Through play and manipulation, children stimulate their innate curiosity as they immerse themselves in an ocean of textures, colors, smells and sounds. These sensory experiences not only create moments of fun and laughter, but also play a crucial role in their cognitive, emotional and social development.

In this post I talk to you about the importance of sensory activities for children, highlighting the benefits they bring and I offer you 9 activity ideas to involve children in a world of multisensory learning.

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Benefits of sensory activities:

Sensory activities have an impact on children's holistic development, providing them with opportunities to learn and grow in fun and meaningful ways. Some of the most notable benefits include:

• Sensory exploration: Children experience the world through their senses. Sensory activities allow them to explore different tactile, visual, olfactory and auditory sensations, which enriches their understanding of the environment and sharpens their senses.
• Emotional regulation: Many sensory activities involve the use of calming materials, such as homemade playdough or finger painting. These elements can help children relax and express emotions in healthy ways.
• Motor skill development: By manipulating objects and engaging in tactile activities, children hone their fine and gross motor skills. This allows them to improve their hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity and balance.
• Creative stimulus: By giving children the opportunity to experiment with colors, textures and shapes, sensory activities stimulate their creativity and imaginative thinking. Hand painting, modeling clay, and creating sensory collages are great ways to encourage artistic expression.
• Socialization and communication: Participating in sensory activities in group settings encourages social interaction and communication. Children can share their discoveries, cooperate on projects, and learn to respect others' ideas and preferences.

9 sensory activities for children

1. Sensory base with colored chickpeas

In an airtight bag, place a few drops of paint (or food coloring) and several raw chickpeas (or any raw legumes you have at home, pasta or rice).

Close the bag tightly and mix until well integrated. Then, place the chickpeas on a flat surface until the paint dries completely. Once dry, we can play!

This material is well preserved and is very versatile: children can play to classify by color or quantities, transfer from one container to another, use it as a base for sensory trays or crafts... or we simply put them inside a container and let them play freely or use it as another element of the symbolic game.

2. Balloons with textures

With these sensory balloons, little ones will become familiar with different textures. You can create them with various elements: flour, lentils, legumes, ice balls...
With the help of a funnel, place the elements inside the balloon and tie them well.
The little ones will enjoy manipulating the balloons, checking the different flexibility, hearing the noises when they shake them. With older children they can play to guess what they are filled with, or check if they float in water, for example.

3. Plastilina natural

This plasticine is made only with natural ingredients, so it is suitable for all ages, including the little ones in the house who if they put a little piece in their mouth, nothing will happen.
To prepare it, place in a bowl: 500 ml of water, 250 g of salt, 530 g of flour, 30 ml of oil and a teaspoon of baking powder.
When the ingredients are well integrated, knead directly with your hands until you obtain the desired texture. If it is too runny, add more flour; If it is dry, add water.
Once the dough has cooled, we divide it into portions to incorporate the different food colorings (I recommend that you do this step with latex gloves!). We knead well until the color is homogeneous.
Lastly and most importantly… let's play and have a great time!

4. Homemade edible paint

This paint is made with natural ingredients, so it is suitable for babies who put everything in their mouths. To make this paint you only need some Greek yogurt and a few drops of food coloring.

5. Unstructured material

To carry out this activity you will need natural elements or recycled material: stones, pine cones, shells, cardboard tubes from kitchen paper, cork stoppers, ice cream sticks...
Place all the elements on a tray in full view of the child, without any specific intention or proposal. It will be the creature who decides when and how he wants to play, without instructions, with freedom and free play. With the presence and gaze of the adult to ensure his safety, of course.
Unstructured materials (those elements that do not have a specific purpose by themselves) encourage free play, imagination and creativity. And often, the simplest proposals are the most fun, right?

6. Frozen flowers

Take advantage of your next trip to the countryside to pick a few flowers. When you get home, place them in ice trays, cover them with water and put them in the freezer! The next day, children will discover how water has gone from liquid to solid.

The little ones will have a good time playing and discovering the cold, the texture of the flower when the ice melts, wet hands...

7. Frost paint

Fill some ice cube trays with water, add a few drops of food coloring and mix well. Add some ice cream sticks and put it in the freezer. When it is frozen, prepare a large piece of cardboard and you can enjoy an afternoon of original and creative drawing.

8. We paint with water

An ideal activity for those days when you don't feel like getting anything dirty. You only need some colored cardboard, a bowl of water and a paintbrush. Easier, impossible!

9. Artificial snow

Snow in summer? Why not? You only need two ingredients: 3 glasses of water and 1 of baking soda.