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Sensory Activities for Kids

Learning all about the five senses will be fun with these sensory activities for kids. These kids games and activities focus on using the different senses so they can begin to recognize different tastes, sounds, sights, smells and touches.

Toddlers, preschool and kidergarten children will love playing these games and doing these activities in order to learn all about the five senses. Simply choose the sense you want to see activities for from the links below or scroll through the page to see them all.

Sesnory Activities List - The 5 Senses

Also don't forget to check out the recommended reading list for helping children learn the 5 senses. Also grab some sensory worksheets to further your child's learning of the five senses. Use the links below for the worksheets. Just right mouse click to save the file or click on the link to open the PDF in a new window.

Sensory Activities Worksheets List

Sensory Worksheet #1

This sensory activities worksheet has several small stories in which your child needs to fill in the blanks. Each story addresses the five senses

Sensory Worksheet #2

This PDF has two different worksheet formats. One is very free form where the child describes what they see, hear, etc. for objects around the room. The other sensory activities worksheet format is similar with specific types of questions to answer addressing the 5 senses.

Sensory Worksheet #3

In this worksheet the different body parts we use for our five senses is introduced. The first page has cute sayings that help the kids relate the body part to one of the 5 senses. Each of the five senses and the specific body parts are introduced.

On the second page the five sense words are in one column and a picture of the body part is in the right column. The children must match the right word with the right body part.

On the last page there are a series of questions that the kids must answer naming things they see, hear, smell, etc. They must tell which body part they used for each of these questions.

Sight Sensory Activities for Kids

"My Beady Little Eyes See...."

little girl playing I spy with a magnifying glass

This is an "I spy" activity that will have the kids use their sight to spy what they see. They can use their own handmade binocular toddlers craft or you can use one or two cardboard toilet paper rolls for them hold to their eyes and look through.

Have the children go outside and look through their binoculars. This can be done inside as well and have them find things around the house. Have them say "my beady little eyes see...." and then they say what they see through the binoculars.

You can even turn this toddler activity into a letters game as well, asking them to find things that begin with a certain letter. For instance, you can find the first object and say it out loud, emphasizing the sound of that letter.

Example: "My beady little eyes see a bush". Then ask them if they can find things that start with the sound of the letter B, like birds, buildings, bicycle, etc.

If you are playing this sensory activity indoors, you can set certain objects around the house or classroom. Then have the children try to find the specific items.

"I See Me...."

Set out several reflective items around the room. Use small mirrors, pots and pans, aluminum foil, etc. that the kids can see their reflection. Ask them to go around the room and try to find themselves (their reflection) in the different objects. Ask how each one makes them look. For instance, is it a clear reflection, blury, etc.

"Exploring My World...."

Take the kids outside and have them explore everything around them. Ask them to name as many different things that they see. For instance, they can find different colored rocks, plants, insects, etc. Ask them to look up to the sky to see how many different colors they see or how many different kinds of tress they can see. This activity is great in the fall with all the different fall colors.

Smell Sensory Activities for Kids

"Guess that Smell...."

Have the kids cover their eyes or place a blind fold on them. Then one at a time bring out different objects for them to smell. Don't let them hold the object but instead have them only smell. See if they can guess what the item is. You can use items like an onion, oranges, and even extracts.

"Bake Sale..."

There's nothing like the smell of a baked cake, cookies or bread. Buy several different flavors of slice and bake cookies and cook each one up separately and ask them what they smell like. Of course the best part of this kids activity is getting to taste these goodies after they smell them cooking.

"My Herb Garden...."

Start an indoor herb garden using small containers, potting soil and seeds. As their herbs begin to grow they can smell the different aromas that they create. This type of sensory activities does take awhile but it will also help the children learn about growing a garden and learning patience.

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Sound Sensory Activities for Kids

kids playing musical instruments

"Making the Band....."

Find several items that the kids can bang on or shake that will make noise and let them create their own band. You can add kids songs or lyrics to this activity for even more learning of the senses.

If you need more instruments for your band, try making some crafts like a kazoo, tamborine or even a lollipop drum. You can find instructions to these sensory crafts here.

"Can you Find Me....."

This is a hide and seek version of Marco Polo. Have a child hide somewhere in the room. The child who is hiding will clap, whistle or make some kind of noise to help the other children find them. Once they are found it's the next child's turn.

"Name that Tune...."

Play well known kids songs that have instruments only (no lyrics). You can buy CDs with these songs or find them online and play them on your computer. Ask the kids to listen to the tune and see who can name the song first.

Here is a link to several "midi" files that have just the tune to listen to (no lyrics). The lyrics are availble on the page but is not part of what the kids will here.

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Taste Sensory Activities for Kids

"Creepy, Crawly Snacks......"

fun kids snacks

Make snack time extra fun and tasting with creepy, crawly snacks. For this tasty sensory activity you can make "bugs on a log" with a celery stick, peanut butter and raisins. Make some spider cookies with oreo cookies, black licorice for the legs, and red hots for the eyes. Use a bit of frosting to hold the eyes and legs in place.

You can even make a caterpillar with slices of bananas, peanut butter, small pretzel sticks and raisins. Simply spread peanut butter on the banana slices and squish together to form the body. Place the pretzel sticks to create legs and plop on the raisins for the eyes.

"There's Always Room for Jell-O...."

Make some jello and use cookie cutters to cut into different shapes. Kids love jell-o and will not only love the taste but how they feel. You can even make rainbow jello cups. Use different flavors (and colors) of jello. Place the first jello in the cup filling it up 1/4 of the way. Let this layer harden and then add the next layer and so on.

"It's on the Tip of My Tongue...."

Set out several food items on a plate. Examples would be potato chips, candy (both sweet and sour), fruits like lemons or oranges, spices like salt or pepper, unsweetend cocoa powder, etc. Ask the kids to taste each item by touching their tongue to each item. Ask them which ones have a sweet taste, bitter, salty, etc.

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Touch Sensory Activities for Kids

"Soft, Soft, Hard...."

This is a version of duck, duck, goose. Instead of the child saying duck, duck, goose they would have a cotton ball and a rubber ball. Each child in the circle would close their eyes and hold out their hands. Have the kids face outwards instead of inwards in the circle. The child who is it goes around the circle and places either the cotton ball or the rubber ball into the hands of the kids in the circle. There is no talking with this game but only touching. If the kids in the circle feel the hard rubber ball (this is the goose) they get up and chase the child who is it.

"Mystery Box...."

For this kids activity, use a box with a lid and cut out a hole. You can use several boxes and set them around the room. Now place an item in the box. Have the kids close their eyes and reach their hand in the hole. By feeling only they have to try and guess what the object is. Ask them to describe what they feel.

For more sensory activities and fun, check out these sensory crafts for kids.

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Recommended Sensory Activities Reading List

Buy this book online	The 5 Senses (Let's Learn About) Written by Nuria Roca Illustrate by Rosa M Curto From the back cover "Boys and girls discover their five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste, as they enjoy the outdoors and nature, listen to music, prepare food in the kitchen, and engage in other activities. A two-page section at the back of this delightful book suggests teaching guidelines for parents."
Buy this book online	Look, Listen, Taste, Touch and Smell Written by Hill Nettleton Product Description Do you know how your five sense help you? Find out how your sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch help you understand the world around you in this story about your amazing body.
Buy this book online	My Fives Senses Written and Illustrated by Aliki Product Description How do you learn what the world is like? Through your five senses! Each sound and taste, each smell, sight, and touch helps you to discover something new. So find out more about your senses-what they are and what you can learn through them about the exciting world.The world awaits!
Buy this book online	Super Senses Save the Day! Written by Irene Kilpatrick Illustrated by Susan Hall Product Description The World's Best Muffin has been stolen! It's up to the Super Senses superheroes to follow the crumbs and track it down in this tasty adventure! The super chubby has a padded cover and is perfect for little hands and Backyardigans fans! A best-selling format for the Backyardigans!
Buy this book online	Forest Friends' Five Senses Written by Cristina Garelli Illustrated by Francesca Chessa Five forest friends tell their stories of the five senses. Through the animals' experiences this book teaches children all about the five senses. This book is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.