The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Activities for Preschoolers

What is Sensory Play?

When you see young children, you will notice that they are always touching, pouring, feeling, mixing, smelling and creating things. They hardly sit quietly in a place until they are focused on some activity that they can do with their hands. Squishing, squelching, squeezing, banging and so on. That is sensory play. It might be messy and loud for the adults. But for the children, it is not only fun but also a very powerful tool for understanding and learning about everything around them. This blog is all about answering all the questions parents and teachers ask about sensory preschool activities or fun learning activities for children.

What is the best age to start sensory play?

There is no particular age to start sensory play. Even a newborn child reacts to the gentle sounds and gentle touch of their parents. This is them reacting to a sensory activity. Every time you cuddle your baby or let them grip your fingers or sing them a lullaby, you are developing their senses. 

6 to 12 Months (Babies)

• What they do: At this age, they start exploring the world around them actively. They need to touch, feel and, often to parents’ worry, taste everything around them.
• What we can do: For children so young, sensory activities include engaging with textured toys and books, letting them splash in water, and letting them feel different fabrics through a sensory book or different toys of different materials. 

12 to 36 Months (Toddlers)

• What they do: Toddlers enjoy their explorations. They are curious about everything and want to examine anything they can reach or get their hands on.
• What can we do: This is the best age to introduce sensory bins and finger painting to them. Plenty of outdoor playtime is also a good thing at this age.

3 to 5 Years (Preschoolers)

• What they do: Preschoolers are ready for more complex play through which they learn something. 
• What can we do: Parents and teachers can use different types of sensory activities to build their vocabulary, practice storytelling, and introduce early math or science concepts to children.

Their sensory play can be more complex, language-rich and academically linked. At this age, you build skills with sensory activities, which are required once you move to Tahun 1.

How often should my child do sensory activities?

Every child should have one session of sensory activity of about 15 to 20 minutes every day. Regular short sessions of sensory activities are better than one long session every day. For young children, regularity helps them remember. These sensory activities are fun learning activities that help them stay calm, manage their emotions and learn better. You don't need a fancy setup for this. Everyday routines also count, like:

• Bath time (splashing in water)
• Helping in the kitchen (like kneading dough)
• Doing chores (like sorting laundry by colour and texture at home or keeping your classroom clean and putting things back in their place in the classroom)
  
  

Quick Activity to Try: Texture Walk Age: 2–6 years old       Time: 5 minutes        Where: Outdoors What to do: During a texture walk, go out for a short exploration of the outdoors without children. Ask them to touch 5 different things (like a tree trunk, grass, or a leaf). Help them name how each feels, such as rough, smooth, bumpy, or soft. This can be done in the garden with parents at the school playground, or on a school outing with teachers.

 

How can I set up a Sensory Table for my preschooler?

What is a sensory Table?

A sensory table is a safe, contained space where children can explore different materials without having to worry about a mess. You do not need to buy expensive things. Just a simple plastic storage box on the floor or a low table filled with different textured materials works quite well.

To Setup

• Keep it at your child's waist height so they can stand and play comfortably.
• Put a plastic mat or an old bedsheet underneath to catch any spills.
• Change the materials inside every 1–2 weeks to keep your child interested.

Materials you can keep

• Uncooked rice or dried pasta
• Kinetic sand or playdough
• Water (add a drop of food colouring for fun)
• Shredded paper
• Ice cubes

Add Small Tools: Add items like scoops, funnels, measuring cups, or small toys. This helps them learn early math concepts like "full," "empty," and volume.

Quick Vocabulary Tip: Leave a few simple word cards near the table, such as heavy, light, rough, or smooth. You can use these words while talking to your child to easily build their vocabulary while they play.

Do sensory activities help children with special needs?

Sensory play is one of the most inclusive and fun preschool activities. It can be adapted to any sensory profile. Children with different sensory needs fall into two broad categories.

Sensory-Seekers: These are the children who crave lots of movement and touch. Their play consists of crashing into furniture, and they struggle to sit still. These children also love intense physical play.

Sensory-Avoiders: These children easily get sensory overloaded. They might hate getting their hands messy, refuse to touch certain textures, or dislike loud noises and crowds.

How to Help Each Group

For Sensory Seekers, give them activities that involve a lot of physical movement. Like using their muscles and applying pressure.

Try pushing a toy cart filled with heavy items like a heavy backpack. Do wheelbarrow walks with a friend (holding their legs while they walk on their hands) or kneading thick playdough.

For Sensory Avoiders, do gentler activities and never force them to participate in any activity. Let them be comfortable in the environment before they join.

Try giving sensory avoiders a spoon or a scoop instead of asking them to use their hands. Let them wear gloves for messy play and use dry ingredients like dry rice rather than wet ones. Always let them know before starting an activity, and let them know before it ends.

NOTE: If your child reacts strongly to sensory experiences, do contact a pediatric occupational therapist for further guidance.

Playdough Activity (Great for Sensory-Seekers) Age: 1 to 6 years       Skills: Touch + Muscle Awareness  Deep pressure in the hands and arms helps sensory-seeking children feel calm and grounded. It also makes their hand muscles stronger for writing. How to play: Have your child flatten it completely using their palm, fist, and forearm. Then, roll it back into a log and do it again! You can make the play-dough itself as a class activity. Simple Recipe: 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 2 tsp cream of tartar 2 tbsp oil 1 cup of boiling water A few drops of food colouring

What Sensory Bins Can I Make with Household Items?

To make a sensory bin, you do not need to spend a lot of money. Some of the most effective sensory bins are entirely built on what is already in our homes. 

The Rice Bin 

This sensory bin is a good classic and easy to create. You can use uncooked Jasmine rice, which is abundantly available, often labelled as beras wangi. You may add measuring cups and small toy animals, and you have a sorting, scooping and counting activity at a go. Good to keep a child engaged for 30 minutes a day,

You can colour the rice by mixing food colours and a teaspoon of vinegar, and let ot dry overnight.  And voila, you have a rainbow sensory activity at no extra cost.

Oobleck Activity

Oobleck is nothing but cornstarch mixed with water in a 2:1 ratio. For adults, this is a non-Newtonian fluid that acts like both a solid and a liquid at the same time.  Depending on whether it is squeezed or released. For children, it is a fascinating material that can flow, but you can hold it as a lump in your hand. And it dances to music (when placed above a speaker). This can become a messy play. Don’t worry, it can be washed off easily. And it costs less than RM 3 to make. 

Cloud Dough

Make this with 8 cups of flour mixed with 1 cup of baby oil.  This helps in holding its shape when squeezed and crumpled when released. The satisfying middle ground between dry sand and wet clay. 

Kitchen Spice Smell Jars

Fill small jars or plastic containers with different kinds of fragrant spices easily available in the kitchen. Like cinnamon, cumin, pandan extract, dried lemongrass, coffee grounds and vanilla. Make sure the jars have a lid to it. Let the children guess and smell each and describe the fragrance. Is it sweet, spicy, sharp, earthy or warm? 

This olfactory activity builds vocabulary and sensory memory. Make two matching sets, and children can match the smells too.

How do sensory activities boost language development? 

Sensory play and language development are directly related. Many studies have shown the same. Research from Indiana University's Early Childhood Centre confirmed that a sensory-rich environment leads to more enhanced neural connections, which helps in developing language skills, cognition and literacy skills.  

When children are given some new texture or material to explore, they want to describe their experience. Their willingness to talk, to share every feeling, and their constant need to ask about it encourage communication. 

Sensory play leads them to use a lot of descriptive language. Their eagerness to use descriptions leads them to use many words like: 

• descriptive word (gritty, silky, slimy, bumpy), 
• spatial words (inside, underneath, beside, through), 
• comparative words (heavier, softer, wetter), and 
• action words (squeeze, pour, flatten, scoop). 

When one works constantly with children, it would be easily visible to them that children who spend more time in sensory play typically have a larger vocabulary than those who do not. Because play often makes new words become real and have physical meaning. 

For children with speech delays, sensory play becomes quite valuable. When the child has to focus on the material, they forget to think about everyone around them. This focus slowly fades away the fear and social pressure. This makes it easier for them to verbalise their thoughts. Speech-language therapists at KidSense Therapy Group state. A child who does not answer direct questions often answers freely when playing in a sensory bin.

Colour Water Mixing Lab Age: 2 to 5 years       Skills: Visual + Language + Science   This activity, with its visual array of colours, helps in visual learning, language development and early science concepts. How to play: Set out three clear jugs of water and add red, yellow and blue colours in it. Give children empty cups and small ladles to pour and mix the colours. Let the children play with it and mix the colours. They can experiment with various mixtures and see what colours are being made. Ask them simple questions that make them think. Like:                “What happens when we mix blue and yellow?”  or                “What does the new colour look like?”  This helps them build vocabulary and basic science concepts. And the bright colours keep the children excited and naturally encourage conversation, observation and curiosity.

Can Sensory Activities calm down an overstimulated child?

Yes, but it is important to understand that the right kind of activity is important. Not all activity will help them calm down. Not all sensory play is calming. Loud noises, bright colours and activities, which are fast-paced, can sometimes make an overstimulated child feel more overwhelmed.

Research into sensory play therapy confirms that tactile experiences are calming and grounding. And touch has a positive impact on emotional regulation, because this helps in reducing stress and anxiety. 

Calming activities wind down an overstimulated child. When a child is crying, restless or completely withdrawn, it is important to bring the child back to an alert state. Some activities that help to calm down include squeezing, scooping, rolling or deep pressure.

 

Creating a Calm Down Kit Age: 2 to 5 years    Skills: Tactile awareness + Emotional regulation + Calming strategy When a child becomes overwhelmed, you can offer them this kit and sit nearby as they work through it. Try avoiding too many questions or instructions. The aim is to help the child regulate their emotions slowly. Not to force them to stop feeling what they do. What to do: Create a small basket or box with calming sensory items that can be used during difficult moments. Sometimes that can include: Small bag of kinetic sand or rice for slow scooping A stress ball or textured massage ball to squeeze Soft, unscented playdough for gentle pressing and rolling A strip of soft fabric like velvet for stroking A pinwheel for slow breathing and blowing exercises

 

Sensory Learning Is Built Into Every Teeny Bean's Day Our EYFS-aligned, PERMATA and KSPK-compliant curriculum integrates sensory play across maths, science, language, and social-emotional learning, so that children develop holistically, every single day. Explore Our Curriculum →

How do sensory activities help with emotional regulation?

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences. It is one of the most critical things a preschooler must learn. And while pouring and squishing might seem unrelated to sensory play, they are among the most effective ways to build it. 

Why does this happen?

This is because the same sensory system processes both physical and emotional senses. Evidence-based research from Skill Point Therapy shows that sensory activities help in emotional regulation and social bonding. It is both vestibular and proprioceptive engagement that helps improve body awareness and the capacity to handle emotional discomfort. 

As children smell, touch, listen and observe, they start connecting words to their real-life experiences. For example, a child who feels rough sand, smooth water, or sticky dough develops a much deeper understanding of words like gritty, slippery, and sticky than a child who just reads about it. 

Sensory activities also encourage children to ask questions about the material they are handling. And describe changes they observe. These conversations help develop their language skills, comprehension and storytelling skills. 

Colour Water Mixing Lab  Age Group: 2–5 years       Skills Developed: Language, observation skills, colour and science  Fill three clear jugs with water coloured red, yellow, and blue. Provide empty cups and pipettes or droppers. Encourage children to mix the colours and predict what might happen. As they explore, model language by asking questions such as: “What happens when we mix blue and yellow?” “What colour do you see now?” “Can you describe how it changed?” “Which colour do you think we should try next?” The exciting visual changes encourage children to observe, think, and talk about their discoveries, making this a powerful activity for both language development and early scientific thinking.

Are Sensory Activities Good for Kids with Autism?

Sensory activities are among the most widely recommended supports for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are quite a lot of studies that show it. Like a review in PMC (National Institutes of Health). It was found that Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy can help children with autism participate in daily functioning and achieve their developmental goals.

Research published in PubMed Central (PMC) also shows that more than 80% of children and adults with autism have difficulty in sensory processing. They experience the world differently. Some of them find certain sounds, lights, textures and smells overwhelming. While some others voluntarily search for sensory experiences such as jumping, spinning, or touching different objects. Sensory activities can help them feel more comfortable, focused, and regulated. 

Sensory activities must be tailored to each child’s needs. What feels calming for one child might overwhelm the other.  

Important Note for Malaysian Parents If you think your child may have sensory processing difficulties related to autism, you must visit a developmental paediatrician or occupational therapist. In Malaysia, parents can get developmental assessments through government hospitals under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) or through private developmental clinics and specialists. An occupational therapist can help you assess your child's sensory needs and create a sensory programme that is personalised for your child’s needs to use at home, at school, and during therapy sessions. Remember that every child is unique. A sensory activity that works well for one child may not be suitable for another. Professional guidance can help ensure that sensory activities are safe, effective, and matched to your child's individual needs.

How Do Sensory Classes Prepare Kids for Kindergarten?

Kindergarten readiness in Malaysia is not just about knowing the alphabet or counting to 20. According to the PERMATA and KSPK framework, early childhood education should prepare the child to be curious, focused, to be able to regulate their emotions,  to be physically more independent and to be able to communicate. And they should be able to do all this before they can be said to be school-ready.

Research from Indiana University’s Early Childhood Centre shows that sensory activities such as squeezing playdough, pouring sand and manipulating objects strengthen the hand muscles needed for writing. 

In Malaysia, the National Preschool Standard Curriculum (KPSK) framework emphasises communication, physical development, and social-emotional skills, all early learning requirement and supported by sensory activities. 

Pre-Writing Sand Tray  Age Group: 3–5 years      Skills Developed: Fine Motor + Pre-Writing  Fill a shallow tray with fine sand or salt and let the child use fingers to draw lines, shapes, or simple letters. They can later gently shake the tray and erase the marks to start again. This activity strengthens hand muscles and control, and helps children practise the movements needed for writing in a fun and pressure-free way. For younger children, begin with straight lines, zigzags, and circles before introducing letters.

Start Simple, Stay Consistent

Sensory activities do not need to be very complicated or expensive. Like a simple bowl of rice or a nature walk can be used to create a sensory bin or collect leaves, respectively, to provide learning opportunities to the children. 

What matters more is the need to be consistent. When children regularly explore their world with touch, movement, sight, sound and smell, important skills such as language, problem solving, creativity, and fine motor development are strengthened. Research shows that sensory-rich experiences help build the neural connections that support learning and development. 

At Teeny Beans Malaysia, sensory learning is woven into our EYFS-aligned curriculum and daily activities. By combining play-based learning with teaching practices that are well researched, we build a strong foundation for children for their future learning success.