Sensory play is an essential part of a baby’s development, and it can be especially beneficial for one-year-olds.
Through sensory activities for 1-year-olds, toddlers learn to explore their environment by engaging all five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
From playing with different textures and colors to exploring sounds and smells, there are plenty of ways to have fun while introducing your little one to the world around them.
Let’s look at some of our favorite sensory activities specifically designed for 1-year-olds that are both entertaining and educational.
We will also discuss the many benefits of sensory play in helping children develop cognitive skills, creativity, and fine motor skills.
So get ready for some fun as you help your toddler discover new things through exciting sensory experiences!
What Is Sensory Play?
Sensory play is the exploration of one’s environment through sensory activities, such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
Through sensory activities, toddlers develop their cognitive skills as well as fine motor skills and creativity. These activities are also highly entertaining for the 1-year-olds they are designed for.
Sensory play can involve a variety of activities such as playing with different textures and colors in the environment or exploring sounds and smells.
Examples include making mud pies using dirt from the outside or playing with glittery shakers full of colorful beads inside.
Ultimately, it’s all about helping toddlers discover new things through exciting sensory experiences!
What Do Toddlers Learn From Sensory Play?
Toddlers can learn a lot from sensory play. Sensory play refers to any activity that stimulates the senses, including touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. When children engage in sensory play, they can explore and discover the world around them.
Some examples of sensory play activities for toddlers include playing with play dough, finger painting, exploring water or sand, and playing with different textures. These activities can help with the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills.
Developing Skills
Through sensory play, toddlers can also learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, and social skills. They can develop their language skills by describing what they are experiencing and communicating with their peers or caregivers. Additionally, sensory play can help promote creativity and imagination in young children.
Overall, sensory play can be a fun and engaging way for toddlers to learn and grow while exploring their environment.
Sensory Activities for 1-Year-Olds
Sensory play doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can use items you already have at home to create fun and engaging sensory experiences for your toddler.
Just be sure to supervise your child during sensory play activities for safety. Here are a few of our favorite sensory play ideas to get you started:
Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are a great way to engage 1-year-olds in sensory play. A sensory bin is simply a plastic container filled with different materials such as rice, beans, or sand.
These materials can be explored by little hands and fingers, encouraging exploration and discovery.
For 1-year-olds, it’s best to choose materials that are safe for them to touch and explore, such as soft fabrics or large beads or small toys.
Sensory bins can help with the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills.
It’s important to supervise your child during sensory play activities and make sure that any small objects are not a choking hazard.
Water Play
Water play is a fun sensory activity for 1-year-olds. Fill a plastic tub with a few inches of water and let your little one splash and play.
Add in different toys, cups, and containers for them to explore, such as rubber ducks or measuring cups. Water play can help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills.
It’s important to supervise your child during water play activities and make sure that they are safe and comfortable.
Taste-Safe Slime
Taste-safe slime is a great sensory activity for 1-year-olds because it’s safe for them to touch and explore with their mouths.
Parents can make their taste-safe slime using simple ingredients such as cornstarch and water. Adding food coloring can make the slime more visually stimulating, while adding different scents or flavors can provide extra sensory stimulation.
Parents should supervise their children during this activity to prevent them from eating too much of the slime. After playtime, it’s important to clean up any leftover slime to avoid any choking hazards.
Children can enjoy playing with taste-safe slime by squishing, stretching, and molding it with their hands. This can help with the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills.
- Edible Pudding Slime from The Soccer Mom Blog
- Taste Safe Slime from Mama Instincts
- Edible Jello Slime from Team Cartwright
Musical Instruments
Kid-friendly musical instruments can be a fun and stimulating sensory activity for 1-year-olds. Parents can introduce simple instruments such as rattles, shakers, or xylophones to their little ones.
These instruments can help develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, as well as provide auditory stimulation. Parents can play along with their child or encourage them to explore the instruments on their own.
Singing songs and creating rhythms can add to the sensory experience. It’s important to supervise your child during music playtime to ensure they are safe and not putting any small parts in their mouth.
Toddlers will love exploring all of the different sounds each instrument can make.
Finger Paint
Finger painting is a fun activity for 1-year-olds because it allows them to explore different textures and colors with their fingers. Parents can set up a safe and easy area for their child to paint, such as a plastic mat or high chair with a tray.
Non-toxic finger paints in different colors can be used for this activity, and parents can encourage their child to smear the paint around with their fingers. Finger painting can help develop a child’s fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills.
It’s important to supervise your child during this activity and ensure they do not put the paint in their mouth. After playtime, it’s important to clean up any leftover paint to avoid any mess or staining.
Overall, finger painting can be a fun and creative way for 1-year-olds to engage in sensory play and express themselves through art.
Playdough
Playdough is a great activity for 1-year-olds because it can be molded and shaped with little fingers, providing a tactile and creative experience.
Parents can make their homemade playdough using simple ingredients such as flour, salt, and water. Playdough can be enhanced with different scents or colors to provide extra sensory stimulation.
Parents can encourage their children to flatten the playdough with their palms, roll it into balls, or shape it into different objects.
Playing with playdough can help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development. It’s important to supervise your child during this activity and ensure they do not put the playdough in their mouth.
After playtime, it’s important to store the playdough in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
Development Through Play
Sensory play is an important part of a child’s development, especially for 1-year-olds. It provides the opportunity to explore and engage with the world around them using their five senses – sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.
Sensory activities such as playing with slime, musical instruments, finger painting, and playdough can help children develop their cognitive skills, creativity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Parents should ensure they supervise their children at all times and provide age-appropriate activities to ensure safety. With the right materials and environment, sensory play can be an enjoyable way for 1-year-olds to explore the world around them.
