When the weather gets warm and the sun starts to shine, it’s time to get outside. That’s why I love to play with sensory toys during the summer months.
Sensory play is an activity that helps develop and strengthen a child’s motor skills and cognitive abilities.
It also provides them with opportunities for sensory exploration which can be fun and educational! So if you’re looking for some fun DIY projects to keep your kids busy this summer, these DIY sensory toys are perfect for both toddlers or preschoolers.
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Sensory play can greatly enhance learning and development in toddlers. |
| A well-stocked toy box is key to providing your toddler with opportunities for learning and growth. |
| Choosing the right sensory toys for your child can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. |
| Creating DIY sensory toys is a fun and affordable way to provide your child with sensory stimulation. |
| Fine motor skills are essential for a child’s development, and sensory toys can help improve them in a fun and engaging way. |
| There are many resources available for making DIY sensory toys at home. |
DIY Shaving Cream Foam Pit
This shaving cream foam pit is a fun sensory activity for kids of all ages. It’s also a great way to introduce younger children to sensory experiences, helping them learn about their bodies and how they work.
This is a great way for kids with autism, sensory processing disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to learn about touch, texture and more!
Sensory play can greatly enhance learning and development in toddlers. Our guide on sensory play for toddlers explores the benefits of sensory play and how to incorporate it into your child’s routine.
DIY Cloud Dough
The ingredients for this cloud dough are simple:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 cup of baby oil or cooking oil (you can also use vegetable oil)
Directions: Combine the two ingredients and mix until you have something that looks like damp sand. You want it to be moist enough to hold its shape, but not so wet that it stays in a clump when you squeeze it.
If you need to add more flour or oil, do so until you get the right consistency. It’s OK if there aren’t any lumps at all they just make it easier to roll out some time later on!
This stuff is great for rolling into snakes, but what else can we do with cloud dough? Lots of things! Try making different shapes by hand or with cookie cutters. Roll up balls and flatten them into discs (like pancakes!)
Use a straw as an extruder tool and create long spaghetti-shaped pieces of dough try poking little holes in them too! Or dip your fingers directly into the mixture; this will take longer than using cookie cutters, but can be very satisfying once you see how easy it is make something beautiful from nothing at all!
A well-stocked toy box is key to providing your toddler with opportunities for learning and growth. Our list of 15 sensory toys every toddler should have offers a variety of options for stimulating their senses and improving their development.
DIY Ice Cream Slime
This is a great sensory toy you can make at home.
In this tutorial, we will be making ice cream slime. This is a popular DIY activity for kids and adults alike! It’s perfect for summer time or any hot day! The ingredients are easy to find in your local grocery store or online.
You’ll need:
- 1 cup of cornstarch (or oat flour)
- ½ cup of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- liquid food coloring(s) of your choice in different colours (we used blue & yellow)
- a container with lid/saucepan to mix everything together
Sensory Toys for Specific Needs
| Special Need | Recommended Sensory Toys |
|---|---|
| Autism | Weighted blankets, chewelry, fidget toys, therapy balls |
| ADHD | Noise-cancelling headphones, wobble chairs, stress balls, balance disks |
| Down syndrome | Sensory swings, bean bags, textured balls, large foam blocks |
| Sensory Processing Disorder | Tactile toys, sensory tunnels, body socks, weighted vests |
DIY Cloud Slime
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups white school glue (you can also use liquid starch)
- food coloring (optional)
- bowl and spoon
To make the cloud slime, mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until you get a uniform consistency. You’ll know you’ve achieved this when your mixture is no longer separating into layers, but rather looks like one big glob of goo.
If you’re using food coloring, add it to your mixture now. If not, skip this step since school glue already comes in fun colors!
Once it’s been fully combined and colored as desired, you can start playing with your new cloud slime! It’s best suited for kids who are at least three years old because younger children might accidentally swallow it or choke on little pieces of glue that they try to eat while they play with their creation–but don’t let that stop you from enjoying some time together making art!
Choosing the right sensory toys for your child can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our guide on sensory toys for toddlers provides tips on how to select toys that match your child’s interests and abilities
DIY Bubble Dough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons of baby oil (you can also use vegetable or olive oil)
How to make Bubble Dough:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until it forms a dough. Add more flour if the mixture is too sticky. Store in an airtight container.
No need for refrigeration unless you live in a warmer climate and the humidity makes it hard for your play dough to dry out then store them in an airtight container with some baking soda added so that they’ll stay fresh longer! (But even then, don’t worry as long as you keep your bubble dough sealed!)
DIY Rainbow Rice
Rainbow rice is a fun sensory toy that kids will love! It also makes a great gift.
You need:
- 2 cups of uncooked white rice (we used jasmine, but any kind of white rice will do)
- 1 cup of water for every 1/4 cup of dried beans (you can use a ratio of 3:1 or 4:1)
- Dried beans such as pinto, kidney or black beans (they should be fairly small and soft)
Creating DIY sensory toys is a fun and affordable way to provide your child with sensory stimulation. Our article on DIY sensory toy ideas for kids offers easy-to-follow tutorials for making sensory toys at home.”
DIY Oobleck
What you need:
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup water (or more)
How to make and play with it:
- Mix 1 cup of cornstarch with 1 cup of water. The mixture should be thick, but not sticky. If it’s too stiff, add more water; if it’s too loose, add some more cornstarch. You can also add other ingredients like shaving cream or vinegar for different textures.
- Use your hands or plastic tools to play with the oobleck—it will stick together just like clay! It will also fall apart if you squeeze it in your hand too hard or roll it into a ball and then pick up that ball again.
DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint
- Mix equal parts of water and cornstarch in a small bowl.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and shake to mix thoroughly.
Cover your hands with plastic or rubber gloves before applying it to the sidewalk; this will help prevent you from getting raw chalk paint on your skin and clothes!
Apply the paint using an old brush or roller, making sure that there is at least two inches between each stroke so that the next layer has something to stick to (and so no one trips over their own feet!). You can also use a water bottle instead if you want some artistic flair with this project—just make sure not to get too close when spraying!
Let the paint dry for 24 hours before giving it another coat (this will make sure there aren’t any visible brush strokes). If desired, repeat again after another 24 hours until desired color saturation is achieved
DIY Taffy Slime
Taffy Slime is another easy sensory toy that kids love. It’s a great way to encourage hand-eye coordination, as well as fine motor skills and color recognition.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of clear glue (any brand)
- ½ cup of shaving cream
- 1 package of Silly Putty or other stretchy putty (optional)
Directions: In a bowl, mix together the glue and shaving cream until it turns into a thick paste. If you’re using Silly Putty instead of regular putty, add it now! Then just squish the mixture together until you get something resembling taffy!
Fine motor skills are essential for a child’s development, and sensory toys can help improve them in a fun and engaging way. Our article on sensory toys for improving fine motor skills explores the different types of sensory toys that can promote the development of fine motor skills.
DIY Pink Fluffy Slime
Slime is a great toy for kids of all ages. It’s easy to make, inexpensive and can be stored in a plastic container for weeks.
- Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/2 cup Elmer’s glue (pink or white)
1 packet Kool Aid (any flavor)
Mix the above ingredients together until it forms a ball. If you want to make it more stretchy and fun, add food coloring to the water or glue before combining them together.
Add more water if necessary to get the right consistency; slime should not be too sticky but not too runny either! Store your slime in an airtight container when not being used so that it doesn’t dry out too quickly (about 1 month).
DIY Slippery Soap Slime
- Ingredients:
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of soap flakes (we used Dove)
- Food coloring (optional, but highly recommended!)
- Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until they’re well blended. 2. Put your slime in an airtight container and let it sit for 24 hours so that it can dry out and harden—this way you’ll be able to manipulate it without it sticking to your hands! 3.
If you want to make more than one color of slime or have multiple containers of slime ready at once, go ahead and add food coloring now (or do this before step two). It will help make sure that each color has its own distinct appearance when finished
Edible Playdough For Babies And Toddlers
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt (regular table salt will work)
- Water for mixing (about 2 cups)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until you have a dough-like consistency. If the mixture seems too wet, add more flour and mix again. If it is too dry and crumbly, add more water and mix again.
You want a consistency that can be easily handled by little hands, but not so wet that it sticks to everything when kneaded or pressed into shapes on flat surfaces like paper or cardboard.
Store any unused portion of edible playdough in an airtight container at room temperature; it should last several weeks past its expiration date if stored this way!
Recommended Sensory Toys for Different Age Groups
| Age Group | Recommended Sensory Toys |
|---|---|
| Infants (0-12 months) | Soft toys, rattles, textured balls, fabric books |
| Toddlers (1-3 years) | Play dough, sensory bins, sand and water tables, musical instruments |
| Preschoolers (3-5 years) | Puzzles, blocks, play tents, dress-up clothes, balance boards |
| School-aged children (5-12 years) | Science kits, art supplies, board games, building sets |
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend time with your kids, consider making some of these sensory toys.
They’re easy to make and will provide hours of entertainment for children of all ages. If you need more ideas on how to keep kids occupied, check out our blog posts about how to cure boredom and stay busy during summer break!
Further Reading
DIY Sensory Toys for Kids: This article provides step-by-step instructions for creating simple and fun sensory toys for kids.
10 Sensory Toys You Can Make at Home: This article offers ideas for making sensory toys using household items, such as water beads, balloons, and shaving cream.
30 DIY Sensory Toys and Games to Stimulate Your Child’s Creative Growth: This article includes a variety of DIY sensory toys and games that can help children develop their creativity and imagination.
FAQs
What are sensory toys?
Sensory toys are toys that are designed to stimulate one or more of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. They are often used to promote development in children with sensory processing difficulties, but can be enjoyed by all children.
What are the benefits of sensory play?
Sensory play can help children develop a variety of skills, including fine and gross motor skills, language and communication skills, and social and emotional skills. It can also help children regulate their emotions and reduce stress and anxiety.
Can I make my own sensory toys at home?
Yes! Making your own sensory toys can be a fun and affordable way to provide your child with sensory stimulation. There are many DIY sensory toy ideas and tutorials available online.
How do I choose the right sensory toys for my child?
When choosing sensory toys for your child, consider their interests, age, and developmental level. You may also want to consult with a pediatric occupational therapist or other healthcare professional for guidance.
Are sensory toys only for children with special needs?
No, sensory toys can be enjoyed by all children. While they are often used in therapy for children with sensory processing difficulties, they can also promote development and learning in typically developing children.
Meet Hellen James, the multi-talented writer and nurturing mother who takes young readers on a thrilling journey through her sensory-infused blog. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a parent.
