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Spring brings warmer weather, outdoor activities, and fun changes to see and do. Kids of all ages can explore the world around them through these sensory activities.
I am absolutely in love with these amazing spring sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers that I found. I know your kids are going to love playing with these too. What a fun way to celebrate the coming of spring and warmer weather.
Spring sensory play table of contents
- What are the benefits of sensory play?
- What are sensory activities examples?
What are the benefits of sensory play?
Sensory play has many benefits, especially for the toddler and preschool age demographic. This includes:
- Physical development through exploring the 8 senses
- Language development
- Cognitive skills like problem-solving and STEM exploration
- Social and emotional skills to help with self-regulation and playing with others
- Creative development
- Sensory input through the 8 senses to help with sensory challenges or self-regulation skills
- Fine motor skill development
- Visual-motor skill development
- Plus, sensory play is so much fun!
You can read more details on the benefits ofsensory play and messy play in my blog post here.
What are sensory activities examples?
Sensory activities are any type of activity that engages the 8 senses. Yes, there are 8! You probably think of sensory activities as messy play, but it can be so much more than that.
The 8 senses include:
- Tactile (touch)
- Vision (sight)
- Gustatory (taste)
- Auditory (hearing)
- Olfactory (smell)
- Proprioception (body awareness and input from the muscles and joints)
- Vestibular (sense of balance)
- Interoception (internal sensations such as hunger, thirst, and bathroom needs)
Sensory play activities can target one or more of each of the sensory systems. Many of these activities can have a regulating effect on children, particularly if they need help with attention and focus throughout the day. All children benefit from sensory play though, as we discussed above.
You can read more about all 8 of the sensory systems here.
20+ Fun Spring Sensory Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers
Here are some fun spring-themed sensory play ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.
Sensory Binsare a great way to encourage sensory exploration and play, here are some of my favorites for spring.
Spring Sensory Binfrom Teaching Mama
Spring Sensory Tubfrom Time for Flashcards
Gardening Sensory Binfrom Fantastic Fun and Learning
Spring garden sensory binfrom Mess for Less
Spring Sensory Tub with Carrotsfrom Nurture Store
Ladybug life-cycle sensor playfrom Natural Beach Living
Water beadsare another fun sensory play base. You can also use tapioca pearls for younger toddlers who may still put things in their mouths, or if you want a more environmentally friendly activity.
Frog pond water bead sensory playfrom Messy Little Monster
Water beads in mud sensory binfrom Happy Toddler Playtime
Garden sensory play with water beadsfrom Mommy Evolution
Water tablesare a great spring sensory play activity since you can set them up outside to help avoid the watery mess. Here are a few fun water-based ideas.
Spring-Scented Water Bin Play Date Ideafrom The OT Toolbox
Spring Sensory Water Tablefrom The Pleasant Things
Spring Colored Sand Playfrom Buggy and Buddy
Spring-Scented Water Sensory Binfrom Fun A Day
Spring flower sensory playfrom Natural Beach Living
Sensory bottles are a great way to set up some sensory play and emotional regulation stations in your home or classroom. There are so many fun-themed ones, here are a few of my favorite spring ones.
Spring flower sensory bottlefrom My Little 3 and Me
Butterfly life-cycle sensory bottlesfrom Fun-A-Day
Insects sensory bottlesfrom The Chaos and the Clutter
Spring sensory bottlesfrom The Chaos and the Clutter
Sensory bags are a great way for children to explore while avoiding some of the mess. It's a great first activity for children who may not want to get messy. It can also be a great idea for younger toddlers so they don't put things in their mouths.
Here are some fun spring-themed sensory bags.
Spring sensory bagfrom Artsy Momma
Spring flower sensory squish bagfrom Fantastic Fun and Learning
Spring sensory seekand find from The OT Toolbox
Rainbow sensory bag for toddlersfrom Messy Little Monster
Do you have a favorite spring sensory play activity idea? Share it in the comments below!
You May Also Like:
- 20+ Easy Spring Fine Motor Activities for Toddlers
- Ocean and Beach Themed Sensory Activities
- 25 Water Hands-On Activities for Kids
- 25 Sand Hands-On Activities for Kids
Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.
Heather Greutman, COTA
