# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tickle your baby's senses and encourage movement and learning with these easy sensory activities for babies and toddlers! Easy, low cost and lots of fun!
Do you remember the feeling of playing with sand? Feeling dry sand slipping through your fingers, or seeing how it takes shape when water enters the equation. Squishing and pressing and kneading - there's something so satisfying about the entire process!

The reason this feels so good is because it's such a sensory experience. It involves our vision, smell and most importantly, our skin. Our bodies have a natural affinity to sensory stimulation and that is why sensory play is particularly important for growing children whose senses are still developing.

What is sensory play?

Sensory play is simply put, any play activity that encourages the use of different senses, through touching, seeing, tasting, smelling, hearing and moving. Children's brains develop as they process information using their senses, and more sensory play encourages better brain development. Sensory play also directly influences the development of fine and gross motor skills.

Here are some benefits of sensory play for babies:

1. Increases neural connections in the brain

2. Increases body awareness in children as they use different parts in different ways

3. Stimulates all senses, so every sense develops at the same pace

4. Increases children's comfort levels in unfamiliar situations and surroundings

5. Allows young babies a gradual exposure to more stimuli rather than assaulting the senses at once

6. Builds a foundation for problem solving and other learning skills

7. Helps calm children down and reduces anxiety

8. Teaches basic scientific processes by studying cause and effect

If you're wondering when your baby is ready for sensory play, we have the answer - right now! Even if your baby is still in utero, she is being exposed to sounds, smells and tastes all around her. Even newborns can be exposed to sensory activities gradually, in an an age appropriate manner.

Here are a few things you may require during your sensory play activities with your little one:

Plastic mat - To spread on the floor during messier activities

Apron - To keep baby's clothes clean and dry

Plastic Bins - For making sensory bins and for containing all small parts

Zip lock bags - To make sensory bags that don't leak

Natural Food Color - To dye the ingredients of your sensory bags or bins

Wooden Blocks - To turn into any kind of sensory toy you want

Felt Sheets - To make quiet books or add to sensory DIYs

Newborns can only see black and white in the beginning, and soon this extends to seeing primary colors. These monochrome cards from My Bored Toddler are perfect for the newborn stage. Just show your baby the cards one by one to stimulate his brand new senses. You can download the cards or make them yourself with white card and a black marker.

Once your baby can start seeing color, she'll enjoy this color changing sensory bottle idea from Preschool Inspirations! Get contrasting colors so the effect will be more vivid for baby. Watching this will also have a calming effect on a fussy infant.

Baby ready for tummy time play? Then this sensory hula hoop from Creating Really Awesome Fun Things is perfect for you now! Get a regular hula hoop, cover it with different kinds of fabric and attach a bunch of baby safe toys that make different noises.

This is actually something many families have been doing in India for generations! In case you can't find a traditional baby anklet, you can easily make one at home with some chunky bells and soft fabric. Let baby kick her legs and listen to that lovely little jingle!

An Oball is a popular baby toy, and Little Worlds Big Adventures shows us how easy it is to turn it into a sensory wonder! Stuff the ball with whatever you like - wool, crochet, velvet or anything else, and you can even put a noisy rattle inside for a one of a kind sensory toy!

Baby Care Academy features a fun sensory activity for babies who're starting to crawl. If you have a space in your home that you can dedicate for baby's play, then this one is a must try! Make sure you don't put in anything sharp that can tear the plastic or hurt baby's fingers.

If you don't want to keep a part of your home hostage with duct tape and plastic, you can opt for a sensory rug instead. Sew it yourself or get a tailor to make one like this one from Krokozyablik. This is a great way to use up scraps of fabric and odds and ends that are safe for baby to play with.

Here's a simpler version of the sensory rug - sensory mats from The Imagination Tree! Unused coasters would work well for this, as would plastic or wooden lids with smooth edges. Stick on an assortment of objects with strong glue and let baby touch and feel each one in turn.

A quiet book is a great idea to keep young kids occupied, especially while traveling. This one from Powerful Mothering is really easy to make, and doesn't require sewing. Just gather felt sheets and add your own customized elements like feathers, pom poms or even a cute mirror! You can also buy a quiet book online if you like.

Few things give as much sensory satisfaction as playing with mud! However, if your little one is too young for real mud, you can make do with safer and cleaner substitutions like cloud dough. Check out this recipe from Lemon Lime Adventures that's absolutely safe for baby to play with.

Just like cloud dough, play dough is also an excellent sensory activity for babies, and you can make your own! Learning 4 Kids has an edible play dough recipe so you don't have to worry if your little explorer gets a little too curious about what he's playing with!

Here's a great way to keep your baby occupied while you make dinner - just share the ingredients with him! Happy Toddler Play Time shows us how some frozen peas can keep baby occupied for quite a while so you can relax while watching him have fun smushing peas!

Wouldn't it be lovely to sit inside a box like this! Give your baby this magical experience from Little Learning Club with a cardboard box and some string lights. Just make sure that the lights are out of babies reach and the holes are too small for the lights to fall through the box.

This is a board that's so easy older siblings can put it together in half an hour! You can use a large cardboard and Teach Me Mommy gives us some ideas on what to fix on it - pom poms, bits of paper of different textures, fabric scraps some bits and bobs - all secured properly.

If you want something you can carry around in your purse, then these color cards from Teach Me Mommy should work. The best part is the same set of cards will work for all kids. Baby can touch and feel the elements on the card, while toddlers can use them to learn about colors.

Got a bunch of old photo frames lying around? Little Lifelong Learners shows us how to turn it into a baby learning tool! Use command hooks to hang them up on a low level on the wall. You can frame practically anything you want, from a microfiber duster to fleece to gift wrap to sandpaper!

Here's a sensory activity that'll look gorgeous on a sunny day! Mostly Under Control shows us how to turn hair gel into a fun sensory activity for babies and toddlers, using dye and zip lock bags. Attach them to a sunny window and watch the light come through.

If you can get your hand on some plain wooden blocks or want to reuse some old ones, we can't think of a better project than these sensory cubes from Red Ted Art. The opportunities are endless with this one, and you can even take along a block or two when on the go.

This sensory board from Le Carnet d'Emma looks like so much fun! It's got all kinds of regular household items like bottle caps and loofahs along with craft supplies like pom poms and feathers. Enough to keep your baby occupied for a long time!

Do you use a lot of baby wipes or wet wipes? Then stock up on those wipe packet lids - they're perfect to make this peek a boo sensory board! Opening the lids is a fine motor activity for babies, and discovering what's hidden just adds to the overall experience.

Who says toddlers can't learn about science? A lot of sensory play is a wonderful starting point for learning about science concepts, like this temperature exploration activity from Little Learning Club. Make sure you use good quality plastic bottles so the temperature variations don't cause it to warp.

This fun activity for toddlers from Little Learning Club that can be turned into all kinds of fun games. Put in an assortment of objects in the box - you can stick to a theme like animals, fruits or vegetables - and let your little one guess what it is only by feeling. A kiwi is scratchy, while an apple is smooth - such a fun way to learn!

Now that your toddler is up and about, it's time to have some walking sensory fun! Create a custom texture walk like this one from A Cotton Kandi Life. Just make sure that the surface is not slippery or spiky that it hurts your toddler's feet. Something mildly tickly or rough should be fine - watch out for those expressions!

This is something that even adults will love to play with! You've probably seen this fabric on cushions and other home furnishings or stationery, and you can easily turn it into a fun sensory activity - for the whole family! Check out the instructions to make this board from Home Grown Friends.

Bubbles are an inseparable part of childhood, and Hello, Wonderful shows us that you're never too young to enjoy them! Little kids will love blowing into the bubbles and popping them as they rise - be sure to have your camera ready for some lovely pictures!

Water beads are quite popular among kids, and if you're worrying about their synthetic origins, Kandy Apple Mama is here to put you at ease! These edible water beads are made from jumbo tapioca pearls - our very own sabudana! Get the large ones and be aware of choking hazards.

Along with these activities, you can also try out some art projects for babies and toddlers to try - they also involve a lot of sensory play, and you can make the paint yourself at home.

Whichever activity you choose for your baby and whatever his age, one thing is super important - NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNSUPERVISED. It doesn't matter how baby safe you think the activity is, there should always be an adult with the child at all times. You can sit back and watch your child play, but you should still have an eye on her. Here are some more tips to consider:

Use strong glue and make sure that small parts are firmly fixed and cannot be removed

Use natural food colors instead of synthetic ones

Watch out for choking hazards and if you see any, avoid that activity

Avoid using materials that may contain lead as it may be poisonous

It's best to play with your child - it's quite fascinating to watch how young children respond to each activity. Sensory activities are also great opportunities for siblings to bond. If your little one doesn't seem to like one activity, it's no problem, you can go ahead and try another one - after all, there's plenty to choose from!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25+ Easy Sensory Activities for Babies and Toddlers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tickle your baby's senses and encourage movement and learning with these easy sensory activities for babies and toddlers! Easy, low cost and lots of fun! Do you remember the feeling of playing with sand? Feeling dry sand slipping through your fingers, or seeing how it takes shape when water enters the equation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Keep kids busy for hours with this simple sensory bin! They will love pouring colored beans through the funnels and watching them come out the tubes below.
If you liked our PVC pipe sand and water table, you might enjoy this simpler option for indoors. We used PVC pipe that we had on hand to build a simple structure that sits inside one of the under-the-bed tubs that we bought for the sand and water table. After playing with the sand and water table all summer, I enjoyed setting up something a little different, and the kids actually enjoyed playing with it on the floor so that they could have a surface on which to put their cups and bowls that they filled with beans. They were pretending it was candy! 🙂

Another option is to just use the sand and water table indoors. It would work great indoors or out! Obviously, you may not want to use sand and water inside... just saying! 🙂 Beans, rice, pasta, dried corn, or small pebbles would be great sensory materials for indoors.
Here is what our PVC structure looks like:
We used 3/4 inch pipe to build this.

I dyed navy beans using Asia's method over at Fun at Home with Kids. You can see instructions here: How to Dye Beans for Play and Art. It worked really well, and the beans are so pretty!

We did notice that the color rubs off slightly on finger tips after playing with the beans. It's nothing that a hand washing won't fix, but I wouldn't play with these on white carpet. Our grubby IKEA rug was not harmed at all. The color will probably run if the beans get wet, so make sure that kids have dry hands. Still, I think that the fun colors are definitely worth a little bit of mess! The colors contributed quite a bit to the fun of the activity, as you'll see below.

This tub has been played with for hours by my 7, 4,and 2 year olds. The pouring is very fun and the colorful beans are such a great sensory material! We have always had the policy that if you are just making a mess you are either too young to play or too uncooperative to play and your turn is done. For this, I was fine with beans out of the box as long as they stayed on the rug. The clean up has not been bad! One key thing is that I don't get it out at times where we don't have time to deal with picking up the beans.
Adapt the funnels to accommodate beans.
Note that I cut off the ends of the funnels (with a PVC pipe cutter) to allow the beans to fit through easily. Also, the funnels were too wobbly with the ends cut off, so I duct taped them to the PVC pipe which solved that problem nicely. Some of the photos were pre-taping.
Egg Carton Color Sorting
Another big hit was something that I tossed in there on a whim - egg cartons. They have had so much fun with the egg cartons! Jonathan and Owen have spent quite a bit of time on multiple different days sorting out a pile of beans by color using the egg carton sections. They like to pretend that the beans are different flavors of candy.

They consider this to be very important work, and it's great fine motor practice too!

If you choose not to color the beans, another idea for sorting is to use different types of beans.

Rice is also fun to use with funnels like this! You can see how to color rice here: How to Make Dyed Rice.
More Play Ideas
An empty water bottle is perfect for filling with beans, and it's also great for fine motor practice.

Janie and our babysitter had fun hiding a little toy penguin the bottle. They put the penguin in first and then filled the bottle with beans. Then it was fun to turn the bottle around and look for the penguin!

We also had fun with spoons, bowls, and little disposable storage cups with lids.
Have fun playing! Be sure to check out our PVC pipe sand and water table also! I also have a post with fun sand and water table play ideas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sensory Play with Funnels, Tubes, and Colored Beans - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Keep kids busy for hours with this simple sensory bin! They will love pouring colored beans through the funnels and watching them come out the tubes below. If you liked our PVC pipe sand and water table, you might enjoy this simpler option for indoors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fun and educational kids activities - slime, glow in the dark, play dough, science experiments, kids crafts, fun recipes, and more!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Babies learn about the environment through all of their five senses, developing a sense of the world and their place within it. Learning within these early years lays an important foundation for further growth and development. A baby learns best by actively engaging with their environment - exploring and experimenting with objects, materials and textures. Providing an environment with lots of different activities provides plenty of ways for your child to play and learn.

This list includes 25 baby sensory toys to help them grow and learn through all the stages, from 3 to 24 months. It includes sensory play mats, activity toys and awesome sensory shakers. Lots of things to crinkle and shake, feel and taste!

25 Fabulous Baby Sensory Toys

Each item on the list is linked to Amazon (these are affiliate links) for age recommendations, further information and reviews.

Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Best Baby Sensory Toys - Childhood101

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Babies learn about the environment through all of their five senses, developing a sense of the world and their place within it. Learning within these early years lays an important foundation for further growth and development. A baby learns best by actively engaging with their environment - exploring and experimenting with objects, materials and textures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

Safe and fun activities for all ages and abilities. Stephen's Place focuses on family and community. On Staff Chef. Art Therapy Classes. On Site Gym and Trainers. Special Athletic Training. Personal Hygiene Classes. Horticulture Therapy.

Edible Play Dough : A Fun & Easy Classroom Treat . A little coconut oil (or vegetable shortening) keeps them pliable, and cornstarch thickens the marshmallows to playdough -like consistency. After mixing up the playdough , add a few drops of your favorite food coloring, or divide the dough and make a few different colors. The Kitchn › edible-playdough-22994248 3-Ingredient Edible Playdough | Kitchn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Edible Play Dough : A Fun & Easy Classroom Treat . A little coconut oil (or vegetable shortening) keeps them pliable, and cornstarch thickens the marshmallows to playdough -like consistency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The $30, 30-Minute, Do-It-Yourself Sensory Table (With images) | Sensory table, Sensory play, Sensory activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mar 3, 2015 - Learn how to make your own sensory table with this DIY tutorial. Your kids will love playing in it and you'll love that it breaks down for easy storage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This googly eyes sensory bag is so simple to make and all my kids had a blast giving the monsters crazy eyes!

Googly Eyes Sensory Bag Video:

Check out the below video to see the googly eyes sensory bag in action:

And don't forget to check out our NEW book - 100 Easy STEAM Activities is full of fun games and creative projects to learn early concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math with materials you already have around the house!
SEE OUR NEW BOOK HERE
MATERIALS NEEDED: (affiliate links)

How to Make a Googly Eyes Sensory Bag:

1. Start with a gallon size seal-able bag and fill with hair gel. We found these cool colored hair gels in the supermarket and they were very inexpensive.

2. Draw some monster shapes on the bag with a permanent, black marker.

3. Next add the googly eyes to the hair gel in the bag

4. Seal the bag

5. Tape the bag to the table using painter's tape.

Sensory bags are fun for kids of all ages and this activity is great for developing fine motor skills!

Looking for more sensory activities? Check out all our sensory activities here.

About Raising Dragons

Raising Dragons is a site dedicated to raising strong, smart, amazing kids! Our focus is on creating activities that can easily be pulled together with items you have around the house. We believe learning should be fun and accessible for everyone and can be done with everyday objects! We also know parents are busy and don't have lots of time to pull together activities so we keep things very SIMPLE! Check out some of our favorite activities like: Writing Letters in Sprinkles, Alphabet Lids, Calm Down Sensory Bottle and the Paper Towel Roll & Pom Pom Challenge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Googly Eyes Sensory Bag * ages 1-5 ⋆ Raising Dragons

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This googly eyes sensory bag is so simple to make and all my kids had a blast giving the monsters crazy eyes!

# data[].attributes.body
My Peds OT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Looking for an easy way to make a no-cook, gluten free and super soft playdough? This Cloud Dough recipe is a fun twist on our traditional playdough recipe. We love that it's only 2 main ingredients and can be scented with lotion. If you like making your own homemade playdough, then you definitely want to try this recipe!

Cloud Dough

This is a great recipe to make if you've never made playdough before. It's really easy to make since it's only 2 main ingredients and no cooking required! Kids also love the texture of this dough. It's the softest dough you will ever try!
For our traditional playdough recipe, see it here.

You can make a few batches with different colors or choose your favorite. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and then put in an airtight container to keep it fresh and long lasting.

How To Make Cloud Dough

This is a no cook playdough recipe. It's perfect if you want to make some playdough and you don't have access to a stove top or kettle. The mixture comes together easily in 5 minutes (it's fast!).

This is also gluten free!

The consistency of this dough is different than regular playdough. It is a lot softer but also dryer to the touch and it is common for it to crumble a little when playing with it.
Here are the ingredients you will need:

How Do I Store Cloud Dough?

To help your dough to last as long as possible, it's important to keep it as airtight as possible so that it doesn't dry out. Wrap each color of cloud dough in plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container to help it stay soft. If you find that your dough has become a little dry, you can add a little bit of extra lotion and knead it in.

How Do I Keep the Dough Soft?

First wrap your dough in saran wrap then store in an air-tight container or Ziploc bag. You'll notice that dough will go hard if left out - so the less air that can get to the playdough when storing, the longer it will last!

How Do You Make the Dough Soft Again?

If your dough dries out or turns out to be a little dry after making it, try adding in a little more lotion. If the dough is too sticky after making it, add a little bit more cornstarch.

What Do I Do if It's Crumbly or Sticky?

If your cloud dough is still crumbly. You need to add more lotion. If you find it gets too sticky when you add more lotion then you are adding too much lotion. Add a little bit at a time and knead it. You will need to knead it for quite some time in order to get it to the right consistency. If it's still too crumbly, then add a tiny bit more lotion. If it's still too sticky, then add a tiny bit more cornstarch.

How Long Does It Last?

This dough will not last as long as our traditional playdough recipe. The lotion will start to dry out from it within a week. However, you can easily revive it by just adding a few extra squirts of lotion to it and kneading it in. This will make it almost like brand new again.

Cloud Dough Recipe

Once your cloud dough is finished, use cookie cutters and rolling pins to play with it!

To store: simply put the playdough in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container to help it last longer. If the dough dries out, add a few extra squirts of lotion to it and knead back in.

More Playdough Recipes

See our Kool-Aid Playdough recipe.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make this super soft, no cook, cloud dough recipe! Only 2 ingredients - cornstarch and lotion. This homemade dough is really easy to make!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you looking for a fun activity do with the kids? Try making Sidewalk Chalk Paint! It's easy and inexpensive to make. Plus, it will keep them entertained for hours! It's the perfect activity for Summer!

Sidewalk chalk paint

This is such a fun activity. Homemade sidewalk chalk paint is one of our favorite summer activities. The kids love when I tell them it's time to get out the sidewalk chalk paint! I love seeing their imagination run wild. Each child has a blast making fun creations and art work with chalk paint. It's great to have an activity that is inexpensive to do and keeps everyone happy.

We make a Summer fun list every year and this is always on the top of our list! You can get a free Summer fun list printable here. The kids put all sorts of things on this list. Fun activities like going to the pool and library to crafts such as DIY Bouncy Balls and Adorable Seashell Crafts for Kids. I've learned that if we aren't intentional about our Summer, it will go by quickly and nothing will be accomplished. It's a lot of fun to make the list and even more fun to do a special activity every day or so. Sometimes just a trip for ice cream is what the kids want to do. It doesn't have to be big and expensive!

Check out this video to see How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint Easily!

How to make sidewalk chalk paint:

No worries about messes because this is washable sidewalk paint!

Let the kids just paint and have the best time! Let the water hose rinse it all off or simply wait for it to rain. So simple and fun! I love activities that do not require me cleaning up. 🙂

Sidewalk paint DIY is so simple to do!

It's amazing what a little food coloring can do! This chalk paint recipe works great and kid's are thrilled to do a fun summer craft. I love seeing all the kids art work! It works great and they get really creative. I love this kind of kids paint because it is super easy and washable. We love arts crafts and more! Try this summer craft and make DIY Sidewalk chalk. Grab some paint brushes and have a blast!

Sidewalk chalk ideas:

Another fun idea is sidewalk chalk spray paint!

Just put in a spray bottle. The kids will have a blast making designs.

We also like to use stencils to create designs. The kids have fun making flowers, animals and cool art work. It's also fun to use a combination of tools. Set out a basket of paint brushes, spray bottles and stencils and let the kids just pick and choose what they want. It's so much fun! I'm always amazed at how creative their little minds can be.

DIY sidewalk chalk paint is so fun!

Even Mom will love this fun activity! Get creative and design a fun picture with your kids. They will love playing with you and the memories made from this fun time will be priceless. You don't have to go to elaborate places or spend tons of money for a sun Summer! Kid's are so easily pleased and sometimes us adults overthink things. 🙂 So grab some chalk paint and see what designs you and your kids can create. They are going to love this activity and think you are the best! Let's get Summer started with this fun activity!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sidewalk chalk paint - How to make sidewalk chalk paint

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make this fun and easy sidewalk chalk paint today. The kids will love using sidewalk paint to create fun artwork. Once you learn how to make sidewalk chalk paint, it's so easy! It's also fun to make sidewalk chalk spray paint. Give this washable sidewalk paint a try!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I've done this activity with my kids a few times now and it never fails to fascinate them - and me! Simply color bubble mix with food coloring and blow bubbles onto paper - as the bubbles land and pop, they create beautiful works of art. It goes without saying that this project is best done outdoors. A great one for those lazy summer afternoons.

Project Info

Materials

Instructions

1. Pour 1 tablespoon of bubble mix into a small, shallow bowl.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring to the bubble mix and stir well

3. Place your bubble wand in the colored bubble mix, remove and blow bubbles towards your paper.

4. As the bubbles hit the paper and pop, they will leave interesting patterns. Repeat with other colors.

Tips

1. Caution: Food coloring will stain surfaces and clothing. Be sure to protect both!

2. This activity can be frustrating on a windy day - as the wind makes it hard to get the bubbles to hit the target paper!

Reviews

Useful supplies

Related Books

Related Projects

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I've done this activity with my kids a few times now and it never fails to fascinate them - and me! Simply color bubble mix with food coloring and blow bubbles onto paper - as the bubbles land and pop, they create beautiful works of art.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tabies are not the easiest group to entertain. I know that. I'm a three-time taby veteran and I've learned a few things: they lick everything, they aren't actually naughty on purpose, and they love tape... which is why tape rescue is perfect for them!

That's why I made a quick tape rescue for my 22-month-old - something fun and easy to keep him entertained.
RELATED: Looking for more taby activities? Check out my list of 30+ easy activities for one-year-olds.
But what's a taby?

A taby is my silly little word for "nor quite a toddler," but definitely not a baby. I call them "tabies" and boy are they a fun group to hang around with!

You need to make a Tape Rescue for your taby!

I first heard about tape rescue or rescue-the-toy type activities from Laughing Kids Learn and Mama.Papa.Bubba (two of my all time favorite blogs).

The idea is simple - use tape as an activity base. The tape alone or the tape with toys makes for one awesome way to get tabies (aka young toddlers) working, focused, and sitting still for half a second.

How do you set it up?
Materials
(this list contains affiliate links. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.)

Animals (we used these ones because we're obsessed)

Cookie sheet or other spot to attach them

I quickly ripped off a bunch of pieces of tape, flipped my cookie sheet upside down, and started hooking animals to it.

But what's the goal here?

The goal is for my taby to remove all the animals and the tape. It's a hard job and a tall order for little fingers to do that kind of work!

Getting the tape pulled up, getting the animal off the tape, and getting the tape off their fingers - it's a lot of steps for a little one!

Try this on an airplane!

This is a GREAT activity for babies AND tabies for airplane rides. Set up the activity on the tray table - just pack some tape and animals with you.

My taby is learning so much here!

It looks like such a simple activity - it's tape and toys! - but it's so much more. Here's everything my taby is working on with this activity:

Hand eye coordination

Find motor skills

Vocabulary

Planning and decision making

Problem solving

Just because an activity doesn't look like much, doesn't mean it isn't full of great learning opportunities!

Make a Tape Rescue Mission today!

This is such a low commitment activity and one that's so easy make. It's a classic activity that gives our sweet tabies something to do, and something they can be successful at!

When will you make a tape rescue?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Animal Tape Rescue Activity - Busy Toddler

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tabies are not the easiest group to entertain. I know that. I'm a three-time taby veteran and I've learned a few things: they lick everything, they aren't actually naughty on purpose, and they love tape... which is why tape rescue is perfect for them!

# data[].attributes.body
I like this as a mostly clean way to practice painting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Painting with water is a blast! You'll love watching the amazement in your toddler's eyes when they are painting with water!

Painting with water is such a simple art activity for toddlers. And a great place to start doing activities with a toddler.

George has a little thing for water (doesn't every toddler?), so I knew he'd get a kick out of this activity.

George and I have a great time while Henry is at school most days. We're starting to work many more toddler appropriate activities into our mornings. I really enjoy watching George getting a kick out of these, too!

I colored in our chalkboard completely with sidewalk chalk (affiliate link).

George helped as only a toddler can help...

Find 50 activities for toddlers to do! They're simple and perfect for your toddler! And find even more ways for toddlers to get creative!

I set out a little dish with just a little water to fill the bottom of it.

I handed George a few paintbrushes and showed him what happened when you got the water on the chalkboard.

He really got into it and it was fun painting along side of him.

He really acted like he was an artist busy as work. Showing me what he did as he made marks with his wet paintbrush.

How can an activity be much simpler than that?

And with a happy kid, can't beat that either.

We've done lots of painting with water, check out some of our other activities below:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Painting With Water is Fun & Easy for Toddlers | Hands On As We Grow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Painting with water is a blast! You'll love watching the amazement in your toddler's eyes when they are painting with water! Painting with water is such a simple art activity for toddlers. And a great place to start doing activities with a toddler.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is the BEST homemade playdough recipe - make it in less than 5 minutes for under a $1 and have it last for months! It is so soft and squishy and cuts perfectly with cookie cutters.

# data[].attributes.body
You can also glue the top closed if you decide to fill the bottle with things you don't want your kiddo to eat and instead just shake.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A sensory bottle can be almost anything.

There are so many variations of them, we've done a soapy sensory bottle that was all about watching it, much like a calm down jars that you've seen around Pinterest, I'm sure. But they can also be I Spy sensory bottles that add in learning and fun.

Or it can be about the sound like we made this sensory bottle into this time!

I am excited to be working with Ella's Kitchen again this year, bringing you some wonderful sensory activities for kids to try at home.

Ella's believes that, just as adults do, babies eat with all of their senses - so it's not just the texture or taste that's important. That's why they make sure all their yummy, 100% organic baby food appeals to all their senses, with bright, colorful, squeezy packs to grab and squish.

This sensory activity is all about sound and listening, which I know my kids to need to work on. But also works in important fine motor skills for younger kids too.

Find 48 more sensory activities for sight, sound, smell, and taste!

Additionally, this sensory bottle is made entirely by Louis and because of that, I only included edible pieces because he likes to stick everything in his mouth.

I set out a bowl of Ella's Kitchen snacks, including the Puffits and Munchy Biscuits.

I grabbed an empty bottle that had a lid from the recycling bin. I made sure it was a clear one.

Then Louis went on his way to making his own sensory rattle.

I put a couple of the Puffits in to get him started and then he poked them in himself. The Munching Biscuits just barely fit, so it was fun to see him very carefully fit it in the bottle in just the right way.

He never dumped it out amazingly. I really thought he would have.

He was thoroughly engrossed in putting the objects in the bottle! I'm sure he would love doing the same with ribbons like the older boys did at one time.

This was great though because it is all edible and nothing for me to worry about. Plus, it was a great mid-meal snack.

I stuck the lid on after he got quite a few pieces inside the bottle and let him roll it around and shake it.

And its instantly a sensory rattle for him to explore. And if they happen to open it up and eat the contents, no biggy! Because its all edible baby food from Ella's Kitchen!

He didn't quite open it himself, but he tried, so we had some fun with trying to put the lid on and take it off too.

We have many more edible sensory ideas coming over the next couple of months featuring Ella's Kitchen products, but in the meantime be sure to checkout the collaborative Pinterest board with Ella's Kitchen - Tiny Taste Bud Adventures!

Find out more about the Ella's Kitchen organic baby food and how its good in every sense:

Disclosure: I'm excited to be brand ambassador for Ella's Kitchen organic baby food!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A sensory bottle can be almost anything. There are so many variations of them, we've done a soapy sensory bottle that was all about watching it, much like a calm down jars that you've seen around Pinterest, I'm sure. But they can also be I Spy sensory bottles that add in learning and fun.

# data[].attributes.body
I love this as you can join cognitive (matching object types), fine motor (lining up along tape), and gross motor (stepping over or jumping) concepts in one activity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To me, tracing for toddlers shouldn't be on worksheets.

I understand the reasoning for it, and applaud those of you that attempt it. As for my kids, they're not going to sit and do a worksheet. Its just not gonna happen. Henry's excited to do them now (he actually asks for worksheets at bedtime to practice spelling words) at age 6. But, as a toddler, there's no reason for it.

My kids love to move, and I believe they should be! They should also be involved in what they're doing, their whole body!

That's what kind of tracing this is. Tracing lines with objects. Toddler style.

I taped lines on the floor using painter's tape.

Like I mentioned in yesterday's article, if you don't have painter's tape (shame on you, its the best!) you can take this outside and use sidewalk chalk instead. Simple and easy solution.

I actually taped out Louis' name. But this activity has nothing to do with his name. He's too young to learn the letters of his name, but its never too early to work on letters and name recognition. I just used it as a starting point for that, but never made this tracing activity about the letters or his name. They were just lines.

The boys had blocks out, so that was my first suggestion to use to trace the lines of his name.

Louis lined the blocks up, one by one, side by side to cover the letter L.

The L used up all the blocks we had out! Uh oh!
What other objects could we trace lines with?
George joined us then and found pieces of our Build It Bits & Bobs Set (affiliate link) to trace the letter O with.

The boys then grabbed the train engines and cars that we had to trace the letter U.

I love how they worked together!

And by that time, they were starting to lose interest. Maybe because the trains distracted them and they started playing with them instead. George went on to trace the I with the Build It Set again, but that was it and they were done.

More Activities with Tracing for Toddlers:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Beginner Object Line Tracing for Toddlers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To me, tracing for toddlers shouldn't be on worksheets. I understand the reasoning for it, and applaud those of you that attempt it. As for my kids, they're not going to sit and do a worksheet. Its just not gonna happen.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There's no doubt that sensory play is a huge source of play-based learning and development in kids. Sensory activities support sensory processing and integration of sensory systems, but also the tactile, visual, and movement challenges impact development in all areas. Here, you'll discover various play activities for kids of all ages. Use these ideas in occupational therapy interventions, in multisensory learning, and in the classroom.

Sensory Play

Stop by and check out all of these sensory ideas. Don't see a link for what you are looking for? This page is being updated (sleep calls!). Don't worry though-Pop a description of the image below into the search bar on the sidebar and you will find the sensory-based play ideas linked there.

I am a big advocate for sensory play with kids. There is so much learning that takes place during sensory experiences. Exploring textures, manipulating items, scents...the list can go on and on! When a child explores the world through their senses, they develop fine motor skills, gross motor skills, language abilities, self-confidence, and so much more.

While play definitely is based on the body's senses, there are also the vestibular and proprioception senses that provide input to a child. Any experience involves the body's ability to take in sensory input, process it, and provide appropriate responses. During all of this learning is happening!

This page is a place where we'll share all of our sensory-friendly play and learning activities in one place. We have many more old posts to add and SO many new ideas to share with you. Stop back often so you can see what we've been up to.

So many of these ideas you will find on this page are perfect for using in sensory diets and sensory challenges to address sensory processing needs. Read more about how to create a sensory diet.

One of our most popular resources is our printable sensory paths. Check out these sensory stations as a sensory play material that kids love:

Have fun playing and exploring the senses!

Sensory Play All Day

For a better understanding of how to incorporate sensory experiences into a scheduled plan for individual children, read more about what a sensory diet is and how to address common concerns.

Carryover of sensory strategies is extremely important in both the home and in the classroom. If activities are not able to be carried out, then a different sensory strategy should be incorporated into the child's sensory diet.

When using The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook to create and monitor sensory diets, users will find the Daily Sensory Diet Sheet and the Sensory Diet Schedule to be effective tools for carryover and monitoring strategies.

Use the Sensory Diet Effectiveness Tool, found in the Addendum of this book, to monitor sensory diet results and strategies. This form should be completed after a sensory diet has been in effect for two weeks.

Sensory Systems Ideas

Try the activities based on the various sensory systems listed below. Each activity is listed out by sensory system. Try more than one! You can address a different sensory system each day with this list!

Tactile Play Ideas

Visual System Play Ideas

Scented (Olfactory) Sensory Ideas

Taste (Gustatory) Sensory System Play Ideas and Oral Motor

Proprioception Sensory Ideas

Be sure to stop back for more sensory ideas for kids and families!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These sensory play ideas are sure to inspire learning and sensory processing challenges through all of the senses during play.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Inside: This collection of easy toddler fine motor activities are simple to set up and allow them to advance their fine motor skills. An easy and fun starting place to work towards future writing skills!
Toddlers use fine motor skills for so many things in their daily lives.

From zipping up their jackets to coloring with a marker, their little hands hold many important uses.

This is why it can be very frustrating for them when they are unable to complete these tasks by themselves due to lack of hand strength and precision.

Introducing simple fine motor activities to toddlers at a young age is a great way to ensure that they will have the skills to advance these important techniques.

These toddler fine motor activities are easy to set up and require very little instruction so that toddlers can easily grasp these concepts.

They are a great way to practice at home for future writing skills.

25+ Easy Toddler Fine Motor Activities

CLICK HERE to work on fine motor skills at home!
Note: Some of these activities are more suitable for preschoolers with stronger fine motor skills. Pick and choose depending on where your children are at.
Easier Toddler Fine Motor Activities
Start with these activities before moving onto the second more challenging group.
Water Play with Basters - Strengthen the hands while squeezing and releasing water.
Supplies: Bin, water, basters or droppers
Pom Pom Scoop and Transfer - Requires no prep and will keep your toddler busily engaged while building fine motor skills. (Happy Toddler Club)
Pom poms, serving tray, bin or bowl, plastic toy kitchen utensils (optional)
Pom Pom Tube Drop - Tape paper tubes to the wall and invite your toddler to drop pom poms down them.
Assorted pom poms, painter's tape, variety of paper towel or toilet paper rolls
Cork Push - Invite your toddler to pick up corks and push them into slots. (Happy Toddler Playtime)
Yogurt container, kitchen scissors, wine corks
Scooping Rice - Use small scoops to transfer rice from one container to another. (Busy Toddler)
Scoops, rice, containers, storage tub
Tracing with Buttons - Use buttons to have preschoolers trace the pre-drawn pattern along the line. (Learning4Kids)
Paper, markers, buttons
Paint Chip Confetti Wall - Using pieces of paint chips and contact paper, toddlers will stick the little papers onto the wall creating a colorful design. (Happy Toddler Playtime)
Paint chips, contact paper, masking tape
Fine Motor Threading - Easy to set up, this activity involves toddlers threading straws through the holes in a hole-punched cardboard tube. (Laughing Kids Learn)
Cardboard tubes, straws, hole punch, scissors
Bead Drop Jar - For very young toddlers, practicing their pinching skills is a great start to strengthening fine motor skills. (Modern Preschool)
Canning jar, beads, fine motor tools, hole punch, scissors
Pom Pom Color Push - Practice color recognition as toddlers push pom poms into the correct color container. (Munchkins and Moms)
Pom poms, no-spill paint cup, tray
Bead Balloon for Hand Strength - Create a stress ball using water beads and a balloon for toddlers to strengthen the muscles in their hand. (Best Toys 4 Toddlers)
Water beads, water, small bottle, balloon
Peel Tape - For a quick activity in a pinch, have toddlers peel painters tape off of a surface. (Hands On As We Grow)
Painter's tape, table
Pin the Tail on the Bunny - Velcro the cotton ball tails onto the matching color bunny and use pinching skills to pull them back off. (From ABCs to ACTs)
Pom poms, velcro, free bunny printable (included)
Rainbow Ball - Practice pinching and pulling motions by pulling rainbow scarves out from the center of the ball. (Still Playing School)
O-Ball, rainbow scarves
More Challenging Toddler Fine Motor Activities
Once your toddlers can master the above activities, you move on to this category. Note that some of these activities might be more suitable for when your toddler transitions into a preschooler.
Transferring Water - Use small pipettes to practice transferring water into small ice cube trays or bowls.
Supplies: Droppers, ice cube trays or bowls, water
Colored Waterfalls - For some process art, have toddlers use small pipettes to drip colored water onto vertical paper stands.
Watercolors, droppers, vertical surface
Rainbow Threading - Color some chunky pasta pieces to introduce threading activities to toddlers using thick shoelaces with plastic ends.
Tubular pasta, shoelaces, plastic needle
Fine Motor Skills with Crazy Straws - Using crazy straws and fabric circles, have toddlers thread the hole in the center of the circles down the crazy straw. (Powerful Mothering)
Felt, straws
DIY Zipper Board - This is a great fine motor strengthening activity for toddlers who are struggling to zip up their clothing without help. (Laughing Kids Learn)
Cardboard, zippers, hot glue gun, scissors
Cap Twist-Off Board - To strengthen hand muscles, create a board of twist-off applesauce lids for toddlers to practice. (Happy Toddler Playtime)
Caps, cardboard, hot glue gun, kitchen shears
Cutting Busy Box - Create slips of paper with designs for toddlers to practice their cutting skills. (A Crafty Living)
Scraps of paper, box, scissors
Shapes Dot Painting - Free printable do-a-dot sheets for your toddlers to practice their stamping. (The Resourceful Mama)
Free dot painting printable (included), dot markers or stickers
Cutting Box - For a quiet time activity, create a box of items to be cut for toddlers to practice scissor skills. (Sara J Creations)
Paper scraps, box, scissors, free printable sheet (included, but probably more suitable once scissor skills are strong)
Clothespin Grabbing - Use clothespins to pinch and grab at small pieces of pipe cleaners or other items and transfer them into a cup. (Love, Laughter and Learning in Prep)
Clothespins, pieces of pipe cleaner
Pre-Writing Squishy Bags - Practice writing skills by drawing designs in these mess-free squishy bags. (Learning4Kids)
Squishy bag, free shapes printable (included)
Spring Flower Tray - Make a beautiful flower arrangement by poking fake flower stems through the holes in an upside-down colander. (No Time for Flash Cards)
Colander, fake flowers, floral foam

More toddler activities:
20 Simple Toddler Sorting Activities Alphabet Learning Through Play 25+ Number Games for Toddlers
Now Available: Toddler Unit Lesson Plans

I'm so excited to be one of the 5 creators of these lesson plans designed for toddlers!

Each of the 20 themes contains 20 activities designed to help you reach the skills for your toddler throughout the year. We've done the activity planning so you don't have to!

Click below for more information:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Inside: This collection of easy toddler fine motor activities are simple to set up and allow them to advance their fine motor skills. An easy and fun starting place to work towards future writing skills! Toddlers use fine motor skills for so many things in their daily lives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever wanted to make sensory bins but didn't know what to fill them with for sensory play? Here is our list of our 10 favorite sensory bin fillers for you to try to make up a fun sensory bin any time of the year. We have quite a few resources to get you on your way to making awesome sensory bins for early childhood development. Check out these best sensory bin fillers for multiple ages to enjoy playing together!

THE BEST SENSORY BIN FILLERS FOR FUN SENSORY PLAY FOR KIDS!

WHY MAKE A SENSORY BIN?

Sensory bins are wonderful hands-on fun for many ages, including toddlers, kindergarteners to preschoolers! Many early learning skills can be developed through sensory bin play including social and emotional communication, literacy, fine motor skills, and more!

Sensory bins provide an outlet for children to engage in a meaningful way and also receive sensory input that their little minds and bodies crave.

Exploring through touch and feel can be a positive experience for most children. Sensory input from sensory bins works with your child's nervous system. You may find your child prefers some sensory bin fillers over others, so don't give up trying! Let your child be your guide!

10 BEST SENSORY BIN FILLERS

Do you have a favorite sensory bin filler? We have gathered a collection of our favorite sensory bin fillers, that are easy to find or make, and inexpensive as well. I like sensory bin fillers I can easily store after play time is done and are easy to take back out again. These best sensory bin fillers don't include ones that are too messy or or can only be used once, but we love those too! These ones listed below are my favorite sensory bin materials for easy storage and re-use.

1. COLORED RICE

Colored rice is number one on our list of favorite sensory bin fillers! Find out how to dye rice for beautiful colors to fit your themes. Here's our resource for more than 50 rice sensory bin ideas for all seasons! Rice has to be one of the quickest and easiest sensory bin fillers out there!
Check our one bag of rice and 10 ways to play!

2. COLORED PASTA

Simple staples from your pantry can make quick and easy sensory bin fillers. Check out our simple recipe for how to dye pasta for an inexpensive sensory bin filler.

3. AQUARIUM ROCKS

These brightly colored rocks make easy sensory bin fillers and are great for so many sensory play ideas! Check some of the ways we used our aquarium rocks as part of our 20 books with sensory play activities!

4. WATER BEADS

Easy to find and easy to make, water beads make a great sensory bin filler! They also provide a very unique tactile sensory experience!

Check out ways we have used our water beads:

5. COLORED SAND

Colored craft sand is a fun sensory bill filler that reminds of outdoor sand box play! Here we used our colored sand for a themed Christmas sensory box and a Valentine's Day sensory bin.

6. SHREDDED PAPER

Make sure of the mounds shredded paper you may have on hand. Grab some from the dollar store or make your own, shredded paper makes a fun but messy sensory bin filler.

7. COLORED SALT

Salt is an inexpensive and easy option for sensory bin fillers. Find out how to dye salt to make beautiful colored salt for hours of fun sensory play!

8. WATER

Have you ever thought of water as a sensory bin filler? No wonder water is one of our favorite choices for sensory play! There are so many things you can do with water, including freezing it and creating a fun ice melt play activity.

Check out these fun sensory play ideas with water and ice:

9. BEANS

All kinds of household dried beans and peas make a great sensory bin filler. Plus, they store well and keep for ages!

Popping corn makes another fun sensory bin filler!

10. CLOUD DOUGH

Cloud dough makes our list of favorite sensory bin fillers because it is so versatile for playing with. It also keeps nicely for quite a while.

Check out our homemade Cloud Dough Recipe

Here's a few variations for scented play with cloud dough:

These sensory fillers make awesome any day play and can be easily adapted to fit your themes, lesson plans or play ideas for toddlers, kindergarteners and preschoolers.

MORE HELPFUL IDEAS FOR SENSORY BINS

What are your favorite sensory bin fillers?

BEST SENSORY BIN FILLER IDEAS FOR FUN SENSORY PLAY!

Click on the image below or on the link for more fun sensory play recipes for kids.

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges? We have you covered... Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Best Sensory Bin Fillers For Sensory Play

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Have you ever wanted to make sensory bins but didn't know what to fill them with for sensory play? Here is our list of our 10 favorite sensory bin fillers for you to try to make up a fun sensory bin any time of the year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Peeling tape is so much fun for little kids. Make peeling the tape an activity all of its own!

Okay, so I use tape in a lot of activities here on Hands On As We Grow, right?

I love it. It's very versatile and let's me do a lot of things really easily (like build roads, or lines, or numbers) in minutes.

But, the activities are always about something else, naturally. Not about the tape itself.

That's how this activity is different.

Tape is the star of this peeling fine motor activity.

FREE Go-To List of Fine Motor Pre-Writing Activities

Fine Motor Peeling Tape Activity

I always have my kids peel the painter's tape off the floor when we're done an activity.

I've always known it was great fine motor practice.

Watch this video for a quick tutorial on what we did and how we made a travel version (or keep reading below).

Find 30 materials that promote fine motor skills here.

Setting Up Fine Motor Tape Peeling Activity

This time, I didn't use painter's tape, but it could be used. This time, I had some colored electrical tape on hand from awhile back, so I used that.

This tape peeling activity was mostly for Louis, but George wanted to do it too because he likes 'easy activities' (or so he says).

I taped all over the dining room table. A section for George and a section for Louis.

I criss-crossed back and forth, making layers of tape.

Start Peeling

The only object of the activity was to remove the tape from the table.

Using fine motor skills in this activity to peel the tape off the table.

And for George, I had him think a little to try to figure out which layer of tape was on the top to peel off first.

He didn't always get it right.

Louis peeled them off one by one. He needed help here and there to get them started.

I gave them a little tiny start at times.

Do you know how much strengthening this does for little fingers?

Grabbing, pulling the tape?

I think electrical tape was a great choice for this activity because it kind of stretches, making it take more strength to peel off than painter's tape would.

I was very pleased with such a simple activity.

So simple, it might be overlooked.

This would be a great before dinner, or as a 10-minute challenge for the kids to take a break from some of the craziness.

If you like simple, you'll also love these activities for your kids:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Peeling Tape Activity to Strengthen Little Toddler Fingers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Peeling tape is so much fun for little kids. Make peeling the tape an activity all of its own! Okay, so I use tape in a lot of activities here on Hands On As We Grow, right? I love it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The bean box continues to be on of our favorite sensory activities. Sometimes when my four year old is out of sorts I get it down and just start playing in it myself so that he'll join me in this sensory play and be able to calm down. Originally posted Jan 28, 2010.

With so much indoor time lately we need some good winter activities. The bean box has provided much sensory entertainment. This Rubbermaid container holds about two inches deep worth of Pinto beans (maybe 8 pounds?) I also store a few scoopers and little toys in the beans.

Fun Sensory Activities for the Bean Box

Well, as you can see from the picture, sometimes the kids climb into the box.

Hide toys in the beans for the kids to find. Have the kids hide toys.

Bury hands or feet in the beans.

Use cups and spoons to scoop, stir and pour.

Put a big blanket underneath (to catch stray beans) and have the kids scoop all the beans out of the big container into various smaller containers (or toy dump trucks and such.)

Pour the beans out on a blanket and enjoy the sensory experience of pushing around the beans to make roads through them. Add toy cars to drive around in the beans.

Take out a handful of beans and squish them into playdough - such as the mystery playdough in this post about quick set up toddler activities.

If you've got warm weather, try taking a blanket outside and playing with beans on a blanket on the grass.

We keep our beans for sensory activities in a big container with lid - but watch out if they get loose. We've had our fair share of crawling around to pick up beans after a sensory play time; the vacuum doesn't like to suck up too many of them. I hope you enjoy these activities and get lots of sensory fun out of your own bean box!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Full of Beans - 8 Fun Sensory Activities for the Bean Box

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The bean box continues to be on of our favorite sensory activities. Sometimes when my four year old is out of sorts I get it down and just start playing in it myself so that he'll join me in this sensory play and be able to calm down.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Threading activities are fantastic fine motor activities.

After sharing our cereal threading activity the other day, I wanted to find more ways for kids to thread.

I started hunting and hunting for the best threading activities for kids. And upon searching, I came across many lacing activities, weaving activities and sewing activities... and it made me ask:

What is a threading activity?

I had to look it up! I searched online and found on Google the following threading definition:

verb: put (beads, chunks of food, or other small objects) together or singly on a thread, chain, or skewer that runs through the center of each one.

In terms of a threading activity to do with kids, that means that the kids would be putting (threading) numerous small objects onto a longer object.

Makes sense I think. So that's what I'm including here. Only threading activities where kids are putting numerous objects onto a longer object.

Simple Threading Activities to Try With Your Child

In case you're curious, here's a couple sewing activities to try too:

And a few weaving activities if you're interested:

Share these threading activities:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Simple Threading Activities for Young Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Threading activities are fantastic fine motor activities. After sharing our cereal threading activity the other day, I wanted to find more ways for kids to thread. I started hunting and hunting for the best threading activities for kids. And upon searching, I came across many lacing activities, weaving activities and sewing activities...