thumbnail image
user image

Written by

Team SpEd@school

Sensory Play Activities That Support Occupational Therapy Goals

11 Jul 2025

Sensory play is more than just fun—it’s a powerful tool used in occupational therapy to support children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Activities that stimulate the senses help children regulate their emotions, improve fine motor skills, and build attention and body awareness.

Common sensory play ideas include finger painting, kinetic sand, textured puzzles, water play, and bean bin digging. These experiences activate the tactile system and teach children how to process different textures and sensations.

For proprioceptive and vestibular input, activities like climbing, swinging, and jumping on a trampoline can help children become more aware of their body in space. These motions are especially helpful for kids with sensory processing challenges, ADHD, or autism.

Calming sensory activities such as playing with slime, squeezing stress balls, or using weighted lap pads can support children who become overstimulated. Meanwhile, oral motor play with chew toys, bubble blowing, or drinking through straws helps with speech development and regulation.

Integrating sensory play into daily routines doesn’t require expensive tools—just creativity and consistency. Occupational therapists often recommend a “sensory diet,” which is a tailored set of sensory activities scheduled throughout the day. These small interventions, when used consistently, support attention, self-regulation, and skill development.

Sensory play isn’t just a break—it’s therapy disguised as fun, and one of the most effective ways to engage young learners with diverse needs.