Sensory Play & Learning Activities by Age (0–5 Years)

Choosing the right activities for your child can feel overwhelming — especially when every stage of development looks so different. This page helps you find sensory play ideas, crafts, and learning activities based on your child’s age, so you can confidently choose ideas that feel fun and developmentally appropriate.

Use this guide to explore:

  • Sensory play ideas by age

  • Themed sensory setups

  • Crafts and learning-through-play activities

  • Links to detailed blog posts, printables, and kits

Many of these ideas are also used inside our homeschool planner and themed sensory play setups, so you can easily reuse activities across play, learning, and celebrations.

0–6 Months: Sensory Foundations

At this stage, play is all about gentle sensory input. Babies are learning through sight, touch, sound, and simple movement.

Skills developing:
Visual tracking, grasping, tummy time, early cause-and-effect.

Sensory Play Ideas

  • High-contrast visuals (black & white)

  • Soft textures (fabric, silicone, felt)

  • Gentle sound exploration

  • Supervised taste-safe sensory play (as baby grows)

Featured Activities

Explore more:

6–12 Months: Exploration & Movement

Babies begin crawling, reaching, and experimenting with cause and effect. Sensory play becomes more active and exploratory.

Skills developing:
Pincer grasp, hand-eye coordination, movement, curiosity.

Sensory Play Ideas

  • Taste-safe sensory bins

  • Water play with cups and spoons

  • Texture exploration (soft vs. rough)

  • Shaking, dumping, and transferring

Featured Activities

Explore more:

12–18 Months: Interaction & Early Pretend Play

Toddlers begin engaging more intentionally with toys and activities. Language development and imitation grow quickly during this stage. This is also the age of big emotions and the perfect stage to begin building a calming corner and recognition of emotions.

Skills developing:
Early pretend play, language exposure, simple sorting, fine motor control.

Sensory Play Ideas

  • Scooping and pouring

  • Simple pretend play setups

  • Themed sensory bins

  • Color exploration

Featured Activities

Explore more:

18–24 Months: Fine Motor & Independence

This is a golden age for sensory play. Toddlers love repeating actions, refining fine motor skills, and exploring with tools.

Skills developing:
Scooping, pouring, transferring, sorting, early problem-solving.

Sensory Play Ideas

  • Sensory bins with scoops and tongs

  • Pouring stations

  • Color and shape sorting

  • Tool-based sensory play

Featured Activities

Explore more:

2–3 Years: Sorting, Themes & Small World Play

At this stage, children begin connecting play with learning. Themed sensory play and small-world setups become especially engaging.

Skills developing:
Sorting, categorizing, early math concepts, imaginative play.

Sensory Play Ideas

  • Small-world sensory bins

  • Theme-based sensory play

  • Matching and sorting activities

  • Language-rich pretend play

Featured Activities

Explore more:

3–4 Years: STEM, Crafts & Storytelling

Preschoolers love experimenting, asking questions, and telling stories. Sensory play at this age often blends science, art, and early academics.

Skills developing:
Storytelling, early STEM thinking, creativity, collaboration.

Featured Activities

Explore more:

4–5 Years: Planning, Challenges & Independence

Older preschoolers enjoy more complex play with goals, challenges, and longer attention spans.

Skills developing:
Planning, sequencing, independence, early logic.

Featured Activities

Explore more:

  • Preschool learning resources

Want Everything Organized for You?

If you love these ideas and want them laid out week-by-week, many of these activities are also featured inside our play-based homeschool planner and themed sensory play resources — making it easy to plan meaningful learning through play.

Explore: