Sensory play can be lots of fun and can be as simple as you want it to be, we've pulled together some of our favourite ideas for you to try at home below.

Sensory Garden

To experience the great outdoors by encouraging your child to explore, touch, taste and smell.

Practice at home

• For your child to respond to sensory stimulation
• For your child to show their likes /dislikes
• Encourage your child to made a choice

Activities to do at home
Show your child different flowers, plants and herbs and allow your child to look, touch and smell them.
Consider sounds around you i.e. birds singing, water trickling, dripping and splashing.
Move your hands or use materials near your child’s face to experience the sensation of wind, or comment on the
wind around you.

Over the Rainbow

To experience looking at objects in a variety of colours and shapes

Practice at Home

• For your child to handle and look at colourful objects
• For your child to look and focus on single coloured item
• For your child to experience seeing objects in a light and dark environment

Activities to do at home
Choose a colour and gather a variety of objects/textures in your chosen colour.
Begin your play session with your child and focus on exploring that colour. Use items of their clothing i.e. red
socks, blue gloves, green hat.
Offer a choice of two objects in two different colours and see if your child focuses on one colour more than the
other. Give a hand over hand prompt to your child to hold and explore the chosen toy.
Make a sensory bottle (use a plastic bottle) and put some coloured water or sand in the bottle (secure the lid
tightly).
Create your own dark space by using a dark blanket over chairs (like a den) or using a pop up child’s tent.
Place your child in the dark sensory area and hold a light toy close to them. Watch for a response.
Remember be safe! Always check instructions on items and don’t use electrical lights in enclosed places.

Movement Time

To experience body awareness use different textured materials or objects on your child’s arms, hands, legs, feet
and tummy.

Practice at home

• Position your child on their side to encourage swiping and reaching for toys.
• To encourage your child to lift their head, whilst on their tummy – place a mirror, light or noisy toy in front of
  them to support this. They may need a sausage cushion or rolled towels for support under their chest.

Activity to do at home
Attach ribbons to a wooden spoon or bangle to make a dangly toy. This can be used whilst listening to music and
can encourage your child to move their arms up and down, sideways, fast and slow.
Collect safe items and objects of different textured materials for your child to hold and touch.

Treasure Baskets

Treasure basket items are used to allow children to explore natural objects and textures using all their senses. It
allows them to practice fine motor control and hand - eye coordination.

Practice at home

• Place object in your child’s hand. Use hand over hand support to transfer the object between your hands.
• Place an object in each hand and use hand over hand support to bang the objects together.
• Allow your child to experience objects by smelling, touching and mouthing.

Activity to do at home
Make your own treasure basket using a basket or shallow box. Use wooden and metal assorted objects i.e.
brushes, rings, pegs, spoons, pads etc. Try and provide objects that interest and stimulate your child.
Make sure that the objects are safe to mouth and handle.