Pretend Play Vet Clinic: A Fun Sensory Play Setup for Kids

Creating a pretend play vet clinic is a fantastic way to spark imaginative play while teaching kids about animal care, empathy, and fine motor skills. Whether your child dreams of being a veterinarian or simply loves animals, this vibrant sensory bin setup will keep them engaged in hands-on learning.

This DIY vet clinic is designed with teal and coral pink pastel decor, making it an inviting space for little animal doctors. With an interactive patient intake form, a cozy waiting area, and fun “X-ray” printables, kids will feel like real veterinarians caring for their furry patients!

Materials Needed for a DIY Vet Clinic Play Setup

To create this immersive play experience, you’ll need:

✔️ Sensory bin containers (IKEA Flisat table works great!)

✔️ Teal and coral pink printable vet clinic signs (awning, flag, banner, X-ray board, waiting room sign)

✔️ Printable patient intake forms

✔️ Stuffed animal dogs and cats OR resin pet figurines

✔️ Wooden dramatic play vet tools (stethoscope, syringe, thermometer, bandages, clipboard, and medicine bottles)

✔️ Themed sensory fillers (see ideas below!)

Learning Objectives by Age Group

0-6 months: Sensory exploration with textures and colors.

6-12 months: Fine motor play with soft animals and textured fillers.

12 months-2 years: Engaging in pretend play by “caring” for pets.

3-4 years: Role-playing a vet visit, practicing simple problem-solving.

4-6 years: Using pretend tools, writing on patient intake forms, and sorting animals by type or “injury.”

Vet Clinic Dramatic Play Decor & Setup

This pretend vet clinic feels realistic with these fun printables and props:

• Teal and coral pink striped awning: Sets the scene for a welcoming animal hospital.

• Hanging flag with a paw print logo: A fun way to mark the clinic entrance!

• Waiting Room Sign: Encourages kids to “check-in” their pets before their appointment.

• Patient Intake Form: Includes spots for pet names, symptoms, and treatment plans.

• X-ray Board: Printables showing different animal bones for an interactive learning experience.

• Vet Clinic Banner: Ties everything together with a professional-looking sign.

This printable decor makes it easy to transform any playroom into a vet clinic in minutes!

Sensory Bin 1: Animal Check-Up Station

Materials:

✔️ Filler: Cotton balls or white rice (to mimic a vet exam table)

✔️ Tools: Wooden stethoscope, syringe, thermometer

✔️ Animals: Resin dog and cat figurines OR stuffed animals

✔️ Printables: Patient intake forms

Activity Instructions:

1. Have kids “check-in” their pet by filling out a patient intake form.

2. Use the wooden stethoscope to “listen” to the pet’s heartbeat.

3. Give shots and take temperatures using the pretend play tools.

4. Discuss how vets care for pets and why check-ups are important.

🔎 Activity Extender: Add toy X-ray sheets and have kids “scan” their pet for broken bones!

Sensory Bin 2: Pet Grooming & Care

Materials:

✔️ Filler: Kinetic sand or oatmeal (to mimic fur)

✔️ Tools: Small brush, comb, sponge, spray bottle

✔️ Animals: Stuffed animal dogs and cats

✔️ Accessories: Mini bows, bandanas, or pet collars

Activity Instructions:

1. Pretend that some pets need a bath and grooming before their vet appointment.

2. Brush and “trim” their fur using safe pretend tools.

3. Dress them up with tiny bandanas or bows!

💡 Activity Extender: Give kids a spray bottle of water + a drop of essential oil for a fun “pet spa” experience.

Sensory Bin 3: Pet Surgery & Recovery Room

Materials:

✔️ Filler: Blue dyed chickpeas (represent medicine pills)

✔️ Tools: Tweezers, mini cups, small bandages

✔️ Animals: Resin pets with pretend “injuries” (a paw wrapped in gauze, etc.)

Activity Instructions:

1. Use tweezers to sort “medicine” (blue chickpeas) into tiny cups.

2. Wrap “injured” pets in soft fabric or bandages.

3. Create a recovery area with small beds and blankets.

🩺 Activity Extender: Let kids “write prescriptions” for their pets on mini notepads!

Why Sensory Play is Important

This vet clinic sensory play setup encourages:

✔️ Fine motor skills (using tweezers, stethoscope, and bandages)

✔️ Cognitive development (problem-solving while diagnosing pets)

✔️ Social-emotional learning (practicing empathy and care for animals)

✔️ Early writing skills (filling out intake forms and prescriptions)

Week-Long Lesson Plan for a Pet-Themed Learning Week

📅 Monday: Read a book about visiting the vet (e.g., Biscuit Visits the Vet).

📅 Tuesday: Pretend play with the Vet Clinic Sensory Bins.

📅 Wednesday: Practice sorting pets by size, color, or breed.

📅 Thursday: Make a DIY collar tag craft for stuffed animals.

📅 Friday: Watch an educational video about real veterinarians.

📅 Saturday: Go on a field trip to a pet store or visit an animal shelter.

📅 Sunday: Review new words and role-play a vet clinic visit with a friend or sibling.

25 Vocabulary Words for a Vet-Themed Sensory Play Setup

1. Vet

2. Patient

3. Stethoscope

4. Syringe

5. Bandage

6. X-ray

7. Check-up

8. Grooming

9. Medicine

10. Thermometer

11. Diagnosis

12. Treatment

13. Surgery

14. Recovery

15. Paw

16. Tail

17. Fur

18. Rescue

19. Hospital

20. Vaccine

21. Waiting room

22. Collar

23. Adoption

24. Nurse

25. Care

This pretend play vet clinic setup provides hours of educational fun, fostering creativity and problem-solving while engaging kids in meaningful play. Whether you’re using resin figurines or stuffed animals, printable vet forms, or wooden doctor tools, this interactive sensory experience is a perfect indoor activity for toddlers and preschoolers.

Ready to set up your own vet clinic play station? Grab my printable vet clinic dramatic play set to make it easy!

📌 Save this post for later and share it with a friend who loves sensory play!

✔️ Sensory play ideas for toddlers

✔️ DIY sensory activities for toddlers

✔️ Toddler sensory bin ideas

✔️ Easy sensory play setups

✔️ Educational sensory play for toddlers

✔️ Themed sensory play ideas for toddlers (e.g., vet clinic)

✔️ Pretend play vet clinic for kids

✔️ Dramatic play vet clinic setup

✔️ Indoor sensory activities for toddlers

✔️ Creative sensory play for toddlers

🐶 Pet Kits are coming Dec 12 🐶

I’m so excited to share that I’ve teamed up with @_busy_littles and @curiouswren to bring you three amazing pet theme dramatic play kits bundle into one!

Kits will include:

🐩 Dog breed flashcards from @goodnightfox

🐕 Dog breed resin pieces from @_busy_littles

🦴 Colorful matching bones from @_busy_littles

🐾 Three color jars of playdoh from @curiouswren

👩🏻‍⚕️Printable Vet Kit by @goodnightfox

🐕‍🦺 Printable Pet Adoption Kit by @goodnightfox

🛁 Printable Dog Wash Kit by @goodnightfox

All of this goodness is dropping on December 12th and shipping in time for the holidays! So for you last minute shoppers here’s your chance to sneak one more amazing gift under the tree for your little animal lovers. There will only be 10 kits available on drop day.

Picnic-Themed Sensory Play Setup for Toddlers

Picnic-Themed Sensory Play Setup for Toddlers

Transform your sensory play space into a fun and educational picnic adventure! This picnic-themed sensory play setup is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, combining creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play. With hands-on activities like kite-making, felt food picnics, and bug sorting, your child will enjoy hours of meaningful learning through play.

List of Materials Needed

• Printable picnic-themed sensory play kit from GoodnightFox

• Felt food (sandwiches, fruits, desserts)

• Printables for kite-making (or construction or craft paper)

• Picnic blanket

• Kid-safe scissors, markers, and string for kite activity

• Sorting tray or small containers for bug activity

• Play bugs: ladybugs, ants, butterflies, snails (printables included)

• Place settings (plates, utensils, napkins)

Overview of Learning Objectives by Age Group

• Age 0-6mo: Sensory exposure with textures and colors on the picnic blanket.

• Age 6mo-12mo: Encouraging grasping and sensory exploration with felt food.

• Age 12mo-2yr: Developing fine motor skills by handling felt food and sorting bugs.

• Age 3yr-4yr: Imaginative play with kite flying and picnic setups.

• Age 4yr-6yr: Practicing counting, sorting, and problem-solving with bug activity.

Decor Setup

This sensory play setup mimics a sunny day picnic! Spread a cheerful picnic blanket on the floor or table and arrange colorful felt food, plates, and utensils. Add paper kites for an imaginative twist, and bring in the printable bug sorting page for a fun, themed educational activity.

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Activity 1: Make a Cut-Out Kite & Pretend to Fly It

Materials List:

• Printable Kite

• Scissors

• String or yarn

• Markers or crayons (optional)

Activity Instructions:

1. Provide your child with colorful paper and help them cut out a kite shape.

2. Decorate the kite with markers, stickers, or crayons.

3. Attach string or yarn to the kite for a handle.

4. Encourage your child to “fly” their kite around the sensory play area, pretending it’s a windy day!

Learning Objectives:

• Strengthening fine motor skills with cutting and drawing.

• Encouraging imaginative play and storytelling.

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Activity 2: Felt Food Pretend Picnic

Materials List:

• Felt food (or play food alternatives)

• Plates, cups, napkins, utensils

• Picnic blanket

Activity Instructions:

1. Show your child how to set the picnic place settings.

2. Let them arrange felt food items on the plates.

3. Encourage pretend play as they serve food to “guests” or stuffed animals.

Learning Objectives:

• Developing spatial awareness while setting the table.

• Boosting social-emotional skills through pretend play.

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Sensory Bin 3: Count and Sort the Picnic Bugs

Materials List:

• Printable bug sorting page from GoodnightFox

• Play bugs (ladybugs, ants, butterflies, snails)

• Sorting tray or containers

Activity Instructions:

1. Lay out the printable sorting page with labeled sections for each type of bug.

2. Have your child count and sort the bugs into categories.

3. Discuss bug characteristics (color, shape, etc.) for added educational value.

Learning Objectives:

• Strengthening counting and sorting skills.

• Introducing early science concepts about insects.

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Benefits of Sensory Play

Sensory play setups like this picnic theme foster creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor development. It also encourages independent play, helping toddlers stay busy and engaged. Through sorting and imaginative activities, children develop cognitive and social-emotional skills crucial for early childhood learning.

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Week-Long Picnic Themed Lesson Plan

Saturday & Sunday:

• Engage with the full picnic-themed sensory play setup.

Monday:
• Make and decorate a paper picnic basket craft.
• Create picnic-themed coloring pages.
• Practice counting with felt food items.

Tuesday:
• Build a bug house using recycled materials.
• Explore nature (real or pretend) to find bugs.
• Pretend to pack a picnic basket for an outdoor adventure.

Wednesday:
• Play a memory game with felt food pieces.
• Use the kite to act out a storytelling game about a picnic day.
• Engage in a scavenger hunt for picnic items around the house.

Thursday:
• Practice simple addition and subtraction with felt food.
• Sing songs about bugs and picnics.
• Sort picnic items by color or size.

Friday:
• Host a “picnic party” with stuffed animals or friends.
• Create a bug habitat diorama.
• Write a simple story about a picnic adventure.

25 Picnic-Themed Vocabulary Words

1. Picnic

2. Blanket

3. Basket

4. Kite

5. Ant

6. Butterfly

7. Ladybug

8. Snail

9. Felt

10. Plate

11. Cup

12. Napkin

13. Sandwich

14. Apple

15. Cookie

16. Pretend

17. Sort

18. Count

19. Fly

20. Summer

21. Grass

22. Trees

23. Table

24. Fun

25. Friends

Bring this picnic-themed sensory play setup to life with your little ones and create lasting memories through imaginative and educational activities!