How can parents make multi-sensory toys at home?

Multi-sensory toys can help children learn about different senses and sometimes more than one at a time, in a fun and engaging way. Some benefits include:

• Brain development – building neural connections and enhancing cognitive growth.
• Physical and motor mastery – fine and gross motor skills by using their hand to pick up things, grip items, and increase muscle strength.
• Emotional regulation and focus – soothing and calming while improving attention span.
• Language and social skills – expanding vocabulary and encouraging collaborative play.

You probably have many of the items in your pantry and in your cupboards to create some of the most fun and engaging multi-sensory toys that will keep your children interested.

Item Search. Put rice, beans, or pasta in a bin big enough for digging through with either their hands or plastic cups. To build curiosity, you can hide little toys so they can discover them as they dig through the bin. Make a game of it and see how many toys they can find.

Making Music. Collect plastic creamer bottles and take the labels off (and wash them). Then you can put beads, bells, rice, beans, or sand in them. The children can then shake them like a musical instrument and discover which items are louder than others.

Calming Toys. Use empty plastic water bottles and put water in them with glitter or sequins, a few drops of food coloring, and a few drops of baby oil. It’s like a snow globe for children to help them calm themselves. They can learn to shake it when they are upset or having big feelings.

If you need more ideas, reach out to our teachers, they always come up with creative ways to engage with the children. As with any toys, ensure the items you choose to include are clean, safe and age-appropriate, and never leave your child unsupervised.