School's out for the summer! The summer holidays are here, and it's the perfect time to engage in some fun activities with your children while also boosting their development. It won't feel like learning at all! I've curated a list of 20 sensory-friendly activities, so that everyone can join in, that touch on various areas of child development. So, let's dive in and make this summer a memorable time for you and your little ones!
20 Sensory Friendly Summer Activities for Children
1. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Explore the outdoors and engage your child's senses by creating a nature scavenger hunt. Encourage them to find different textures, colours, and sounds in nature.
For older children, try using this printable worksheet from Twinkl so that they can cross off what they find!
2. Water Play
On those hot days (how rare they are in the UK!), water play is such an enjoyable for children and adults alike! Set up a water play station in your backyard with buckets, sponges, and water toys. Water play not only provides sensory stimulation but also enhances motor skills.
3. DIY Sensory Bins
A teachers' favourite activity and such a fun activity for children to get stuck in with and really explore a wide range of senses! Create sensory bins filled with items like rice, beans, and small toys. Let your child explore the textures and shapes while stimulating their imagination.
You can theme them around pretty much anything, so if your child has any special interests, you can create a sensory bin themed around that. Another strong favourite are any holidays, so a summer themed
4. Bubble Wrap Art
Unleash your child's creativity and mini Picasso by using bubble wrap to create unique art pieces. Paint bubble wrap in amazing, bright colours and use it to print designs on to coloured card. Popping the bubble wrap also provides a satisfying sensory experience!
5. Homemade Playdough
Make homemade playdough with your child using simple ingredients. Playing with playdough helps enhance fine motor skills and creativity.
Add in a few drops of essential oils when making your playdough for an extra sensory experience.
6. Sensory Bin with Shaving Cream
Fill a bin with shaving cream for a messy yet fun sensory experience. Your child can draw shapes and patterns in the cream, engaging their tactile senses. Shaving cream is always a favourite with children and it's such an easy clean up job as well, so perfect for out in the garden!
7. Fruit Tasting Party
Organise a fruit tasting party where your child can explore different tastes and textures. For some children with ARFID or other food-related or sensory issues relating to food, ensure you do this with 'safe' foods at first and you may be able to then slowly transition them into trying new foods or sensations. This activity also promotes healthy eating habits.
8. Sensory Walk
Take your child on a sensory walk in your neighbourhood or a nearby park. Encourage them to notice different sounds, smells, and textures along the way. You could also incorporate the nature scavenger hunt into this!
9. Shadow Puppet Show
Create shadow puppets with your child using a flashlight and cardboard cut outs. You could even create a mini stage where the children can play out their shadow puppet show. This activity boosts creativity and imagination.
10. Musical Instruments Jam Session
Gather makeshift instruments or household items and have a jam session with your child. You could even teach them how to make a rainmaker and use up some leftover bits from around your house.
Exploring different sounds enhances auditory sensory development.
11. DIY Sensory Bottles
I LOVE making sensory bottles - no two turn out the same and they can be completely personalised to your child likes. Make sensory bottles filled with glitter, beads, and water. These bottles provide visual and tactile stimulation, perfect for calming and focus.
12. Picnic in the Park
Pack a sensory-friendly picnic with a variety of textures and flavours. Outdoor picnics encourage social interaction and exploration.
Always handy if there is a playground or park nearby for children to burn off extra energy or be able to practice gross motor skills and big movements.
13. Gardening Together
Planting and tending to a garden with your child not only teaches responsibility but also allows them to connect with nature through sensory experiences.
Provide them with their own gardening kit and they can support you in planting new plants, weeding, digging or pruning flowers. Discuss the different sights, smells and inspect any wildlife you may come across in the process.
14. Obstacle Course
Time for Total Wipeout! Set up a backyard obstacle course with tunnels, balance beams, and hopscotch. This activity promotes gross motor skills and spatial awareness.
If you have more than one child, or have some friends over, you can turn it into a mini sports day and include other activities like a bean bag throw/balance, hoola hoop and much more!
15. Nature Painting
Collect natural materials like leaves and flowers - potentially the ones you collected in your nature treasure hunt! - to create beautiful nature paintings. You can paint the backs of leaves and do some beautiful print painting or use the various colours to make a collage.
This activity combines art with sensory exploration.
16. Sensory Yoga
Introduce your child to sensory-friendly yoga poses that involve stretching, balance, and breathing exercises. This is a great rainy day activity as you can do it from the comfort of your front room. Simply put on a kid-friendly YouTube channel and allow them to follow along to the instructor.
Yoga promotes relaxation and body awareness, and I find this is a great activity to do first thing in the morning or before bed.
17. DIY Fruit Popsicles
Make healthy fruit popsicles with your child using fresh fruits and juice. Grab a silicone popsicle mould and fill them with fruit juice, dropping in small pieces of cut up fruit for extra flavour and texture. This activity encourages creativity and provides a cool treat on hot summer days.
18. Sensory Storytime
Create a sensory-rich story time by incorporating props, scents, and textures into your storytelling. Some of my favourite stories to make sensory friendly are;
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Little Red Hen
This immersive experience enhances language development and imagination.
19. Stargazing Night
Spend a night under the stars with your child, exploring the night sky. You could invest in a telescope and see what planets you can spot, discussing various space-themed topics as you go. Stargazing promotes curiosity and a sense of wonder about the universe.
20. DIY Sensory Board
Create a sensory board, also known as a busy board, with different textures like sandpaper, faux fur, and bubble wrap. This interactive board enhances tactile sensory development.
You can also buy these ready made but I recommend making one that is unique to your child's sensory needs, and it can even be personalised to be decorated according to their interests.
I hope these 20 sensory-friendly summer activities inspire you to create special memories with your child while supporting their holistic development. Have a fantastic summer filled with fun, learning, and bonding!
Don't let the summer slip away without trying out these amazing activities with your kids! 🌞🌿
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