Sensory Play
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15 Expert-Recommended Sensory Activities For Babies
Bonus: they’re super easy, and you probably have everything you need already.
by Tiffany Eve Lawrence
For babies, every milestone and “first” counts. And as parents, we are there to snap the photos of their squishy faces eating the lemon, video those first wobbly steps, or giggle with them as they splash their hands in the bubble mix. While these moments are cute, they serve a bigger purpose for their sensory development. Yes, even the bubbles! There are certain sensory activities for babies that experts recommend to help with meeting developmental milestones, and they’re easy enough for you to do at home.
“Sensory play is a natural way for infants and younger children to explore their environment by using all or some senses, such as sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. As they explore the world around them, children are indirectly contributing to their developmental progress,” Fadiyla Dopwell Louis-Obike, MD, developmental-behavioral pediatrician, tells Romper.
A child’s most significant development happens from birth to the age of 5, according to the CDC. When babies aren’t stimulated, parts of their development can be stifled. Obike says, “As a child navigates and explores his/her surrounding world during the critical period of brain development, he/she is often making progress across each developmental domain.”
Sensory play is a fun DIY that you can start with your baby today, and it’s as easy as talking to them to help develop their language skills. Most of your activities can be made with simple products you already have in your pantry and others you can buy. Whichever route you choose, your baby won’t know the difference. The best part is they are having fun, and you are helping them grow!
Here are several sensory play activities that experts recommend to get your baby's senses tingling.
1
Skin-To-Skin
Yep, a sensory activity as easy as letting your baby lay on your chest. “Your baby’s sense of touch is highly developed at birth,” Pierrette Mimi Poinsett, board-certified pediatrician, tells Romper. Many parents choose to use skin-to-skin immediately after their baby is born. However, Poinsett advises that this sensory activity can still be used within the first couple of months following birth to enhance their development.
2
Finger Paint
Touch is a powerful sense, and so is sight! Finger painting allows your baby to explore a new texture and go crazy with mixing different colors, and you can use homemade edible finger paint. This play is recommended for babies starting at 6 months old.
3
Explore Textures
“Let your baby explore different textured cloth such as fake fur, corduroy, velvet, and wool,” Poinsett says. Describe each texture as your baby is touching them using words like “soft, bumpy, scaley, or smooth.” For this activity, Poinsett recommends a Feel book like Pat and Bunny.
4
Tummy Time
This activity is a great way for your baby to develop their neck and shoulder muscles' strength. Poinsett says, “Put your awake infant on their tummy starting at 10 to 15 seconds at a time, up to 10 to 15 minutes several times a day.”
5
Different Colored Balls
This is the perfect play for babies between the ages of 4 to 6 months. “Babies at 5 months of age can reach for objects. Play with balls of different colors and textures. Show the baby how to roll, drop, and bounce a ball,” says Poinsett. This helps develop motor skills like grasping and passing objects between their hands.
6
Dough
Playing with dough is all about the hands and fingers. Your baby will get to investigate this texture while having control with trying to manipulate the dough. This will strengthen their fingers for being able to hold small things in the future. Using edible dough is a safe way to play.
7
Outdoor Observation
There’s so much to see, hear, and feel in nature, and your baby can get started with doing things like identifying sounds. Obike says, “Ask your child if he/she hears the barking dog. Based on your child’s developmental level, you can either help your child locate the dog or have them independently locate the dog.”
8
Pastes & Cream
Between the ages of 6 to 8 months, messy play is great for your baby's fine motor skills. “This is the age perfect for messy play. Let the baby explore using rice cereal paste, shaving cream, or cornstarch paste,” Poinsett says. They can use these items to paint and practice making small movements with their fingers.
9
Rattles & Bells
“Colorful toys are important at this point. Also, toys that make noise such as rattles and bells,” says Poinsett. Between the ages of 2 to 4 months, your baby needs their sight and sound senses stimulated in a way that is entertaining and engaging.
10
Plastic Bins & Beans
This is another easy DIY activity. Obike says, “Parents can also use plastic containers filled with dry beans and cereals to stimulate both sound and touch.”
11
Stacking Toys
There are many different stacking toys that your baby can use, including soft blocks or stacking rings. Poinsett recommends this sensory activity between 8 to 10 months old. Cognitively, your baby will understand how these toys should go on top of each other, and the bright colors will stimulate them visually.
12
Air Guitar
“Make a guitar with rubber bands wrapped around a loaf pan,” says Poinsett. By 8 to 10 months, babies are ready to start their band. They tend to love different sounds, according to Poinsett, and this one should be a hit!
13
Water Play & Splash
“When your baby is in the bath, provide squeeze toys, cups, and containers to splash around with,” Poinsett tells Romper. Bath time is perfect for introducing your baby to new sensory activities. With squeeze toys, they get to work more hand and arm muscles, and they will be highly engaged watching water splash everywhere.
14
Bubble Pop
By 10 to 12 months old, your baby is ready for games like peek-a-boo and popping bubbles. Poinsett says, “Blow bubbles and show the baby how they move up and down and pop.” And bubbles can be used to help in a few different ways. You can blow them and have your baby grab at the floating bubbles or point their fingers to poke them, which also introduces them to a new texture through their touch sense. Your baby can also work on their fine motor skills by mimicking how you put your lips together to practice blowing.
15
Pots & Pans
“Banging pots and pans with a wooden spoon allows children to hear different types of sounds, make music to sing along with their nursery rhymes, and develop their imaginative skills,” Obike says. The banging may be loud, but just go with it!
Experts:
Fadiyla Dopwell Louis-Obike, MD, developmental-behavioral pediatrician
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in sensory play and child development, I can provide you with valuable information on the concepts mentioned in this article. I have extensive knowledge and experience in this field, which allows me to offer insights and guidance on sensory activities for babies. Let's dive into the concepts discussed in the article and explore them further.
Sensory Play and Developmental Milestones
The article highlights the importance of sensory play in a baby's development. Sensory play refers to activities that engage a baby's senses, such as sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. By exploring their environment through sensory play, babies indirectly contribute to their developmental progress .
During the first five years of life, a child's most significant development occurs. Sensory play plays a crucial role in stimulating their senses and promoting overall development. When babies are not adequately stimulated, certain aspects of their development can be hindered.
Sensory Activities for Babies
The article provides a list of expert-recommended sensory activities for babies. Let's explore each activity in more detail:
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Skin-To-Skin: This activity involves letting your baby lay on your chest, allowing them to experience the sense of touch. It is recommended for enhancing their development, especially within the first couple of months following birth.
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Finger Paint: Finger painting allows babies to explore new textures and colors, stimulating their sense of touch and sight. Homemade edible finger paint can be used for this activity, making it safe for babies starting at 6 months old.
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Explore Textures: Allowing babies to touch different textured cloths, such as fake fur, corduroy, velvet, and wool, helps them develop their sense of touch. Describing each texture using words like "soft," "bumpy," "scaley," or "smooth" enhances their language skills as well.
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Tummy Time: Placing your baby on their tummy helps develop their neck and shoulder muscles' strength. Starting with short periods and gradually increasing the duration can contribute to their overall physical development.
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Different Colored Balls: Playing with balls of different colors and textures helps babies develop their motor skills, such as grasping and passing objects between their hands. This activity is suitable for babies between 4 to 6 months old.
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Dough: Playing with dough allows babies to explore different textures and strengthens their fingers for future fine motor skills. Using edible dough ensures safety during playtime.
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Outdoor Observation: Engaging babies in outdoor observation activities, such as identifying sounds or locating objects, stimulates their senses and encourages exploration.
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Pastes & Cream: Messy play with rice cereal paste, shaving cream, or cornstarch paste is beneficial for babies' fine motor skills. They can use these materials to paint and practice small movements with their fingers.
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Rattles & Bells: Colorful toys that make noise, such as rattles and bells, stimulate babies' sight and sound senses. These toys are recommended for babies between 2 to 4 months old.
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Plastic Bins & Beans: Filling plastic containers with dry beans and cereals provides babies with sensory stimulation through sound and touch. This activity can be engaging and entertaining for them.
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Stacking Toys: Stacking toys, such as soft blocks or stacking rings, help babies develop their cognitive and motor skills. They learn how to stack objects on top of each other and are visually stimulated by the bright colors.
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Air Guitar: Creating a guitar with rubber bands wrapped around a loaf pan introduces babies to different sounds and encourages imaginative play. This activity is suitable for babies between 8 to 10 months old.
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Water Play & Splash: Bath time can be an opportunity for sensory play. Providing squeeze toys, cups, and containers for babies to splash around with helps them develop their hand and arm muscles while engaging with water.
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Bubble Pop: Blowing bubbles and showing babies how they move and pop introduces them to new textures and helps develop their fine motor skills. Babies can interact with the floating bubbles and practice blowing as well.
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Pots & Pans: Allowing babies to bang pots and pans with a wooden spoon exposes them to different sounds and encourages imaginative play. This activity can be noisy but is a great way for babies to explore their auditory senses.
These sensory activities provide babies with opportunities for exploration, stimulation, and development across various senses. They can be easily done at home and with simple materials.
Conclusion
Engaging babies in sensory play activities is crucial for their overall development. By stimulating their senses through activities like skin-to-skin contact, finger painting, exploring textures, and more, parents can support their babies' growth and milestones. These activities are not only fun but also contribute to language development, motor skills, and sensory awareness. Enjoy the journey of sensory play with your baby and watch them thrive!
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts discussed in the article and provides you with valuable insights into sensory play for babies. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
