Summer’s here, and that means more time outside, sunshine, and fun ways to keep little ones entertained! Sensory play is amazing for toddlers and preschoolers—it helps with brain development, fine motor skills, and, honestly, just keeps them busy for a while. So, if you’re looking for easy, hands-on, and totally fun summer sensory play ideas, I got you covered. Let’s dive in!
Summer Sensory Play Frozen Treasure Hunt
What’s better than a treasure hunt? A cold one! Grab a plastic container, fill it with little toys (plastic animals, buttons, pom-poms—whatever fits), add water, and freeze it. Once it’s solid, take it outside and let the kids “rescue” the treasures using spoons, spray bottles with warm water, or even little hammers (supervised, of course). This is a great way to introduce them to basic science concepts like melting and temperature while keeping them cool!
Beach-Themed Summer Sensory Play Bin
Can’t get to the beach? Bring the beach to you! Fill a bin with kinetic sand, regular sand, or even oats for a different texture. Add some seashells, toy sea creatures, and a few small scoops or cups, and let them explore. They can dig, pour, and bury treasures—just like a mini beach day in your backyard. Bonus points if you add some water on the side to create “waves”!
Rainbow Water Beads
Water beads are so fun to play with—squishy, slippery, and colorful! Soak them in water overnight, and by morning, they’ll be ready for little hands to explore. Pour them into a bin, add scoops or small containers, and let kids dig, mix, and feel the different textures. You can even hide little toys inside for them to find. Just make sure they’re supervised since these aren’t edible!
Ice Cream Dough
No, it’s not real ice cream, but it sure looks like it! Mix cornstarch and hair conditioner (yes, really) to make a soft, moldable dough that looks like ice cream. Add food coloring to make different “flavors” and let kids scoop, shape, and play pretend ice cream shop. It smells great, feels amazing, and is super easy to clean up. Plus, it won’t melt in the sun!
Summer Sensory Play Bubble Foam Party
Bubbles are fun, but bubble foam is a whole new level of awesome. Just mix water, dish soap, and a little food coloring in a blender until it turns into fluffy foam. Pour it into a big bin and let the kids scoop, swirl, and squish it around. It’s super fun, colorful, and best of all—easy to rinse off. Set up different colors for a full-on bubble foam rainbow!
Mud Kitchen Madness
If you don’t mind a little mess, a mud kitchen is perfect for summer sensory fun. Set up a corner in the yard with old pots, spoons, and bowls, and let kids “cook” using dirt, water, leaves, and flowers. They can mix up pretend soups, mud pies, and all sorts of creations. It’s messy, sure, but that’s half the fun! Just hose ‘em down afterward, and they’re good as new.
Squishy Shaving Cream Paint
Painting is fun, but painting with shaving cream? Even better! Mix shaving cream with food coloring and let kids paint on a big piece of cardboard, a plastic tray, or even a sidewalk. It’s super sensory-friendly, easy to spread, and washes away with water. Let them mix colors, make patterns, and just go wild with it!
Scented Rice Play
This one is easy and smells so good. Take dry rice, add a few drops of essential oils (like lavender or lemon), and let it dry. Then, pour it into a bin, add cups and spoons, and let kids scoop and pour. You can even dye the rice different colors for an extra sensory boost. It’s calming, fun, and perfect for little hands.
Final Thoughts
Sensory play is one of the best ways to keep toddlers and preschoolers engaged while helping them learn and develop new skills. Whether it’s getting messy with mud, playing with frozen treasures, or making their own pretend ice cream, these summer sensory activities are sure to be a hit. So grab some supplies, head outside, and let the fun begin!