Skip to content

9 Spring-Themed Sensory Activities for Babies & Toddlers

a little boy doing a spring sensory activity making a suncatcher
Hands On As We Grow

The days are warmer, the birds are chirping, and spring is finally here. And while we love seeing all the blooms, bugs, and muddy puddles popping up all over the place, we’re not quite sure we want to invite all those natural elements into our house (especially that rainy day mud). But not to worry, these spring sensory activities for babies and toddlers focus on all the outdoor elements they love without messing up the place.

Looking for more sensory activities for toddlers? Check out our favorite busy boxes for young kids, fun outdoor learning activities for young kids, and our ultimate list of sensory play for babies and toddlers.

1. Make Spring Sensory Soup

If you’ve got flowers, you’ve got everything you need for a spring sensory activity. Get a bin, and fill it with water, flowers, leaves, and whatever else you think will be engaging, give your baby or toddler a spoon and a cup and watch them get to work. Of course, if you’ve got a mouthy babe, be sure to watch them at all times.

[rt_slide image=”2175181″ caption=”Mama.%20Papa.%20Bubba.” photo_url=”https://mamapapabubba.com/2019/01/22/muddy-monster-truck-derby-sensory-bin/” title=”2.%20Muddy%20Truck%20Sensory%20Bin” body=”%3Cp%3EIf%20you’re%20not%20up%20for%20playing%20in%20actual%20mud%2C%20make%20your%20own!%20This%20spring%20sensory%20bin%20from%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmamapapabubba.com%2F2019%2F01%2F22%2Fmuddy-monster-truck-derby-sensory-bin%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EMama.%20Papa.%20Bubba%3C%2Fa%3E%20is%20safe%20for%20kids%20to%20sneak%20a%20taste%20of%20and%20smells%20delicious.%20Why%3F%20Because%20it’s%20made%20with%20cocoa%20powder!%20Littles%20can%20move%20the%20trucks%20around%20so%20they%20make%20muddy%20tracks%2C%20as%20well%20feeling%20the%20texture%20of%20the%20mud%20with%20their%20fingers.%20You%20can%20even%20add%20small%20scoopers%20and%20measuring%20cups%20for%20new%20ways%20to%20experience%20the%20mud.%20You%20may%20want%20to%20lay%20down%20a%20towel%20or%20plastic%20tablecloth%20underneath%20to%20help%20contain%20the%20mess.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”2206909″ caption=”Meri%20Cherry” photo_url=”http://www.mericherry.com/2014/06/26/sensory-water-bead-bags-babies-toddlers/” title=”3.%20Rainbow%20Water%20Beads” body=”%3Cp%3EPop%20by%20any%20preschool%20classroom%20and%20you%E2%80%99re%20likely%20to%20find%20kids%20and%20parents%20equally%20enamored%20with%20water%20beads.%20Something%20about%20their%20squishy%20texture%20just%20screams%20%E2%80%9CPlay%20with%20me!%E2%80%9D%20However%2C%20because%20they%20aren%E2%80%99t%20edible%2C%20sharing%20them%20with%20young%20children%20means%20getting%20creative.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mericherry.com%2F2014%2F06%2F26%2Fsensory-water-bead-bags-babies-toddlers%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3EMeri%20Cherry%3C%2Fa%3E%20has%20the%20great%20idea%20to%20fill%20resealable%20bags%20with%20these%20beads%2C%20seal%20%E2%80%98em%20up%20with%20duct%20tape%2C%20and%20let%20your%20little%20one%20squish%2C%20mush%2C%20and%20roll%20to%20their%20heart%E2%80%99s%20content%20(under%20your%20supervision%2C%20of%20course).%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”2206913″ caption=”Hands%20On%20As%20We%20Grow” photo_url=”https://handsonaswegrow.com/nature-sensory-bag-suncatcher/” title=”4.%20Nature%20Sensory%20Bag%20Suncatcher” body=”%3Cp%3ENature%20lovers%20will%20be%20entranced%20by%20this%20eye-catching%20sensory%20bag%20from%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fhandsonaswegrow.com%2Fnature-sensory-bag-suncatcher%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3EHands%20On%20As%20We%20Grow%3C%2Fa%3E.%20Head%20out%20to%20your%20backyard%20or%20local%20park%20to%20gather%20pretty%20leaves%20and%20flowers%2C%20and%20then%20craft%20the%20suncatcher%20with%20your%20child%20for%20a%20perfect%20spring%20sensory%20activity.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”2206918″ caption=”Fun%20at%20Home%20with%20Kids” photo_url=”http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/10/safe-edible-non-chokable-mini-water.html” title=”5.%20Colorful%2C%20Edible%20Water%20Beads” body=”%3Cp%3EFrom%20our%20friends%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.funathomewithkids.com%2F2013%2F10%2Fsafe-edible-non-chokable-mini-water.html%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%20data-wplink-edit%3D%22true%22%3EFun%20at%20Home%20with%20Kids%3C%2Fa%3E%20comes%20this%20edible%20(safe%20for%20babies%20and%20toddlers)%20spring%20sensory%20activity%20that%20uses%20basil%20seeds%20instead%20of%20the%20more%20common%20water%20beads.%20These%20seeds%20absorb%20water%2C%20resulting%20in%20a%20squishy%2C%20jelly-like%20consistency%2C%20and%20can%20be%20dyed%20any%20color%20you%20like.%20From%20there%2C%20your%20little%20one%20can%20scoop%2C%20pour%2C%20fill%2C%20empty%2C%20press%2C%20swirl%2C%20and%20more%E2%80%94all%20without%20you%20worrying%20about%20a%20choking%20hazard.%20To%20bring%20spring%20alive%20in%20this%20bin%2C%20be%20sure%20to%20add%20fun%20touches%20like%20plastic%20farm%20animals%2C%20tractor%20toys%2C%20and%20even%20fabric%20flowers%20to%20the%20mix.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”2206919″ caption=”Little%20Bins%20for%20Little%20Hands” photo_url=”https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/texture-eggs-tactile-sensory-play-activity/” title=”6.%20Texture%20Eggs” body=”%3Cp%3EIf%20you%20have%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fideas-for-reusing-plastic-easter-eggs%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3Eplastic%20Easter%20eggs%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20put%20them%20to%20good%20use%20with%20this%20fun%20idea%20from%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Flittlebinsforlittlehands.com%2Ftexture-eggs-tactile-sensory-play-activity%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3ELittle%20Bins%20for%20Little%20Hands%3C%2Fa%3E%20Inside%20each%20egg%2C%20place%20a%20balloon%20filled%20with%20items%20of%20different%20textures%2C%20such%20as%20rice%2C%20baking%20soda%2C%20or%20flour.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3ERelated%3A%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fideas-for-sensory-play-with-baby%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3E18%20Sensory%20Activities%20for%20Toddlers%20%26amp%3B%20Babies%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”2206920″ caption=”In%20the%20Playroom” photo_url=”http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2015/04/05/spring-sensory-bin/” title=”7.%20Chicks%20and%20Flowers%20Sensory%20Bin” body=”%3Cp%3E%3Cspan%20style%3D%22font-weight%3A%20400%3B%22%3EWe%20love%20this%20cheery%20sensory%20bin%20idea%20from%20%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fintheplayroom.co.uk%2F2015%2F04%2F05%2Fspring-sensory-bin%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3E%3Cspan%20style%3D%22font-weight%3A%20400%3B%22%3EIn%20the%20Playroom%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%3Cspan%20style%3D%22font-weight%3A%20400%3B%22%3E%C2%A0incorporates%20straw%20and%20little%20chicks.%20The%20littles%20can%20practice%20their%20counting%2C%20hide%20the%20chicks%20in%20the%20straw%2C%20and%20feel%20the%20different%20textures.%C2%A0%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

[rt_slide image=”1587429″ caption=”Happily%20Ever%20Mom” photo_url=”http://happilyevermom.com/rainbow-sensory-play-toddlers-babies-kids/” title=”8.%20All%20the%20Colors%20of%20the%20Rainbow” body=”%3Cp%3EDoes%20your%20little%20one%20put%20everything%20in%20their%20mouth%3F%20Katie%20of%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fhappilyevermom.com%2Frainbow-sensory-play-toddlers-babies-kids%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EHappily%20Ever%20Mom%3C%2Fa%3E%20shows%20you%20how%20to%20turn%20regular%20bread%20into%20a%20rainbow-colored%20activity%20for%20your%20little%20one%20to%20crunch%2C%20smash%2C%20and%20have%20fun%20manipulating.%20Because%20it’s%20edible%2C%20you%20don’t%20have%20to%20worry%20about%20baby%20taking%20a%20nibble.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]

9. Pom Pom Seed Bin

This easy spring sensory activity is best for toddlers since you’ll need dried black beans to create the “soil.” Throw in a few fake plants and flowers and let your kiddo dig to their heart’s content.

 

Save it. Share it. Come back to it again and again.

Start with one photo. We'll help with the remembering.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
QR code to download the Tinybeans app

Scan and download Tinybeans