Try fun sensory play ideas for babies and toddlers that mix early art with hands-on exploring using safe, creative materials.
Updated July 2025
Sensory play is often underestimated, but it’s absolutely essential to childhood development.
Through play, children explore their creativity while developing important skills: imagination, coordination, and physical, social, cognitive, and emotional strength. So much learning happens naturally when a child is engaged in play. It’s how they interact with and make sense of the world around them.
Play not only promotes healthy child development, it also helps maintain strong bonds with parents as it gives them the opportunity to connect with their children, which is essential to their well-being.
Here are some of my favorite sensory play ideas for babies and young toddlers. I hope you try them out!
Safety Disclaimer: You know your child best. Some activity ideas might need to wait or need adaptions to work for your children. Keep in mind your child’s tendencies to put materials in their mouth. Always keep a close eye on young children for possible choking hazards. All photos were taken in an art class setting with close parental supervision.
Sensory Play for Babies & Toddlers
1. Water Play
Pair water with whatever you have on hand for one of the easiest sensory stations to set up. You can add a few drops of food coloring to make the play even more inviting.
I love setting up a bin with balls or pom poms of all sizes, but you can add toys, figures, or even flowers and leaves! You can also add sifters or large spoons for scooping and transferring.
2. Paint
I strongly believe paint is great no matter the age. I have found that taping a plastic tablecloth to a wall is a great way to invite a toddler to explore paint. They’ll explore with their hands, feet or even their whole body. Make sure you cover the floor when painting, just to reduce stress levels when it’s clean up time.
3. Grains
You can try oatmeal, black beans, cornmeal, chickpeas, or any grain you have in the pantry.
Fill a bin with these and throw in some animals or trucks and/or little cups and scoops. Then sit back and watch kids engage in long play periods of play as they experiment and explore the possibilities.
4. Oobleck
If you haven’t tried oobleck you don’t know what you are missing! You make it by mixing 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts water until acquiring the desired consistency. It should stay hard in your hand at first, and then melt between your fingers!
Add food coloring and trucks or animals; maybe even a sifter and some small bowls for lots of play.
5. Shaving Cream
This is a fun material at any age!
I like to add it to a bin with a small amount of water and some animals or toys. Or trying shaving cream on top of cars to make a “car wash” station when paired with brushes and squeeze bottles with water.
These are just a few of my favorite invitations to play! We constantly repeat these in our classes with little toddlers because they are always a big hit.
I hope you give all of these a shot and enjoy them as much as I have!
More Art and Sensory Play for Babies & Toddlers
- 6 Baby Sensory Play Ideas
- The BEST Fingerpaint for Babies
- Baby Painting Ideas for Littles
- 5 BEST Toddler Art Activities
- 7 Tips for Doing Art with Toddlers
- 7 Simple and Fun Art Activities for Toddlers
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