Sensory play activities for toddlers (that clean up in five minutes)

Cornflour, water, a shallow tray, a drop of food colour.

1. 1Mix two parts cornflour to one part water.
2. 2Show that it's hard when you press and runny when you lift.
3. 3Let hands in. Say ‘solid… liquid…’ as it changes.

Cause and effect, states of matter, tolerance of new textures.

Rice dyed with food colour, cups, spoons, funnels.

1. 1Pour the rice into a tray.
2. 2Offer scoops and containers of different sizes.
3. 3Narrate: full, empty, more, less, heavy.

Hand strength, pouring control, early measurement words.

Small toys frozen in a tub of water overnight; warm water in cups; spoons.

1. 1Show the frozen toys. How do we get them out?
2. 2Offer warm water, spoons, salt.
3. 3Celebrate each rescue by name.

Problem solving, patience, the word ‘melt’.

Trays of grass, sand, bubble wrap, cotton wool, pebbles; bare feet.

1. 1Line the trays up as a path.
2. 2Walk slowly, one tray at a time.
3. 3Name each feeling: tickly, cold, soft, bumpy.

Body awareness, descriptive vocabulary, bravery.

Whipped soap foam (a tablespoon of bubble bath + a little water, whisked), cupcake cases, spoons.

1. 1Fill the tray with foam.
2. 2Children ‘bake’ cupcakes into the cases.
3. 3Open the bakery: who wants one?

Pretend play, scooping, sharing.

Sealed containers with rice, pasta, beads, sand.

1. 1Shake each one. Loud or soft?
2. 2Match pairs by sound with eyes closed.
3. 3March to the loudest one.

Auditory discrimination, matching, rhythm.

Outdoor mud, pots, spoons, leaves, petals, water.

1. 1Announce the café is open.
2. 2Take orders: leaf soup, petal tea.
3. 3Serve the teacher. Review the food loudly.

Imaginative play, measuring, nature contact.

Homemade dough with a spoon of cinnamon, cocoa or lemon zest.

1. 1Hand out a ball each. Smell first.
2. 2Squash, roll, poke, pinch.
3. 3Make a ‘cookie’ for a friend.

Hand strength for later writing, smell vocabulary, giving.