We talked a lot in the past (and will talk even more in the future) about sensory play. Most of our ideas include some kind of sensory bin, bottle or bag. However, there are some store-bought toys that also promote sensory play.
Here are the top 10 sensory toys for 4-year-olds that will help your quickly growing and always learning child will learn to develop their senses. In no particular order, these toys are great to help teach things like letters, logical thinking, cause and effect, and more.
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#1 – Water Beads
Water Beads are awesome. They start out really tiny, but after letting them soak in water for a few hours they expand into way bigger versions of themselves. My daughters love sticking their hands in these just because of the way the beads feel on their hands. The water beads also serve another purpose – once the kids are done with them they can be used in a vase with flowers or purely for decoration purposes.
#2 – Pop Up Play Tent
Kids at this age are starting to develop a sense of independence as much as we want to stop them, it’s natural for them to want their own space. The Pop Up Play Tent is a fantastic solution to this. It can be used indoors or out, and allows your little ones to make up any story they want to go along with their play time.
#3 – Tire Swing
Every kid loves swings, including my daughters. We’ve used this Tire Swing from Little Tikes on so many summer days I lost count. It can help develop balance, and the plastic tire has room for two kiddos. Sharing is caring!
#4 – Plasma Car
As I have said before in previous posts, keeping my girls active is a very important concern of mine. They love their Plasma Car. It’s so much to watch them ride around inside, and outside. All your kid has to do is sit on it and move the handles back and forth to move around. It’s great for burning off extra energy and also developing upper body strength.
#5 – Pop Toobs
Pop Toobs are great if your little ones like to make their own music. This toy provides so many different combinations of sounds depending on how it’s bent, twisted, pulled or pushed. Pop Toobs are sure to keep your kids entertained for hours on end.
#6 – Scented Dough
Play dough is fun for sculpting but I like to take it one step further. We recently tried out Scented Dough and have loved every minute of it. They have fruity smells and my girls love making strawberries that actually smell like strawberries!
#7 – Zoom Sliding Ball Game
This next one has been around for awhile. Only recently did I rediscover it. Playing with the Zoom Slider Ball Game is one our absolute favorite games. It helped me teach my girls to cooperate with each other and work as a team. It can be used indoors or out.
#8 – Idea Box
We can turn everyday household items into sensory toys using the Idea Box. Each coin has an activity that teaches different sensory objectives. From feeling the vibrations of your vocal cords to touching different fabrics around the house. This is a great toy to break out any time of day.
#9 – Ball and Stick Building Kit
My daughters love to create things with their hands. If your kids are the same way, they will seriously love the Ball and Stick Building Kit. There is so much to make with this kit. Open up your child’s creativity and let them build whatever comes to mind.
#10 – Velcro Wall Dart
Every kid loves to throw things at the wall, right? This Velcro Wall Dart game is a great way to turn throwing things at the wall into a game. The “darts” are actually little balls covered with the hook part of Velcro and are thrown at the board that’s covered with the hoop Velcro.
Did your favorite sensory toy make our list?
Let us know in the comments!
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