the sight, smell, touch, and taste of the delicious snack.
When children are involved in these kinds of activities they are playing and learning self-help skills at the same time. For example, fine motor skills are needed for holding utensils, writing and dressing themselves. Children also develop problem solving skills when they are involved in water play for example. During sensory play, toddlers learn to express their emotions and imagination, for example when designing and creating their play dough objects they need to take time and persist with their ideas. They also experience the satisfaction of completing an enjoyable task. Making a fruit platter brings all their senses together as they help to prepare a healthy snack for the family. All of these are wonderful lifelong learning skills.
Safety Notes
Always only use non-toxic materials for sensory activities. Taste is an important sense and children will put the materials in their mouths. This is perfectly normal and to be encouraged. However, this means that anything used must be safe.
Young children will also put things in their noses and ears …so take care when selecting the size of objects. Be alert if you do use smaller objects – this is fine but ensure that you discuss the dangers with your child. This is good learning time too.
Always practice water safety. Never leave any child alone with open containers of water of any size. Not even for a moment.
Take care when using sharp utensils, such as knives. These should only be used with adult supervision.
Storybooks that support Sensory Play
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Magic Paintbrush by Julia Donaldson
Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Singing about the Senses
This song is a variation of the classic song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” but instead of clapping hands or stomping feet, the song has actions related to the senses.
Verse 1:
If you’re happy and you know it, touch your nose
If you’re happy and you know it, touch your nose
If you’re happy and you know it, then your nose will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, touch your nose
Verse 2:
If you’re happy and you know it, close your eyes
If you’re happy and you know it, close your eyes
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, close your eyes
Verse 3:
If you’re happy and you know it, wiggle your ears
If you’re happy and you know it, wiggle your ears
If you’re happy and you know it, then your ears will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, wiggle your ears
Verse 4:
If you’re happy and you know it, sniff the air
If you’re happy and you know it, sniff the air
If you’re happy and you know it, then your nose will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, sniff the air
Verse 5:
If you’re happy and you know it, taste a treat
If you’re happy and you know it, taste a treat
If you’re happy and you know it, then your mouth will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, taste a treat
