Sensory play has many benefits for babies and toddlers of all ages, from its role in early child development, through encouraging brain and language growth to fine and gross motor skill acquisition, cognitive expansion and social interactions – to name but a few! When outdoor sensory play sessions occur during summer days they provide your little one with ample fresh air while helping him discover something new!
Sensory play activities for babies and toddlers range from splashing at a water table, collecting bubbles and playing Peekaboo with you; all are designed to promote proper development while giving parents another way to bond with their newborn or youngster.
Here’s our picks of the top summer sensory play activities designed for children aged 0-3. Enjoy exploring sensory play activities this summer!
Related article: Activities to Encourage Infant Development at 12 Months (with Photos).
Summer sensory activities for infants ages 0-6 months
When choosing summer sensory activities for infants in their first few months, finding an outdoor spot with shade where you can lay on a blanket together should be your top priority. While you’re there:
Practice Tummy Time using Joyful Bunny’s sensory bags as encouragement (they work wonderfully!) as you play Peekaboo or Sing Songs Together To Strengthen Listening Skills And Don’t forget bringing along a rattle for baby to try holding onto and explore!
Assemble Baby in close embrace while pointing out various aspects of nature and discussing with him or her what you see outside the window. Share what observations there are to make about life around us!
Once again, blankets in shaded spots provide babies 6-12 months an excellent environment in which to engage in various sensory activities. I like Zero to Three’s activity suggestions here — specifically this one: “Laid your baby down on a soft blanket on her tummy; billow a light scarf around above them while saying, ‘Feel the wind!”; let the scarf gently land on their back before slowly pulling it off before repeating this activity with lying her back first if desired – feeling this scarf builds tactile body awareness.”
Reading to babies of six months old or later is always beneficial, and for babies aged 6 months or more they begin to understand that pictures represent objects. Your baby may begin showing preference towards certain pictures, pages or even entire stories more than others as you read aloud to him/her – they may respond by grasping onto books while making noise when being read aloud (according to Kids Health). Bring out those board books!
Blowing bubbles is guaranteed to mesmerize a baby (whether that means you blowing and your child looks at or attempts to grab the bubbles!).
An inflatable water table provides the ideal way to engage your one-year-old in sensory water play and is one of the top summer sensory activities for 1-year-olds. Set easily up anywhere – whether on the backyard patio, backyard lawn or even inside!- water tables (or sensory tables) give babies and toddlers a relatively mess-free way to splash, scoop, pour and explore without getting dirty while teaching valuable hand-eye coordination and STEM learning. In addition, multiple children at once can play together on them simultaneously offering opportunities to build social skills like sharing and taking turns as they play together in unison!
Making edible baby sand and giving your little one the experience of tasting it can be an exciting sensory activity, making an outdoor play date ideal. Since edible sand may get messy during use, consider creating it indoors instead!
Other fun, messy food play ideas for toddlers include cooking spaghetti and allowing it to cool so your little one can experience its sliminess; and participating in a Jello “excavation” dig, another fun yet slimy activity!
Related Content: 12 Sensory Toys to Help Keep your 1-Year-Old Engaged (see Related Article)
These activities for two year-olds offer plenty of sensory fun this summer! While water tables still make great playthings, any activity where they have to scoop, pour and measure will captivate their interests! Plus being messy means it can all take place outdoors! Here are a few ideas:
Mixing flour and water, exploring beaches or visiting playground/backyard sand boxes equipped with toys.
Finger painting can be an enjoyable sensory activity for toddlers. Simply select an edible finger paint (vanilla yogurt mixed with food coloring is great!) and get out a large sheet of paper so your toddler can create masterpieces on it!
Sensory Tubs Are Your Answer For 3-Year Old Summer Activities Sensory tubs offer endless summer sensory activity possibilities for 3-year olds! Ranging from dry beans and rice, as well as big foam alphabet letters, there are some fantastic ideas on the No Time For Flashcards site created by a preschool teacher.
Your 3-year old will enjoy water play just as much, whether or not he/she has access to an actual water table. Simply create one out of plastic bin. Accessories designed specifically to enhance sensory play include sponges, cups and scoops for filling balloons up with water; balloons for filling; soap; as well as their favorite plastic toys from bath time!
Discover movement by trying your luck at swinging! Achieve movement by opting for the swing.