Everything you need to know about sensory play + how to get started

If you spend any time with little ones, you already know the scene. Hands in the mud. Splashing every drop out of the bathtub. Squeezing homemade playdough until it oozes between their fingers. That’s sensory play at its finest!

Sensory play is one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting children’s development, and the best part is that you do not need a fancy setup or expensive materials to make it happen. Whether you are a parent squeezing in some after-dinner playdough or a home childcare provider supporting a whole group of little ones, sensory play is something you can offer every day in simple, meaningful ways.

This blog dives into what sensory play is, the benefits of it, and how to easily incorporate it inside your daycare or home with a foamy bubbles activity!

What is sensory play?

Sensory play is any activity that gives children the chance to explore using their senses, not just the five you learned in school, but also the senses that help them move, balance, and understand where their bodies are in space. It is hands-on, open-ended, and rooted in curiosity.

It includes activities that engage:

Touch: playdough, water, sand, slime, fabrics, nature items

Sight: colours, light tables, shadows, sensory bottles

Sound: musical instruments, pouring materials, nature sounds

Smell: scented playdough, herbs, flowers, spices

Taste: safe taste-testing and edible sensory bins for infants

Movement (vestibular): spinning, swinging, rolling, climbing

Body awareness (proprioception): pushing, pulling, squeezing, lifting

And it does not have to be complicated. A bin of rice with a few scoops, a bowl of water and a sponge, or a batch of homemade playdough at the kitchen table all count.

Why is sensory play so important?

It Builds Strong Brain Connections

Every time a child explores a new texture, sound, or movement, their brain is creating and strengthening neural pathways that support future learning in language, math, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

It Supports Emotional Regulation

Sensory play is naturally calming. Water play, kinetic sand, and playdough help children regulate their emotions, release stress, and feel grounded in their bodies.

It Strengthens Fine and Gross Motor Skills

When children squeeze, roll, pinch, and manipulate materials, they are strengthening the exact muscles they will one day need to hold a pencil, use scissors, and work with their hands.

It Builds Confidence, Language, and Creativity

When children pour, scoop, and experiment, they are making decisions and discovering what happens when they try something new. As they explore, they naturally start to describe what they notice, building rich vocabulary through real, felt experiences. And because sensory materials are open-ended, children are free to create and express themselves in whatever way feels right.

Getting started is easy

Some of the richest sensory experiences come from the most ordinary materials: a large bin or oversized Tupperware, water and cups, rice or pasta, leaves and pinecones, homemade playdough, bubbles, or mud. Children do not need elaborate setups, they just need opportunities to explore safely and freely.

Try it today: Foamy Bubble Sensory Bin Activity

This is one of our favourite activities because it is simple to set up, endlessly engaging, and hits so many areas of development at once.

What You Need

• Large sensory bin or shallow plastic tub
• Hand mixer or immersion blender
• Warm water
• Bubble bath or gentle dish soap
• Measuring cup
• Scoops, cups, ladles, funnels, whisks, or small containers
• Towels for spills and cleanup
• Optional: food colouring and small waterproof toys (animals, cars, cups, shells)

How It Works

Make the foam: Invite children to pour warm water and bubble bath into the bin, then use the hand mixer to whip it into thick, fluffy clouds. Narrate as you go and invite predictions: “What do you think will happen if we mix faster?” Tip: Add food colouring for a fun visual twist!

Explore: Once the foam is ready, let children touch, squeeze, scoop, and swirl. Offer tools to extend the play and ask curious questions: “Can you make a foam mountain? Does it feel different when you squeeze it gently versus firmly?”

Add imaginative play: Introduce small waterproof toys and watch where it goes. Foam car washes, animal baths, pretend bakeries: children will take it somewhere wonderful.

Watch it change: Invite children to notice how the foam shifts over time and refresh it with a little more water or soap when needed.

Ways to Extend the Learning

Foam Bakery: Use cups and scoops to “bake” pretend cakes and ice cream.

Math: Compare container sizes, count scoops, or estimate how much foam fills each cup.

Calming activity: Encourage slow, gentle movements through the foam as a settling practice.

Did you find this helpful? Join the Her Yes Club community!

Sensory play thrives in home childcare settings, and Her Yes Club (HYC) is built to make running yours easier. HYC is the home daycare management app designed for home childcare providers who want to spend less time on admin and more time doing the good stuff, like foamy bubble bins with their kids. And if you are a parent looking for the perfect home daycare for your little one, HYC makes it easy to find quality childcare in your area.

Download the app on iOS or Android and let’s make great early childhood experiences happen together.