150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas 1
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150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas

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    Free, Simple Sensory Activities For EYFS or SEN

    There are many options for embedding effective sensory learning curriculums for children who cannot access worksheets and online teaching resources. Sensory learners need sensory learning ideas. Preferably simple and free ones. This list of 150 (ish) ideas should give you some ideas to try at home, EYFS settings and classrooms. You may also like our post on Scavenger hunts for children at home.

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    free creative sensory learning play ideas

    Frequently Asked Questions about Sensory Learning

    Before we look at the ideas here are 10 FAQs about sensory learning:

    1. What is sensory learning?
      Sensory learning involves using the five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste – to engage students in the learning process. When multiple senses are stimulated during hands-on activities, it can enhance memory, focus and help children understand concepts.
    2. How does it benefit students?
      Sensory learning activities have been shown to boost brain development and skill retention. Multi-sensory input allows students to make real-world connections and learn in their preferred modalities. Research also links sensory activities to improved behavior, focus and academic achievement.
    3. What types of sensory activities are most effective?
      Activities involving movement and tactile experiences tend to be most engaging. Things like outdoor exploration, playdough, sand or water play activate vestibular and proprioceptive senses for better attention. Multi-step sensory bins require problem-solving, numbering and literacy skills.
    4. How can it be used across subjects?
      Sensory maths uses objects like paint, rice or play money to learn addition/subtraction. For science, students can touch/observe real plants/animals. Sand trays bring stories and history to life. Music encourages creativity and language development. Cooking integrates reading/following directions and collecting data.
    5. How do I get started with sensory activities?
      Begin by only selecting 1-2 activities related to your lesson to keep focus. Introduce materials one at a time. Model expected behaviours. Give concrete directions and don’t expect too much at first. Remember to make activities open-ended for various engagement levels. Start simply and expand options over time. Do not worry about having your activities look instagram worthy.
    6. Are there safety considerations?
      Yes, supervise all activities closely at first. Avoid anything with small parts for choking hazards. Be conscious of allergies/sensitivities. Wash hands after messy play. Sanitise materials and organise areas to be clutter-free. Be inclusive of sensory needs and don’t force participation.
    7. How can I fit it into a busy schedule?
      Incorporate movement into transitions whenever possible. Use sensory activities at centres during work time. Replace less engaging tasks with sensory options. Sensory stations outside of lessons can stimulate development too. Just 5-10 minutes regularly makes a difference without disrupting routines. Finger Gym can be a brilliant filler activity and sometimes you need hands-on activities that calm the class.
    8. How do I ensure focus on learning?
      Explain sensory activities connect to subject learning. Have students discuss purpose and identify targets. Guide participation toward goals using specific questions/feedback. Rather than rewards, praise effort/progress in skill-building. Observe for understanding before/after doing a hands-on task.
    9. How can parents support at home?
      Suggest carrying over learning from activities by discussing takeaways from school. Recommend using common household items for sensory experiences related to current topics. Share activity ideas through newsletters and encourage caregivers to participate in school events promoting the approach.
    10. What research supports the approach?
      Studies have found sensory-rich classrooms see increased engagement, self-regulation, literacy/numeracy skills and focus. The neural mechanisms behind multisensory learning are well-documented too (Shams & Seitz, 2008).

    Proprioceptive Sensory Learning Activities

    Balance walk along masking tape on the floor:

    • Straight
    • Zig Zigs

    Tight hugs administered by a trusted adult.

    150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas 2

    Sensory Circuit Activities:

    • Wall pushes
    • Burpees
    • Push ups
    • Hand Squeezes
    • Superhero poses
    • Animal Walk – Based on our sensory trail
    • Bear stretch
    • Owl Swoop

    Follow the light/Follow the sound – The child’s whole head/body follows the movement of a torch

    Vestibular Sensory Learning Activities

    Imitate head positions

    Sway in time with chill out music

    Back and forth rowing

    Spinning (10 seconds in each direction)

    Skipping

    Activate

    Jumping Jacks

    Arm Spins

    Musical statues

    Hopscotch

    Scooter rides

    Cone spinner

    Trampette

    Auditory Sensory Learning Activities

    Guess the sounds:

    (you can link this to a “What’s in the bag” game)

    Make a rain tube

    Bottle blowing

    Guess the song intro – Use favourite cartoon theme tunes. A CBeebies video playlist here.

    Follow a drum beat – use biscuit tin or saucepan with wooden spoon

    See also  STEM Provocation: The Three Little Pigs Play-Based Learning

    Follow a clap pattern

    Discrimination Sound Game make a sound and see if the child can work out if it is:

    • Near or Far
    • Soft or Loud
    • High or Low

    Visual Sensory Learning Activities

    Drop & watch bouncy balls

    Colour mixing

    Washing up liquid and food colouring experiment

    Light in a tupperware container sensory learning idea.
    Light in a tupperware container sensory learning idea.

    Torch/Light Activities:

    • Shadow Puppet Play
    • Make numbers with your fingers
    • Guess animals from silhouette
    • Tray and guess shapes from silhouette
    • Guess book characters from silhouette (Gruffalo etc)
    • Put into tupperware and retrieve/Watch
    • Create a light table.
    Create a home made light table free sensory home learning

    Find items of interest in a picture/Find self in pictures

    Sensory bottles

    Sort boxes shape/size

    Pile and knock down boxes/tower building

    Pull colourful fabric slowly from a bag

    Taste and Mouth Sensory Learning Activities

    Blowing:

    • Bubbles
    • Boats with straws
    • Cotton Balls
    • Maltesers
    • Paint
    • Feathers
    • Ball Maze
    • Whistles
    • Sequins
    • Glitter
    • Confetti

    Food Fun:

    • Crunchy/Chewy Items – Alternate
    • Smooth, rough foods (smooth and crunchy peanut butter)
    • Milkshakes
    • Frozen Fruits
    • Drink through a straw
    • Cut vegetables into strips
    • Smoothies – blend and taste
    • Ask questions like, “Which food here tastes salty? Which ones are sweet?
    • Colour cubes (cut food into cubes and sort by colour i.e cucumbers, apples.)
    • Mashing foods, ripe pears, potatoes, grapes
    Making milkshakes accessible sensory play

    Tactile Sensory Learning Activities

    This can include essential hygiene routines such as hand washing etc. Here are more tactile sensory learning ideas that use your outdoor areas.

    Sensory Ball Games:

    • Squeeze
    • Throw/roll into bucket
    • Different textured balls – Wrap in paper, cling film, tin foil
    • Roll from head to toe and back
    • Bounce
    • Roll in playdough to make patterns
    • Splat into paint and roll/throw onto paper

    Touch and Texture Sensory Learning Ideas

    Put objects in a box and feel/guess

    Sandpaper shape cut outs

    Tearing paper (either to glue onto something, or just to tear up)

    Crumpling newspaper

    Sponges- Get out bowls and a sponge to transfer water from one bowl to the other.

    Play-dough

    Bubble wrap popping

    Tin foil sculpting or squishing

    Salt painting

    Shaving foam art

    Sand art – glue and sand and glitter

    Fizzy water play (bath bombs)

    Water play – using bottles, sprays and tubes.

    Stress balls

    Goop/slime manipulation

    Earth, sand and water trays – Classic “We’re going on a bear hunt” sensory activity

    Hay play – hide items in hay or straw (allergies allowing)

    Slime and goop sensory home learning play free

    Fine Motor Sensory Learning Activities

    AAC games – Especially Shark Bite!

    Use rubber gloves to make dots

    Cotton buds to make dots

    Use stick to trace letters/mark making

    Cutting with scissors paper, straws

    Ten Tweezer games

    Ice Excavations (freeze objects in ice)

    Retrieve items from shaving foam

    Hole punch coloured paper then use to blow/for art

    Trace numbers in sand

    Use a pipette to drop liquid watercolours/food colouring onto toilet paper

    Clothespin Number Match

    Use clothes pegs and sort by colour to a “line” of wool

    Core Strength Activities

    Circuit Training

    • Sit ups
    • squats
    • crunches
    • Bicycle kicks
    • Plank
    • Stand on one leg
    • Hop, skip, jump

    Cosmic yoga

    Body Awareness Sensory Activities

    Sensory Ball throw/roll

    Which hand is hiding the object?

    Obstacle Course

    Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

    Self-Regulation Sensory Ideas For Anxious Children

    Breathing activities for anxiety. Find other self-regulation home learning ideas here.

    • Blow out the candle
    • Blow the windmill
    • Smelling a flower
    • Open a window
    • What can you smell game
    • Blow up a balloon

    Make faces in the mirror

    • Monkey
    • Monster
    • Martian
    • Tense all face muscles
    • Relax all face muscles

    Count backwards

    Count to 5 with a deep breath

    Put beans/dried peas/rice in a balloon

    Fiddle toys

    Follow simple lego instructions

    Make a Calm Down Jar

    Create a Daisy chain or flower Bouquet

    Blow up balloons

    Guess the smell:

    • Spices (mix with water to avoid sneezing)
    • Fruit
    • Vegetables

    Scavenger Hunts

    garden scavenger hunt sensory play learning activities eyfs SEND

    A sensory garden is great for embedding sensory learning ideas. The suggestions below should be findable in any garden.

    Garden:

    • Snails
    • Grass
    • Leaves
    • Long Stick
    • Short Stick
    • Thick Stick
    • Thin Stick
    • Shiny Stone
    • A flower

    Kitchen:

    • Big Spoon
    • Little spoon
    • Fork
    • A frying pan
    • A saucepan
    150 Sensory Learning Activities for EYFS

    References and Further Reading About Sensory Learning

    Shams, L., & Seitz, A. R. (2008). Benefits of multisensory learningTrends in cognitive sciences12(11), 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2008.07.006

    We would love to hear your suggestions for simple free sensory learning ideas and activities that you have used. If you have a site that has a demo or resources linked to these ideas let me know and I will add a link to it.

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