You do not need a sensory bin subscription or a Pinterest-worthy playroom. You need a few baskets, a willingness to let things get messy for 20 minutes, and the right activity for the child standing in front of you.
After 23 plus years of doing sensory play in clinics, schools, and my own kitchen with my son, here are 30 activities organized by which sensory system they target.
Know your kid first
Seekers want more input. They spin, jump, climb. Calmer with intense input. Avoiders are overwhelmed easily. Calmer with less input. Most kids are mixed.
Tactile (8 activities)
Dry rice or bean bin with hidden toys. Shaving cream on the bathroom mirror. Frozen-toy rescue (freeze plastic animals in ice, give warm water and turkey baster). Play-dough with hidden beads. Texture walk with bubble wrap and fuzzy mat. Bean transfer with tongs. Lotion drawing on a tray. Sand-and-stones tray.
Vestibular (6 activities)
Couch-cushion fort with tunnel. Spinning slowly in office chair. Backyard hill rolling. Pillow-pile crash. Yoga ball bouncing. Slow swing or fast swing depending on the goal.
Proprioceptive (6 activities)
Heavy work in the kitchen (carrying plates, stirring thick dough). Wheelbarrow walks. Bear hugs and tight burrito wrap. Tug-of-war with a sheet. Animal walks (bear, crab, frog). Wall pushes before homework.
Auditory (4 activities)
Real rhythm instruments. Sound matching with kitchen objects. Headphone time for avoiders. Sing the routines.
Visual (3 activities)
Flashlight in a dark room. I-Spy in the car. Bubble watching.
Oral (3 activities)
Crunchy and chewy snacks before a hard task. Smoothie through a coffee stirrer. Big slow bubble blowing.
How to use this list
Pick one. Do it for 10-15 minutes. Watch your child. If calmer after, that activity is on your list. If more dysregulated, not for them today.
Keriann Wilmot, OTR/L. Founder of ToyQueen.com. Author of Wired Differently.