If you’re a parent of a toddler, you know that their boundless energy and curiosity can sometimes leave you stumped for activities to keep them entertained. But fear not! Sensory activities are a great way to engage your little ones while also encouraging their creativity. In this article, we’ll share 20 sensory activities that are perfect for toddlers to explore their senses and unleash their imaginations. And if you’re in NW Calgary, we’ve also got some great ideas for preschools in the area.

Why Sensory Activities Are Great for Toddlers

Sensory activities are activities that engage a child’s senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell – to encourage exploration, learning, and creativity. Toddlers are at a stage where they are constantly learning and developing, and sensory activities can provide them with opportunities to:

• Explore their world and learn about different textures, colors, and shapes
• Develop their fine motor skills by using their hands and fingers to manipulate objects.
• Practice their problem-solving skills by figuring out how things work
• Express themselves creatively and use their imagination.

Now that we know why sensory activities are great for toddlers, let’s dive into some fun and creative ideas!

Playdough Fun

Playing with playdough is a classic sensory activity that toddlers never seem to tire of. Not only does it engage their sense of touch, but it also encourages their creativity and imagination. You can make your playdough at home with just a few ingredients, or buy it pre-made. To make it even more fun, try adding different scents and colors.

If you’re looking for a Preschool in NW Calgary, check out the playdough fun at Learn and Play Preschool Academy.

Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are a fun and easy DIY activity that can keep toddlers entertained for hours. Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, glitter, beads, or other small objects, and watch as your little one explores the contents. You can also add food coloring or oil to create different effects.

Painting with Water

Painting with water is a mess-free sensory activity that’s perfect for outdoor play. Give your toddler a bucket of water and some paintbrushes, and let them “paint” on the sidewalk or driveway. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot day, and the water will evaporate quickly, leaving no mess behind.

Sensory Bin Fun

Sensory bins are a great way to engage your toddler’s senses and encourage their creativity. Fill a large plastic bin with materials like rice, sand, or dried beans, and add small toys or objects for your child to discover. You can even theme your sensory bins to match holidays or seasons.

Ice Cube Fun

Ice cubes are a great sensory material for toddlers to explore. Freeze small toys or objects in ice cubes, and let your child play with them as they melt. You can also add food coloring to the water before freezing to create colorful ice cubes.

Nature Walks

Taking a nature walk is a great way to engage your toddler’s senses and encourage their creativity. Point out different flowers, trees, and animals, and encourage them to explore their surroundings. You can even bring a bag to collect interesting rocks, leaves, and other treasures.

If you’re in NW Calgary, check out the nature walks at Learn and Play Preschool Academy.

Water Beads

Water beads are a fun and unique sensory material that toddlers love to play with. Simply soak the beads in water overnight, and they will expand into small, squishy balls. Your child can play with them in a sensory bin or even use them in water play.

Foam Dough

Foam dough is a fun alternative to playdough that’s easy to make at home. All you need is shaving cream and cornstarch. Mix them until you have a moldable dough that’s soft and squishy. You can add food coloring to create different colors.

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags are a mess-free way for toddlers to explore different textures and materials. Fill a Ziploc bag with hair gel, glitter, or other materials, and seal it up tight. Your child can squish and squeeze the bag to feel the different textures.

Shaving Cream Fun

Shaving cream is a versatile sensory material that toddlers love to play with. Spray it on a tray or table and let your child explore the texture with their fingers. You can also add food coloring to create different colors.

If you’re looking for a Preschool in NW Calgary, check out the shaving cream fun at Learn and Play Preschool Academy.

Sensory Boards

Sensory boards are a great way for toddlers to explore different textures and materials in a safe and contained way. You can make your sensory board by attaching different materials like sandpaper, carpet, or fabric to a board. Your child can touch and feel the different textures.

Bubble Wrap Fun

Bubble wrap is a fun and tactile material that toddlers love to play with. You can use it to create a sensory walkway, or just let your child pop the bubbles for some satisfying sensory input.

Rice Play

Playing with rice is a fun and sensory way for toddlers to explore different textures and materials. Fill a sensory bin with rice and add small toys or objects for your child to discover. You can also dye the rice different colors using food coloring.

Edible Sensory Play

Edible sensory play is a great way to engage your toddler’s sense of taste while also encouraging creativity. You can make edible playdough using ingredients like flour, salt, and food coloring. You can also let your child play with food like spaghetti, Jell-O, or pudding.

Sensory Walks

Sensory walks are a great way for toddlers to explore their surroundings and engage their senses. Take your child on a walk around the neighborhood and encourage them to touch different textures like tree bark or leaves. You can even blindfold them and have them rely on their other senses to navigate.

If you’re in NW Calgary, check out the sensory walks at Learn and Play Preschool Academy.

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic sand is a fun and tactile material that’s easy to mold and shape. Your child can use it to create sandcastles, or just squish and mold it with their hands. It’s a great sensory activity for both indoor and outdoor play.

Oobleck Fun

Oobleck is a fun and unique sensory material that’s easy to make at home. All you need is cornstarch and water. Mix them to create a slimy and gooey substance that’s fun to touch and explore.

Magnetic Fun

Magnetic play is a great way to engage your child’s sense of touch and encourage creativity. You can buy magnetic building sets or even make your own with magnetic tape and small objects like paper clips or buttons. Your child can use the magnets to create different shapes and structures.

DIY Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are a fun and easy way to engage your toddler’s sense of sight and touch. You can make your sensory bottles by filling a clear plastic bottle with water and adding materials like glitter, beads, or small toys. Your child can shake and explore the bottle to see the different materials moving around.

Play With Playdough

Playdough is a classic sensory material that toddlers love to play with. You can buy store-bought playdough or make your own at home using flour, salt, and water. Add food coloring to create different colors, and let your child mold and shape the play dough into different shapes and structures.

Conclusion

Sensory activities are a great way to encourage creativity and engage your toddler’s senses. Whether you’re looking for messy play or mess-free activities, there are plenty of options to choose from. Try some of these sensory activities with your toddler today and watch as they explore, learn, and create.

If you’re looking for a Preschool in NW Calgary that offers sensory activities, be sure to check out Learn and Play Preschool Academy. This preschool in Calgary provides a nurturing environment for children to learn, play and grow, with a focus on sensory activities that engage and stimulate their senses. With a variety of fun and engaging activities on offer, this preschool is the perfect place for your child to develop and thrive.