Blog

In UAE homes and nurseries, sensory play is becoming an ever more important part of early years learning. Many parents notice how young children love to squeeze dough or listen to rattles. Through these hands-on experiences, kids gradually strengthen their senses and build important skills. Sensory play is an approach that uses textures, sounds, visuals, smells and movement to help babies and toddlers explore their world.

What Is Sensory Play?

Sensory play refers to activities that actively engage a child's five senses: touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. This hands-on method supports brain development and skill-building in every age group. It boosts curiosity, encourages exploration, and lays the groundwork for early growth.

Benefits of Sensory Play for Toddlers

The benefits of sensory play go far beyond just fun. For toddlers, these activities strengthen sensory awareness, build fine motor control, and enhance communication. By squishing, scooping, or stacking, kids gain confidence and learn to process sensory input more effectively. It also helps build independence and supports emotional growth.

Boost Brain Development Through Sensory Play

Each time a toddler interacts with a new texture or sound, their brain is actively forming new neural pathways, strengthening the circuits that underpin memory, thinking and problem-solving. According to experts, sensory play is a “power-house for cognitive growth” as children explore, test and discover through touch, sound and movement.

In UAE homes and early years settings, making space for rich sensory experiences is more than just play: it lays the foundation for language, creativity and lifelong learning habits.

Improve Fine Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination

Activities like squeezing dough, scooping rice and manipulating clay help young children strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, the very muscles needed for tasks such as buttoning clothes, writing and cutting. These sensory-rich movements engage both touch and hand-eye coordination, enabling toddlers to link what they see with how they move. In doing so, they practise precision, balance and motor planning in a playful way. Research confirms that sensory play supports the development of both fine and gross motor skills through active exploration and repetition.

Support Emotional Regulation and Self-Calming

Many toddlers instinctively reach for tactile comfort, swirling water, pressing clay, and exploring texture when their emotions run high. These sensory moments help children calm themselves and learn emotional regulation. Research shows that sensory play supports emotional control by offering a hands-on outlet for stress and big feelings.

In the UAE, where indoor/outdoor shifts are frequent and life moves at a lively pace, creating a simple “sensory corner” (for example, a beans-and-scoop tub in an air-conditioned room) can act as a go-to calm-down space.

Practical Sensory Activities by Age

Choosing the right sensory activities for your child’s age ensures they stay engaged while learning. Babies benefit from gentle movements and simple textures. Sensory activities for toddlers can include messy or rhythmic play. By preschool age, children enjoy group projects and creative challenges that support school readiness and social skills.

Sensory Play for Babies Under 12 Months

Sensory play for babies involves activities like tracking mobiles, touching soft textures, or exploring water with a sponge. “Research shows that sensory play helps build neural pathways.” Babies explore sound with rattles or taste with safe foods, learning how objects work and react.

Sensory Activities for Toddlers Aged 1–3

Sensory activities for toddlers focus on hands-on exploration. Filling rice bins, painting with pudding, or shaking DIY maracas all spark creativity and skill growth. These activities support language learning, object classification, and fine motor skills, while also encouraging social interaction.

Preschool Sensory Activities for Early Learners

Preschool sensory activities take things a step further. Children can try popcorn experiments, play with scented dough, or mix glowing water. Rasmussen University highlights that “These sensory activities encourage creativity and scientific thinking.” These tasks promote cooperation, cognitive thinking, and prepare children for group learning.

Easy Sensory Activities Parents Can Do at Home

You don’t need expensive toys to offer rich sensory experiences. Many effective sensory activities use basic items, flour, water, rice, or empty containers. Adjust each activity based on your child’s comfort and skill level. This variety keeps things fun and encourages long-term growth through playful learning.

1. Sand and Water Play

Kids love scooping, pouring, and shaping. Sand and water provide wonderful possibilities for storytelling, says Teach Early Years. These setups teach concepts like volume and texture while strengthening fine motor control. Add small toys for storytelling and imaginative play.

2. Playing with Food

Exploring food through texture can help picky eaters. From mashing peas to finger painting with yoghurt, kids use all five senses. Kids learn about foods by exploring with all their senses. Over time, this builds curiosity and openness to trying new foods.

3. Homemade Musical Instruments

Plastic bottles with rice become maracas. Paper plate tambourines or water-level xylophones help children explore sound and rhythm. These fun tools train listening skills and coordination as kids tap, shake, or strum.

4. Painting

Painting improves fine motor control and emotional expression. Kids can finger paint or swirl colours in sealed bags for mess-free fun. Watching the colours mix helps them understand patterns, sequences, and cause-and-effect, while also calming their minds.

5. Sensory Bottles

Fill clear bottles with water, glitter, or oil for a visual treat. Watching glitter slowly settle can help calm breathing. Babies enjoy tracking floating shapes, which improves focus and visual engagement.

6. Indoor Obstacle Course

Cushions, tunnels, and tossing games build strength and motor planning. Following a series of steps also improves sequencing skills and confidence. It’s a great outlet for excess energy and practising problem-solving in motion.

7. Playdough

Whether store-bought or homemade, playdough supports creativity and hand strength. The squeezing, pinching, and pulling develop their fine motor skills. Add cookie cutters or figures to spark imaginative stories.

8. Sensory Bin

Fill a bin with dry rice, beans, or pasta. Kids love scooping, sorting, and digging. Adding themed objects, like plastic animals or cars, encourages storytelling and focused play. These bins are great for calming anxious moments and encouraging independence.

Conclusion: Why Sensory Play Is Worth the Mess?

In UAE homes and nurseries, sensory play is becoming an ever more important part of early-years learning. Many parents notice how young children love to squeeze dough or listen to rattles. Through these hands-on experiences, children gradually strengthen their senses and build important skills. Sensory play uses textures, sounds, visuals, smells and movement to help babies and toddlers explore their world. It encourages curiosity and development in small steps. Offering simple sensory activities at home can spark early learning and steady progress, and if you’d like nursery-based support, Little Diamond Nursery is a trusted early-learning partner in Dubai.

FAQs

Ques: How to introduce sensory play?
Ans: Start small with everyday items, like a rice bin or water tray indoors—let your child explore at their own pace. Narrate what they’re doing and gradually add new textures or movements.

Ques: What are the benefits of sensory play?
Ans: Sensory play supports brain development, motor skills, language growth and emotional regulation for children, and a calm and cognitive boost for adults. 

Ques: What are the 5 sensory skills?
Ans: The five primary senses are: touch, sight, sound, smell and taste. In early years these are the main ways children explore the world.