When I first started working with children nearly two decades ago, I quickly noticed something: some little ones just couldn’t sit still, while others seemed overwhelmed by even the gentlest background noise. At first, I thought it was just a matter of personality. But as I continued learning — both through formal study and from the children themselves — I realised that incorporating sensory activities childcare practices was often the key to helping them feel calm, connected, and capable.
Supporting Inclusive Education Without Singling Anyone Out
In our classroom at Little Angels Early Learning Centre in Baulkham Hills, we’ve always believed every child deserves to feel they belong. And sensory activities play a big part in that. Whether a child has a diagnosis like autism or ADHD, or simply finds the world a bit too loud sometimes, these activities create a shared space where everyone’s needs are met-without fanfare or fuss.
For example, during group time, we might have a quiet tactile tray nearby. One child might reach for a textured ball without saying a word, while another might stay focused just a bit longer thanks to the gentle weight of a cushion on their lap. We don’t label these moments. They’re just part of our rhythm. And that’s the beauty of sensory-informed education-it supports inclusion naturally.
In NSW, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) reminds us to respect and respond to each child’s individual needs. Sensory activities give us a practical way to do that, day in and day out.
Engaging Multiple Senses In Learning For Deeper Understanding
Let’s be honest-who remembers the life cycle of a frog just by hearing it once? But let children squish through slime, hop like frogs, and paint lily pads, and suddenly that information sticks like glue.
Engaging multiple senses-sight, touch, sound, even smell-activates more areas of the brain. And in my experience, that means better focus and longer-lasting learning. I once had a child who couldn’t remember the days of the week. But when we added movement (marching for Monday, tiptoeing for Tuesday, and so on), he had them down pat in a week.
That’s what sensory learning does. It turns abstract concepts into lived experiences.
Example:
Let’s say we’re teaching the concept of “big and small.” We might:
| Sensory Input | Activity Idea | What It Teaches |
| Tactile | Sorting big and small rocks in a sand tray | Size, comparison, fine motor control |
| Movement | Jump like a kangaroo (big), then tiptoe like a mouse (small) | Gross motor, body control |
| Visual | Use colour-coded trays and labels | Visual differentiation |
| Language | Describe the textures and weight of objects | Vocabulary expansion |
When children engage in these kinds of activities, they’re not just ticking off a learning outcome-they’re living the lesson.
Boosting Cognitive Development Through Sensory Play
When I think about cognitive development, I don’t picture a child sitting silently at a desk with a worksheet. I picture a child elbow-deep in a tub of goop, wide-eyed, exploring how it stretches, squelches, and responds to their every move. That’s learning at its most powerful-active, joyful, and rooted in real experience.
Stimulating Brain Function And Strengthening Neural Pathways
Years ago, I had a little boy in our preschool room who hardly spoke. But every day, he gravitated towards our sensory table, particularly the coloured rice bin. At first, he just watched it fall between his fingers. Then he began scooping and pouring, and eventually he started whispering words like “soft” and “green.” Within weeks, we were hearing full sentences. He was building language, yes-but he was also laying down strong neural pathways for memory, focus, and sequencing.
Sensory activities like this aren’t just messy play. They help form the architecture of the brain. Each time a child pours, squishes, or jumps, their brain is making connections-between cause and effect, between sensation and response, between self and the world around them.
And the research backs this up. According to the NSW Department of Education, multisensory approaches support children in building the critical thinking skills they need for later literacy and numeracy success.
Here’s how sensory play supports different areas of brain development:
| Cognitive Skill | How Sensory Play Helps | Example Activity |
| Problem-solving | Encourages experimentation | Mixing baking soda and vinegar for fizzy reactions |
| Memory retention | Reinforces learning through movement | Matching sound bottles to correct images |
| Conceptual thinking | Makes abstract ideas concrete | Sorting objects by temperature or texture |
| Attention & focus | Strengthens sustained engagement | Scooping and transferring tasks with repetitive motion |
Enhancing Focus With Sensory Activities That Keep Minds Sharp
Let me tell you-there’s magic in a wobble stool and a weighted lap pad.
I remember one child in our pre-kindy group who really struggled with sitting for mat time. He’d fidget, roll, and sometimes wander off. We introduced a movement-based routine before group time-just five minutes of animal walks and wall pushes. After that, he was a different child. Not only could he stay for the whole story, but he even raised his hand to contribute.
That’s not luck-it’s the effect of proprioceptive input doing what it does best: helping the brain and body organise and settle.
Whether it’s a sensory break with a tactile tray or a few minutes on a balance board, these short, targeted activities can make a world of difference in keeping a classroom calm and focused.
Quick Checklist: Signs That a Child May Benefit from Sensory Input
- Fidgets or rocks frequently during learning
- Becomes overwhelmed by classroom noise or lighting
- Struggles to stay seated during group time
- Craves movement or constantly touches things
- Zones out or appears disengaged
For these students-and really, for all students-adding the right kind of sensory input can boost mental clarity, reduce distractions, and make learning stick.
Encouraging Exploratory Learning And Creativity
Children are natural explorers. Give them a cardboard box, and suddenly it’s a rocket ship or a dinosaur cave. They don’t need much-just the freedom to follow their curiosity and a few open-ended materials to spark their imagination. That’s where sensory play really shines-it offers endless opportunities for experimentation, creativity, and self-direction.
Fostering Creativity And Imagination With Everyday Materials
I’ll never forget the day a group of preschoolers turned a simple tray of shaving cream into an art studio, a snowstorm, and a pretend bakery-all within 20 minutes. It started with finger marks. Then came pretend cupcakes, “frosted” with cream and topped with invisible cherries. That spontaneous activity ticked off sensory input, imaginative play, and social collaboration-without a single worksheet in sight.
In early childhood, imagination is the groundwork for complex thinking. Children who are free to explore and invent build flexible thinking patterns. This helps later in life when they’re faced with open-ended problems or need to think critically.
Here are some ideas we’ve used in our own program:
| Material | Child-Led Use | Skills Explored |
| Edible cocoa and oats | Mud pies, pretend baking | Sensory processing, role play, language |
| Tin foil | Sculpting animals or tools | Fine motor control, imagination |
| Bubble wrap | “Roads” for cars, popping patterns | Tactile input, pattern recognition |
| Coloured rice | Sensory gardens, letter formation | Letter recognition, visual discrimination |
Sometimes, it’s the most ordinary things that invite the richest play.
And let’s be honest-how many of us adults could benefit from tapping into a bit more creativity in our day?
Encouraging Hands-On Learning That Sparks Discovery
In my experience, when children can touch, move, and manipulate their learning, they’re more likely to understand it-and remember it.
Take a simple science activity: melting ice. We might give children blocks of coloured ice and ask them to explore how it melts. Then we introduce warm water, salt, or tools. What begins as “just play” quickly becomes an experiment. “Why did the red one melt faster?” “What happens if we blow on it?”
They’re not just playing. They’re forming hypotheses, observing changes, and explaining outcomes-all key aspects of scientific thinking.
Here’s how hands-on learning through sensory activities supports discovery:
| Subject | Sensory Activity | Learning Outcome |
| Science | Ice melting, fizzy reactions | Cause and effect, temperature, chemical reactions |
| Maths | Sorting by weight/size with natural objects | Measurement, categorisation |
| Literacy | Tracing letters in sand or salt | Letter formation, phonemic awareness |
| Geography | Sensory map building with textured items | Spatial reasoning, concept of place |
We had a child once who didn’t respond to traditional counting games. But give her a basket of pinecones and ask her to sort by size or weight-and suddenly she was engaged. Numbers began to make sense through her hands.
That’s the power of sensory-driven discovery. It transforms passive observation into active learning-and that’s when the real magic happens.
Improving Fine And Gross Motor Skills Through Play
In my years of working with children, I’ve found one truth to be consistent: movement matters. The simple act of squeezing playdough or walking like a bear might seem like play to an outsider, but to an early childhood educator, it’s development in action. Sensory activities aren’t just about touch or texture-they’re a gateway to building the physical skills children need for everyday life.
Improving Fine Motor Skills With Purposeful Tasks
Fine motor development is a journey. It begins with large, clumsy movements and gradually refines into the delicate control needed for tasks like doing up buttons, feeding oneself, or writing names.
I remember a young boy who avoided pencil work altogether. He’d cry during drawing activities and flat-out refuse to hold crayons. But he loved squishing slime and threading beads. So that’s where we started-no pressure, just play. Over time, we worked those same finger muscles using different textures and tools, from tongs to tweezers. And wouldn’t you know it-by the end of the year, he was writing his name with confidence and pride.
Here are a few of our go-to sensory activities for strengthening fine motor control:
| Activity | Muscles Used | Classroom Tip |
| Squeezing sponges in water trays | Hand and finger strength | Add coloured water and sorting cups for extra fun |
| Threading pasta on a string | Hand-eye coordination | Let children make “necklaces” for dramatic play |
| Salt or sand writing trays | Finger isolation | Great for tracing letters and numbers |
| Transferring small objects with tongs | Precision grip | Use pom-poms, buttons or mini animals |
All of these can be integrated naturally into daily play. There’s no need to sit children down for “therapy.” The learning happens through meaningful engagement.
Building Body Awareness And Balance With Gross Motor Play
While fine motor skills get lots of attention in prep and preschool, gross motor development is just as critical. That includes everything from core strength and balance to spatial awareness and coordination-skills children need not only for sport, but for posture, attention, and even emotional regulation.
Have you ever noticed how some children seem “wobbly” when sitting on the floor, constantly shifting or slumping? Often, it’s a sign that their core muscles need strengthening. At Little Angels, we include heavy work and movement-based sensory breaks throughout the day. Activities like animal walks, bear crawls, or pushing heavy baskets build strength and calm at the same time.
One of our favourite group games is the “Body Train.” Each child becomes a carriage and follows a leader around the room-stopping, starting, swaying, and turning. It looks like fun (and it is), but it’s also supporting the vestibular system and helping with balance and directionality.
Here’s a handy guide to movement-based sensory input:
| Movement Activity | Sensory System | Benefit |
| Jumping or stomping | Proprioceptive | Builds strength and grounding |
| Crawling through tunnels | Vestibular + Core | Improves balance and spatial awareness |
| Pushing/pulling weighted items | Proprioceptive | Encourages calm and focus |
| Balancing on taped lines or wobble boards | Vestibular | Supports body control and coordination |
These activities can be worked into transition times, group warm-ups, or outdoor play. No fancy equipment required-just space, imagination, and a willingness to let children move as they learn.
Supporting Emotional Regulation In Busy School Days
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to understand and manage their emotions. For many little ones, especially those still developing their self-regulation skills, sensory activities offer a safe and effective way to find calm in the chaos.
Over the years, I’ve met children who crumple at the slightest frustration, who lash out when overwhelmed, or who withdraw entirely when the world feels “too much.” And I’ve seen firsthand how simple sensory supports-used consistently and compassionately-can bring those children back into a space where they can learn, play, and connect.
Calming Overstimulated Students Without Singling Them Out
There’s a fine line between offering support and making a child feel different. At Little Angels, we aim to create sensory-friendly routines that are naturally woven into the day. That means no child is pulled aside and labelled as needing “special help.” Instead, everyone has access to calming spaces, movement breaks, and tactile tools-because we all need those things, just in different ways.
I think of one child who used to melt down every day at transition times-packing away, getting ready to go outside, or coming in after lunch. We started offering her a soft weighted lap cushion during these moments and used a visual timer and sand tray nearby. No big deal was made of it. Other children began using the sand tray too. Within a fortnight, her transitions became smooth and confident. That little sensory setup didn’t just help her-it brought calm to the whole group.
Practical strategies for calming overstimulated students:
| Sensory Tool or Strategy | How It Helps | Classroom Tip |
| Weighted cushions or lap pads | Provides deep pressure to regulate the nervous system | Use during group time or transitions |
| Calm-down jars or visual bottles | Visually soothing, encourages quiet focus | Place in a quiet corner, available to all |
| Soft lighting or fairy lights | Reduces visual stimulation | Useful during quiet play or rest times |
| Movement breaks with animal walks | Releases built-up energy safely | Use as a transition before group time |
| Soft “breathing buddies” (e.g. soft toys for belly breathing) | Teaches self-soothing and mindfulness | Pair with a story or rest time |
All of these can be built into the daily flow without fanfare. It’s about creating an environment where calm is normal, not exceptional.
Reducing Classroom Anxiety Through Predictable Sensory Routines
Routine is powerful. And when you embed sensory strategies into predictable parts of the day, you help all children-especially those with anxiety or sensory sensitivities-feel safe and secure.
For example, every morning, we start with a sensory “hello” routine. Children choose between stretching, squeezing playdough, or tracing their name in salt trays. These small moments anchor them. They know what to expect, and they can ease into the day at their own pace.
In our Baulkham Hills setting, we also pay attention to environmental factors-seasonal allergies, noisy renovations nearby, or even hot days that leave children extra tired and touchy. During those times, we adjust. We might dim the lights, swap noisy group play for quiet tubs of kinetic sand, or add an extra movement break in the afternoon. Being responsive to the children-and the climate we live in-makes a world of difference.
Try this timeline for building sensory regulation into your day:
| Time of Day | Sensory Strategy | Why It Works |
| Arrival | Sensory welcome station (playdough, salt tray, fidget tools) | Helps transition from home to school calmly |
| Mid-morning | Movement circuit (animal walks, wall pushes, balance paths) | Releases energy and supports focus before group time |
| Before lunch | Heavy work task (helping carry chairs, setting tables) | Grounds children before a sit-down meal |
| After lunch | Visual calm-down (bubbles, light bottles, gentle music) | Eases re-entry to the classroom after high-energy play |
| End of day | Mindful breathing or storytelling with sensory props | Supports reflection and emotional wind-down |
These routines don’t take much time, but their impact is long-lasting. They create a sense of safety, rhythm, and self-awareness that benefits every child in the room.
I can say with full confidence that sensory activities aren’t a trend or an extra-they’re essential.
From improving focus and building fine motor strength to nurturing empathy and calming anxious minds, sensory play creates a richer, more inclusive classroom experience. It helps children engage with learning on their own terms, through their own senses, and with joy.
Here in Baulkham Hills, we’ve seen time and time again how a thoughtfully designed sensory environment can transform a classroom-from a place of overstimulation and stress to one of exploration, connection, and calm.
Whether you’re just starting out or already embracing a sensory-informed approach, keep listening to the children. They’ll show you what they need-sometimes with words, often with behaviour, and always with honesty.
And when we give them the tools to feel safe, regulated, and curious? That’s when real learning begins.