Sensory activities are important for babies to boost brain development, improve motor skills, and increase cognitive abilities because a baby’s brain is like a sponge, absorbing information so quickly and making connections from the moment they are born. The World Health Organization emphasizes that play is central to good mother-child interaction and essential for early childhood stimulation.
If you engage your baby by doing sensory activities your babies can learn about their surroundings through touch, sound, sight, taste, and smell.
If you are looking for effective sensory activities to support your baby's brain growth, this guide is for you. In this blog, we will share some of the best sensory activities that not only stimulate brain development but also make learning fun and engaging!
Why are sensory activities important?
Sensory play is not just about fun, it has significant benefits for a baby’s overall development. Some of the key benefits of doing sensory activities for babies to boost brain development are as follows:
1. Increase cognitive skills: Doing sensory activities helps babies recognize patterns, improve problem-solving skills, and boost memory.
2. Improves fine and gross motor skills: You can perform activities that involve grasping, squeezing, and crawling to strengthen muscles and coordination.
3. Encourages language development: Sensory play exposes babies to different textures and sounds, helping them associate words with experiences.
4. Boosts emotional and social skills: Babies who engage in sensory play learn to interact, explore, and express emotions effectively.
Best sensory activities
1. Tummy time with textured mats
Tummy time is essential for a baby’s physical development. You can use a textured play mat to add a sensory element to the experience. Mats with different surfaces, such as soft fabric, crinkly material, or raised textures, allow babies to explore various sensations. This activity helps improve muscle strength and core muscles while stimulating their sense of touch. For an engaging option, consider the MusicalyBaby™ Sensory Mat With Piano, which combines textures with interactive musical features to captivate your baby's senses.
This activity is best for the 0-6 month age group babies.
2. Water play
Benefits: Improves hand-eye coordination and enhances tactile sensitivity
To do this activity, fill a shallow tub with lukewarm water and add safe toys such as rubber ducks, plastic cups, or floating objects. Let your baby splash, grab, and explore the movement of water. Introducing different temperatures (warm and cool water) can enhance the sensory experience. This activity helps improve hand-eye coordination and tactile sensitivity. For a safe and enjoyable setup, the SwimBoBo Best Inflatable Baby Bathtub offers a comfortable space for your baby's water play sessions.
This activity is best for the 6-12 month age group babies.
3. Sensory bottles
Sensory bottles are an excellent way to stimulate a baby’s sight and hearing. To do this sensory activity you can fill clear plastic bottles with items like colored water, glitter, rice, or small beads. Secure the lid tightly and let your baby shake, roll, and observe how the objects move inside. This activity helps babies focus, concentrate, and develop their visual tracking abilities.
This activity is best for the 3-12 months age group babies.
4. Mess-free painting
To encourage creativity and strengthen fine motor skills, you can place a sheet of paper inside a ziplock bag and add a few drops of baby-safe paint. Seal the bag and tape it to the floor or a table. Allow your baby to press, squish, and spread the paint through the plastic. This introduces them to colors and textures without creating a mess.
This activity is best for the 6-12 months age group babies.
5. Playing with textured balls
Soft, textured balls are great for babies to hold, squeeze, and roll. Different textures, such as bumpy, squishy, or fuzzy surfaces, stimulate the sense of touch. Rolling the ball back and forth also helps with coordination and interaction. This sensory activity enhances grip strength and sensory awareness. Explore our Textured Sensory Ball Set designed to engage your baby's tactile senses effectively.
This activity is best for the 4-12 months age group babies.
6. Music and sound play
Introduce your baby to various sounds using rattles, musical toys, or your voice. The World Health Organization highlights that providing an appropriate sensory environment through gentle stimulation, including sound, is beneficial for newborn development. Singing lullabies, playing soft music, or using instruments like maracas can help babies recognize rhythms and patterns, aiding in language development. The MusicalyBaby™ Sensory Mat With Piano offers an interactive platform combining music and play to stimulate auditory and motor skills.
This activity is best for the 0-12 months age group babies.
7. Exploring different fabrics
You can provide your baby with a basket filled with various fabric scraps such as silk, cotton, fleece, and wool. Let them touch, grab, and explore the different textures. This activity increases their ability to differentiate materials while strengthening their fine motor skills.
This activity is best for the 3-9 months age group babies.
8. Smelling different scents
Benefits: Stimulates the sense of smell and memory associations
Introduce your baby to mild, natural scents such as lavender, vanilla, or fresh flowers. Dab a little on a cloth and let them sniff. Avoid strong or artificial fragrances. This helps babies stimulate the sense of smell and memory associations with positive experiences.
This activity is best for 6-12-month age group babies.
9. Playing with edible dough
To strengthen hand muscles and increase creativity, you can make a simple edible dough using mashed bananas, oats, or flour and water. Let your baby squeeze, press, and roll it. This activity improves fine motor skills while being safe in case they put it in their mouth.
This activity is best for 6-12 month age group babies.
10. Mirror play
Enhance social skills by placing a baby-safe mirror in front of your baby, allowing them to explore their reflection. They will enjoy making faces, reaching out, and discovering their movements, which aids in self-awareness and cognitive development.
This activity is best for 2-12-month age group babies.
Conclusion
You can perform all the above sensory activities as mentioned to engage your baby and boost brain development. All the sensory activities help your babies to improve cognitive, motor, social, and emotional skills while making learning enjoyable. The key is to observe what your baby enjoys most and incorporate these activities into their daily routine.
Try these simple yet effective sensory activities and watch your baby explore, learn, and grow with curiosity and excitement!
