Sensory Play Ideas

Sensory processing is a challenge to many who are neurodivergent. This is not the same in everyone. Since there are 5 senses namely sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing, it can affect any number of senses in any way. Sensory Processing Disorder is not necessarily recognised as an official diagnosis but it does affect people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, etc. Sensory play is often used by therapists, teachers and even parents at home.

Sensory play includes activities in the form of play, that activates and stimulates the senses. Usually, sensory play focuses on stimulating touch, sight, and hearing as those senses are most accessible. This is also an incredibly useful and fun method for children to learn about the world around them and make sense of new things they experience every day.

Here are some Sensory Play ideas using materials you can make on your own at home, courtesy of E’D Therapy.

Oobleck

This is a substance that is whole, but when held, it falls apart and liquifies. It is an interesting item to play with especially for little one who are curious about textures.

Ingredients:

• Corn starch
• Water

Make your own by mixing corn starch with water, until the texture becomes solid. An excellent texture type for those who enjoy holding or squeezing items. Oobleck melts easily when held and great for messy play sessions too.

Ice Painting

Frozen and coloured water for exploration with mixing colours, patterns and textures of wet and slippery ice. This is also excellent for exploring with cold temperature items.

Ingredients :

• Drinking water
• Food colouring
• Ice trays / molds

Mix drinking water with food colouring. Store in ice-tray in the freezer. Use as many colours as you like. You could even freeze them in differently shaped molds to make it more interesting.

Stick

A thick and sticky texture that is not too wet. It exercises finger strength whilst playing which helps with fine motor skills.

Ingredients:

• Flour
• Water

Mix flour with water until the texture is sticky. This is an acquired texture depending on the child’s preference. So go with what works best for your child.

Dry Dough

This concoction is suitable for those who do not like sticky textures.

dfIngredients:

• Glutinous flour
• Food dye/colouring
• Water

Mix glutinous flour with water and add some food dye / colouring to get your child’s attention. It will turn into a kind of dough that is dry. Click here for a video tutorial.

Coloured spaghetti / pasta

This consists of cooked pasta with food colouring. It has a sticky texture and will leave stains on hands after playing with it for some time.

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti / pasta noodles
• food colouring
• water

Boil spaghetti noodles or pasta, and mix them with food colouring. Hide toys inside them and play a game asking your child to remove the toys from the mixture.

Edible Mud

It is a mixture of flour, water and cocoa powder which makes it safe if consumed whilst playing.

Ingredients:

• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Water

Mix flour with cocoa powder and water. Mix it until it has a similar texture to mud. You can also put toy animals inside it and turn it into a game of looking for the animals. Add water to the texture if it is too thick. Again, go with the preference of your child. Click here for a video tutorial on making edible mud.

The above tips were shared by E’D Therapy on their Instragram, here. This is not an exhaustive list of Sensory Play activities. The best play ideas come from listening to and knowing how children like to play. Get creative and most importantly, have fun!Ayunnie (far left) is a full time Occupational Therapist Consultant. She is also the Co-Founder of E’D Therapy, an intervention centre for children with special needs focusing on children’s strength. Her experience includes ABA & behaviour management, play based therapy and she has a Bachelor in Occupational Therapy (Hons.).