Sensory Play Ideas Using Everyday Household Items

Key Takeaways

• Sensory play focuses on activities that engage your child’s senses.
• Early sensory development is crucial for children’s cognitive growth, helping develop language skills and build motor skills.
• Sensory play ideas include fingerpainting, sensory bins, ice cube fun, and shaving cream play.
• You can use your Beyond Junior® high chair and Ruby Wrapp® silicone bib from Abiie® to consolidate the mess of sensory play to one area.

From the moment they’re born, children learn through the things they touch, sounds they hear, and tastes they discover. It’s how they begin to make sense of the world around them. And it’s also how their minds and skills grow, from language to motor skills. That makes this hands-on exploration essential for kids of all ages.

When many people hear the words “sensory play,” they immediately think of toys that can facilitate this type of learning. And those toys are great. But they’re not the only way to encourage early sensory development. Everyday learning opportunities are everywhere if you just know where to look. 

Learn more about sensory play activities you can do at home with this guide from Abiie®.

1. Create a Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are one of the easiest and most fun play ideas. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Grab a container or a storage bin.
2. Fill it with items like dried beans, uncooked rice or pasta, sand, pom-poms, or anything else you have on hand.
3. Add in tools, like scoops and measuring cups. You’ll also add toys, such as toy cars, puzzle pieces, and plastic animals. The goal is to include a variety of textures and tactile stimulation for them to interact with.
4. Let your child explore freely to see what they find.

2. Have Fun Fingerpainting

This may be the messiest of sensory learning activities, but your little one will love it. 

To get started, set up an area with paper and finger paints. We recommend doing this outside in the grass or in their wooden high chair to minimize the mess. Your silicone baby bib also helps. Then, you can let your child dip their hands or fingers into the paint to make their masterpiece.

Want to try this sensory play idea with your baby? Taste-safe, edible-grade paints can easily be made at home with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. 

• Cornstarch Paint: Whisk 1 cup each of cold water and cornstarch together. Add 3 cups of boiling water, stir over heat until thickened, and add your food coloring.
• Flour Paint: Mix 1/2 cup of flour, 1 cup of water, 1/4 tsp salt, and food coloring together. You can thin it with more water, if needed. 
• Yogurt Paint: Mix food coloring into plain yogurt or pudding.

Sensory Play Alternative Idea: Put paints into a plastic bag and let your baby squish different colors. While they won’t feel the paints, it still encourages early sensory development through squeezing the bag. 

This sensory play activity can also be done at home with glue, baby oil, hair gel, and conditioner.

3. Play With Ice Cubes and Warm Water

You can help your baby learn more about warm versus cold with this sensory play idea. All you’ll need is two bowls, water, and large ice cubes.

Fill one bowl with warm water and another with some ice cubes. They can touch what’s in both bowls. Then, you can help them place the ice cube into warm water to watch and feel what happens.

4. Get Messy With Shaving Cream

Have extra shaving cream in your bathroom? Spray some onto a baking tray or onto the tray cover of their Beyond Junior® for fun in their high chair (it’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup). Then, let your child “draw” on the tray with the shaving cream. You could even add food coloring so they can discover what happens when they mix different colors together.

5. Make Bubble “Soup”

Sensory activities at home don’t always need to be messy. Take bubble “soup,” for example. This sensory play idea is all about playing with soap. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A big tub or container filled with water
• Any liquid soap: shower gel, gentle dish detergent, bubble bath liquid, etc.
• Colorful plastic balls or toys (optional)
• Towel 

And here’s what you’ll do:

1. Place your towel down on the floor. This will catch any splashes from the water.
2. Set your tub on top of the towel.
3. Add the plastic balls or toys to the water, if you have them.
4. Pour in your liquid soap. 
5. Then, let your child swish around in the water to make bubbles. Using toys? They can search for them in the bubble soup they’ve created, helping them build their fine motor skills and coordination, encourage problem-solving, and develop an understanding of cause and effect.

Have Fun With These Sensory Play Activities at Home

You don’t need any complicated tools to engage in sensory play at home. These ideas all use everyday household items and can be set up in just minutes. 

At Abiie®, we suggest setting up a sensory-safe area with your baby gear, such as with your Beyond Junior®. This will make cleanup easier and playtime safer. Have fun!