Sensory Play as a Tool for Regulation and Learning

Sensory play is often seen as simple fun—scooping, pouring, squishing, or exploring textures. But for babies and toddlers, sensory play is much more than entertainment. It’s a powerful way children learn to understand their bodies, manage emotions, and make sense of the world. Through sensory experiences, young children build the foundations for self-regulation, focus, and meaningful learning.

What Is Sensory Play?

Sensory play involves activities that engage one or more of the senses:

• Touch
• Movement and balance
• Sight
• Sound

• Smell

These experiences help children process sensory information and respond to it in an organized way. Everyday sensory play can be as simple as water play, exploring textured materials, listening to sounds, or moving through space.

Why Sensory Play Supports Regulation

1. Helps Children Feel Calm and Organized

Sensory play helps regulate the nervous system. Certain sensory experiences—like slow pouring, squeezing, or rhythmic movement—can be naturally calming. Others—like jumping or crashing—help release excess energy. Through repeated sensory experiences, children learn what helps their bodies feel settled.

2. Builds Body Awareness

When children touch, move, and explore different sensations, they develop a clearer sense of where their bodies are in space. This body awareness supports:

• Emotional regulation
• Balance and coordination
• Confidence in movement

Children who understand their bodies are better able to manage physical and emotional responses.

How Sensory Play Supports Learning

3. Strengthens Attention and Focus

Sensory activities often hold a child’s attention for longer periods because they are engaging and satisfying. Scooping, pouring, sorting, and exploring textures invite repetition—an important ingredient for building focus.

4. Supports Language and Cognitive Development

As children explore sensory materials, adults can naturally introduce descriptive language:

• Wet and dry
• Heavy and light
• Smooth and rough

Linking words to sensory experiences helps children understand and remember new concepts.

5. Encourages Problem-Solving and Curiosity

Sensory play invites experimentation:

• What happens if I pour faster?
• How does this feel compared to that?

These questions build early scientific thinking and flexible problem-solving skills.

Everyday Sensory Play Ideas

Sensory play doesn’t require special setups. Many effective experiences come from everyday materials:

• Water play with cups and containers
• Dough, clay, or soft materials for squeezing
• Sand, rice, or lentils for scooping and pouring
• Textured fabrics or household items
• Sound exploration with simple objects

These activities can be adapted to a child’s interests and energy level.

Matching Sensory Play to Your Child’s Needs

Children seek different sensory experiences at different times.

• When a child feels overstimulated, slower sensory play may help calm them
• When energy is high, active sensory movement can help release it

Observing your child’s responses helps you offer sensory experiences that support regulation rather than overwhelm.

The Adult’s Role in Sensory Play

Adults don’t need to direct sensory play to make it effective. Their role is to:

• Provide safe, appropriate materials
• Allow exploration without rushing
• Use calm language and presence
• Observe how the child responds

When sensory play is pressure-free, children feel safe to explore and regulate themselves.

Sensory Play as a Foundation

Sensory play supports more than just immediate calm or fun. Over time, it helps build:

• Emotional regulation
• Focus and attention
• Body awareness
• Confidence in learning

These skills form the foundation for more complex learning experiences as children grow. When a child is scooping, pouring, or exploring textures, they’re not “just playing.” They’re learning how their body works, how to manage feelings, and how to stay engaged with the world around them.