Sensory Play 3 Ways

By Monica Zloza, COTA

My name is Monica Zloza, I am a COTA in a special education program within the schools. I am a mother to a nine-year-old and a nine-month-old so I am always looking for different activities that you can adapt to a range of age groups. These activities you can easily incorporate into early intervention or even school-based practice for fun and easy sensory play!

Here are some opportunities for sensory activities that you can do during summer break and ones that you can do with a variety of ages. These activities are all things you can do indoor or outdoor to help your child get out and off their screens!

These sensory play activities use the same materials and can be upgraded and downgraded depending on their age and abilities. Below are three options of how to utilize a sensory rice bin to incorporate different skills like fine motor, scooping and pouring, handwriting skills and sensory processing skills.

Sensory Rice Walk

Materials: dry rice (you can get at Dollar Store) and a large plastic container or sheet

First step is to spread rice on sheet or plastic container. If child can walk, have them step over rice. For a baby or child with limited mobility hold them over the rice so they can weight bear and get sensory input through their feet! 

To upgrade: Use the same rice container and add in scoops and a cupcake holder. Incorporate small toys or manipulatives into the cupcake holes and have child scoop and pour rice into the cupcake tray.

For kids working on handwriting, you can adapt this activity to incorporate the alphabet and have them practice spelling their names. 

For all 3 activities you only need dry rice, a container and various toys/objects you have around the house.