Sensory play is a great way for toddlers to learn and develop. The right toy can help your tot develop skills like motor skills, creativity, problem solving, and more. You can even use toys to teach other things like colors or letters.
There are so many different types of toys out there that it can be hard to know where to start! Here’s everything you need to know about sensory play: what it is exactly as well as how it can benefit your child’s development.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Sensory play is an essential part of child development. |
| Sensory play helps children to explore and learn about their environment. |
| Toys can be an effective tool for introducing sensory play to children. |
| Sensory play can help to develop a child’s fine motor skills. |
| Sensory play can help to develop a child’s cognitive skills. |
Toy Choice
Remember, not all toys are created equal. Avoid overstimulating your baby with too many different types of toys at once, as this can cause sensory overload and chaos for little ones.
Instead, choose just a few fun things that will be easy for them to handle and explore on their own.
- Don’t get too many toys at once; keep it simple!
- Don’t get complex or overly loud sounds or music toys for this age group (unless you’re looking for something more educational).
- Don’t get anything that is too small (like tiny marbles) or big (like the full-size piano). Remember that babies like to put things in their mouth—especially when they are teething!
Introducing your child to sensory play can significantly contribute to their learning and development. Our guide on sensory play for toddlers explores the benefits and offers tips on how to incorporate it into your child’s playtime routine.
Top sensory toys for toddlers
| Toy | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Sensory balls | Soft, bouncy balls with different textures | Develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills |
| Sensory blocks | Blocks with different textures and colors | Encourages exploration and imagination |
| Sensory bottles | Bottles filled with water, glitter, and other materials | Provides visual stimulation and can help with self-regulation |
Using Toys To Teach Other Skills
Now that you have a better understanding of how sensory play can aid in your child’s cognitive development, what about some other ways toys can be used to teach other skills? You can use them to teach your child about colors and letters, numbers and shapes.
They can also be great tools for teaching manners, animals and their habitats or the weather. Toys are great for helping children learn seasonal events as well.
For example, if it’s wintertime, you could create an indoor snow storm using rice or glitter inside a plastic bag (you could also add small toys in there too).
With some imagination and creativity you could even use your toy box as an educational tool!
Choosing the right sensory toys for your child can be overwhelming. Our guide on how to choose sensory toys for toddlers offers tips and considerations to help you make informed choices and provide your child with toys that suit their individual needs
Toy Color
Your child’s favorite color(s) are important, as they play a role in how she perceives the world. Are you wondering what toys to pick up for your toddler?
Look for toys that are bright and colorful, neutral in color, black and white, patterned or textured, shiny—and ones that have different colors!
The color of the toy should make it easy to find when dropped on the floor; this allows your child to explore objects using their senses rather than sight alone. It will also help them learn more about their surroundings while developing problem solving skills.
When it comes to your toddler’s development, sensory toys can play a vital role. Our beginner’s guide on the importance of sensory toys highlights the benefits and gives insights into how to choose the right toys for your child.
Toy Texture
Soft, smooth and pliable toys. These are the toys that feel good to touch. They’re firm but not hard and can be squished into different shapes without breaking. Toys designed for babies often have this kind of texture because it helps them explore their sense of touch, which is one of the first senses developed in babies.
Hard, rough and bumpy toys. These are similar to the first type but with a rougher surface that’s ideal for older toddlers who want to practice using their other senses (like sight) while playing with their hands or mouth. For example: wooden blocks or large Lego pieces make great choices for this category!
Bumpy yet not too sharp toys: This option includes items such as stuffed animals made out soft fabric like cotton fleece rather than stiffer materials like cotton muslin cloth used by hospitals as bandages due its durability against germs/bacteria spreading; or even better toys made out wood pulp pellets which are soft enough where they won’t hurt if thrown around carelessly (but not so soft they’ll fall apart after being used several times).
Toys For Older Babies And Toddlers
When it comes to choosing toys for older babies and toddlers, you want to make sure that they’re neither too advanced nor too simple—you want toys that will be fun and engaging, but also teach skills.
There are so many options available that it might seem like an impossible task to narrow down your choices.
The good news is there’s no need to go out and buy a dozen different types of toys: Instead, focus on finding just one or two based on what your toddler loves most at the moment.
For example, if he loves cars (and who doesn’t?), choose a toy car launcher or something similar it’s safe for him because it won’t hurt if he falls onto it (since nothing will break), yet still provides plenty of entertainment as well as educational benefits thanks to its shape. You could also try building blocks because they have lots of different pieces which can be combined into different shapes (just like real-life buildings!).
Another option would be sand tables since these are great for developing motor skills like scooping up sand with shovels and dumping it back into buckets (or pouring water) without spilling anything onto floors!
Looking for ways to enhance your toddler’s development? Look no further than sensory play! Our article on introducing sensory play with toys explains how different types of sensory toys can stimulate your child’s senses and foster their growth.
Sensory Play Ideas for Different Age Groups
| Age Group | Sensory Play Activity |
|---|---|
| Infants (0-12 months) | Sensory bags filled with safe materials like rice, feathers, or pom-poms |
| Toddlers (1-3 years) | Sensory bins with materials like sand, water, or play dough |
| Preschoolers (3-5 years) | Sensory scavenger hunts or sensory storytelling activities |
Durable Or Dangerous Toys For Toddlers
If your child is at the point where they can put things in their mouth, you should definitely think about what toys you will be playing with.
Some toys are too old for your child, or potentially dangerous if they have small parts that can become choking hazards.
If a toy makes a lot of noise, then it might not be appropriate. Also, if the toy is either too big or too small for your toddler to play with safely and comfortably, it might be time to find another option. Similarly, if a toy is very heavy or light for your toddler’s age group (like an adult-sized basketball), it’s probably best left out of playtime activities until they’re ready!
Toys That Move Around
First, check that the toy is stable. If it has wheels or spins freely, it should be set on a hard surface to prevent your child from knocking it over.
Second, make sure there are no small parts that can be swallowed by your toddler. Toys with small buttons and moving parts will also need supervision when used by young children.
Third, check that your toy is safe for your child’s age group (if applicable). Some toys have age recommendations printed on them; if yours doesn’t have this information available online then you’ll need to do some research elsewhere before making a purchase decision (e.g., by looking at reviews from previous buyers).
Are you wondering which sensory toys to include in your toddler’s toy box? Our list of 15 sensory toys every toddler should have covers a variety of toys that can help develop different skills and senses.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful. If you’re still not sure which toys are best for your toddler, why not take a look at our list of the top 10 toys for toddlers? It’s always good to know what other parents think about certain products too!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to learn more about the benefits of sensory play for children’s emotional development:
The Early Teacher: How Does Sensory Play Help a Child’s Emotional Development? – This article explores how sensory play can improve children’s emotional regulation and problem-solving skills.
Occupational Therapy Australia: Sensory Play – This resource from the Occupational Therapy Australia explains what sensory play is and how it supports children’s development.
Goodstart Early Learning: Exploring the Benefits of Sensory Play – This article discusses the benefits of sensory play and provides some ideas for parents to encourage sensory play at home.
FAQs
What is sensory play?
Sensory play is any activity that stimulates a child’s senses, such as touch, sight, smell, taste, and sound. This type of play helps children develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills.
What are the benefits of sensory play?
Sensory play can help children develop a wide range of skills, including language and communication, problem-solving, creativity, socialization, and emotional regulation. It can also support children’s physical development, such as improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
What are some examples of sensory play activities?
Examples of sensory play activities include playing with sand or water, finger painting, playing with playdough or clay, exploring different textures and materials, and playing with musical instruments.
How can I encourage sensory play at home?
You can encourage sensory play at home by providing a variety of materials and activities that stimulate your child’s senses. You can also join in the play yourself to make it more fun and engaging for your child.
Can sensory play help with emotional regulation?
Yes, sensory play can help children develop emotional regulation skills by giving them a safe and fun way to explore and express their emotions. It can also help children learn how to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
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.
