Let’s explore a variety of sensory activities for 1 and 2 year olds! These offer fun and educational ideas to enhance fine motor skills, sensory development, and overall growth through engaging play experiences with everyday household items.
When it comes to our little ones, engaging in sensory play is not only a great way to have fun, but it’s also essential for their overall development. At 15 months old, our little Theo is walking now, and playtime has become so much more exciting! Watching him explore the world around him with his little hands and feet is an absolute joy, and it got me thinking about all the wonderful ways we can nurture his growth and development through sensory play activities. I’ve done a lot of research for our little one and here’s what I learned!
If you’re looking for great ideas to keep your young children entertained while boosting their brain development, sensory play is the answer. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or even a teacher in child care centers, sensory play offers a great opportunity for children to explore different textures, different sounds, and a variety of materials.
Today, I’m sharing some of our favorite sensory activities that are perfect for 1 and 2-year-olds like Theo. These activities are not only fun but also support fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, language development, and more.
Why Sensory Play is Important
Before we dive into the sensory play ideas, let’s talk about why sensory play is so important for young children. Sensory play involves any activity that stimulates a child’s senses—touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. For one year olds, this type of play is crucial because it helps them make sense of the world around them.
When Theo plays with different materials like water beads or pom poms, he’s not just having fun; he’s also learning how to interact with his environment, developing a sense of touch, and enhancing his problem-solving skills. Sensory play is a wonderful way to introduce new concepts to your child, such as different colors, new textures, and various materials. It’s also a fun way to support their gross motor skills and fine motor activities, which are essential for their overall development.
Sensory Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
Let's explore a variety of sensory activities for 1 and 2 year olds! These offer fun and educational ideas to enhance fine motor skills, sensory development, and overall growth through engaging play experiences with everyday household items.
Ice Cream Sensory Bin. A taste safe sensory activity, suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Perfect for summer or beach themes.
This frozen shaving cream ocean sensory play is great for toddlers, preschoolers and kids to dig their hands into! Fun sensory ocean bin.
This Jello toy rescue activity is taste safe and super simple to set up! Find out how to make this easy DIY Jello sensory dig activity that is perfect for infants through preschool (or even elementary school). This Jello ocean animal rescue activity is perfect for kids who like to play with homemade sensory bins, and because it's made from edible ingredients, it's even appropriate for babies! Such a fun sensory activity.
Here’s an easy way to make a soft and fluffy “clean” sensory bin for your toddler using just a few common ingredients you probably already have at home! Hours of fun indoors or out!
Try this easy homemade colored cloud dough recipe with an ocean theme. it’s non-toxic, taste-safe, and easy to make! It’s absolutely perfect for the littlest learners because it is kid-friendly! Mold it, pack it, squish it, and squeeze it for truly tactile sensory play.
This easy and fun DIY writing sensory bag is themed for Fall and so much fun! Fun for babies, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten and for kids! A great multi-purpose activity for a differentiated set of ages!
Use cheap straws to work on those motor skills! Such an easy activity to setup and clean up!
Learn how to make an adorable "duck pond"!
Pom poms are one of those things it's great to now keep on hand! Here's a fun activity for outside sensory play! Especially great in the hottest times of the year.
This easy Cheerio sensory bin for toddlers and preschoolers is easy set up and even easier clean up as they snack and play. You can try this easy Cheerio sensory bin for toddlers today with things you have in your home!
Add kitchen gadgets, play tools, treasure coins, and more, and kids are sure to have a blast!
Another great activity for a hot day! Learn all about "cold" and "wet" as well as colors!
Bubble foam is a fantastic sensory activity made from just soap and water.
Get them started with chores early! haha! Once of the best indicators of success later in life is if kids are given responisbilies early on in their learning.
Are you looking for a fun way to beat the heat with the kids this summer? Making an Iceberg Sensory Bin is super easy and so much fun! Let the kids’ imagination wander as they splash, play, and learn with this ice cold sensory activity.
Get ready for shark week! Grab a few shark toys from your kiddos toy box to create this.
This one is a bit messy but at least this "mud" is safe!
Another take on the "washing" station. They are also learning empathy and love for animals!
This adorable and unique playtime will captivate your little ones’ imagination as they explore the magic of ice and water and rubber ducks.
Another cute rubber ducky activity. One of Theo's first words was "duck" so we can't wait to try this one.
When it comes to water play ideas, it doesn’t get much simpler than this. This sensory bin consists of sliced lemon, water, and blue food coloring.
A little messy but a lot of fun! Simple items you already have on hand can be used for this easy sensory activity.
Child size tongs make this accessible for your kiddo. Grab the ice trays from the dollar tree and setup outside on a hot day!
We love water play - especially here in hot Houston! Scoop up those colorful sea creatures for this fun activity.
I would use artic animals for this fun activity! The gelatin looks like they are stuck in ice!
This activity is even a good one for those babies under 1 year. If you have a crawler or just need something for tummy time - set this one up!
Shaving cream isn't very yummy - so this activity is best if your 1 year old or 2 year old has moved past the "mouthing" stage!
Incorporating Sensory Play into Your Child’s Daily Routine
One of the best things about sensory play activities is that they can easily be incorporated into your child’s daily routine. Whether it’s during bath time, while cooking dinner, or even when you’re out for a walk, there are always opportunities to engage your child’s senses.
For example, during a warm day, you might set up a small water table outside for your child to splash around in. Or, during bath time, you could introduce a bubble bath with different textures and different colors of bubbles. The key is to make these activities a regular part of your child’s routine so that they become accustomed to exploring and learning through play.
Safety Tips for Sensory Play
While sensory play is incredibly beneficial, it’s important to keep a few safety tips in mind:
- Supervise closely: Always keep an eye on your child during sensory play activities, especially if you’re using small objects, water, or materials that could pose a choking hazard.
- Use non-toxic materials: Make sure any materials your child might touch or taste, such as baby-safe paint or food items, are non-toxic and safe for their age group.
- Set ground rules: Teach your child early on that certain materials, like shaving cream or small toys, are for touching and not for eating.
- Choose age-appropriate activities: Tailor the sensory activities to your child’s age and developmental stage to ensure they’re both safe and enjoyable.
The Benefits of Sensory Play for 1 and 2 Year Olds
Sensory play offers a wide range of benefits that contribute to your child’s overall development. Here’s a closer look at some of the key areas it supports:
- Fine Motor Skills: Activities like finger painting, playing with sensory bags, and using wooden spoons to scoop items in a simple sensory bin help strengthen your child’s fine motor abilities.
- Gross Motor Skills: Engaging in water play, messy play, or even exploring a sensory table allows your child to develop their larger muscle groups as they move, reach, and interact with various materials.
- Hand-Eye Coordination: Manipulating small objects, such as building blocks or small toys, improves your child’s hand-eye coordination, which is crucial for tasks like writing, eating, and dressing as they grow.
- Language Development: Sensory play introduces your child to new words and concepts, such as “cold,” “soft,” “wet,” and “sticky.” Talking with your child about what they’re experiencing during play helps enhance their vocabulary and understanding.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Sensory activities encourage your child to think critically as they figure out how to use different objects and solve challenges, like how to get a toy out of a mound of rice or how to stack cups.
- Social Skills: If you’re playing alongside your child or in a group setting, sensory play fosters social interactions, sharing, and cooperative play. It’s a great opportunity for your child to learn how to engage with others.
- Brain Development: Stimulating your child’s senses through play enhances their cognitive abilities, helping them process information and make connections between different experiences.
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This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always supervise your child during sensory play and choose age-appropriate materials. Consult with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your child’s development or any specific sensory play activities.
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