Sensory Play
Why sensory play matters
Sensory play helps babies:
Build brain connections
Develop fine and gross motor skills
Learn about textures, sounds, colors, and cause & effect
Support language and curiosity
You don’t need fancy toys - just safe, everyday items!
Homemade Shakers
Great for ages 3 months+ (with supervision)
You’ll need:
Empty plastic bottles, small tubs, or clean spice jars
Fillings such as:
Dried rice, lentils, pasta, or beans
Bells or buttons (for visual shakers only - glue lids securely)
To make:
1. Fill bottle about ¼ full with your chosen material.
2. Superglue or tightly tape the lid closed.
3. Shake, roll, tap, and explore the sounds together!
Tips:
Use different materials to compare soft vs. loud sounds.
Encourage baby to reach, grasp, or track the shaker with their eyes.
Explorer / Sensory Bottles
Fun for tummy time or visual play
You’ll need:
Clear plastic bottle
Water, baby oil, or clear hair gel as a base
Add-ins: glitter, beads, food coloring, sequins, small pom-poms, or foil shapes
To make:
1. Fill the bottle ¾ full with your base liquid.
2. Add colorful items.
3. Securely glue or tape lid shut.
4. Roll, tip, and watch the movement together.
Variations:
🌊 Ocean Bottle: Blue water + small sea creature toys.
🌈 Rainbow Bottle: Layers of colored rice or water beads (for visual use only).
❄️ Calm Bottle: Clear gel + silver glitter for a soothing slow swirl.
Other Easy Sensory Ideas
Texture basket: Collect safe items (soft cloth, wooden spoon, cool spoon, crinkly paper).
Water play: Splashing in a shallow bowl or highchair tray (supervised at all times).
Nature exploration: Feel grass, leaves, sand, or smooth stones outdoors.
Mess-free painting: Place paint inside a sealed plastic bag taped to a highchair tray for squishy color fun.
Safety Reminders
Always supervise play.
Check containers are sealed tightly.
Avoid small parts that could be swallowed.
Stop if baby seems tired or overstimulated.