As a preschool teacher, I’m always looking for ways to spice things up in my classroom, including new and fun sensory table ideas. Thankfully, an amazing coworker created a master list many moons ago, and shared it with me as I was starting out.
Whether you’re a preschool teacher, or a parent of a preschooler, you’ll appreciate the diversity of a good sensory table. Sensory tables provide an opportunity for preschoolers to experience a wide array of fine motor skills, as well as some gross motor skills, all a sensory-rich environment. Don’t have a full-blown sensory table for your home or your classroom? Remember, water/sand tables make great sensory tables, too!
Also, the sensory table ideas listed below can be mixed and matched for whole new levels of experience. Toss in tools to assist in manipulating the items in the table, such as cups and measuring spoons for pouring, tongs/kid-friendly tweezers, and scissors for snipping and cutting. Also, you’ll notice, most of these items can be found for free or cheap. There are some items worth making an intentional purchase, but most of this can be found around your home, or collected over the course of a few weeks or months, or as a collective effort by classroom parents.
Obviously, teachers need to use their best judgement as to what is appropriate/safe in their own classroom, and supervision is key in a classroom setting, as well as at home.
100+ Sensory Table Ideas for Your Preschooler
- water
- jello
- pudding
- ice
- packing peanuts or other styrofoam
- shredded paper
- pumpkin guts
- rice
- coffee grounds
- dirt
- corn meal
- sea shells
- seeds
- dry pasta
- cooked pasta
- fresh, crinkly leaves
- “clean mud” (see recipe below)
- rocks of all sizes and shapes, but clean first with rubbign alcohol
- flour
- pieces of paper to rip
- corn: right off the ears or cooked
- easter grass
- snow
- shaving cream
- whipped cream
- feathers
- yogurt
- nuts
- cotton balls
- straws
- old bows from Christmas presents
- empty egg cartons: cleaned, and cut up to different sizes; use with pom-poms, small rocks, or other small objects, as well as tongs, spoons, etc
- salt
- dry instant mashed potatoes: use plain (dry) or add a little water for a different effect
- oatmeal
- pop corn: popped, or plain kernels
- baby shampoo
- bubbles
- pom poms
- the holes from a hole-puncher
- pine cones
- flax
- sawdust
- buried treasure!
- cereal, just about any kind
- baking soda
- supersand (equal parts cornmeal and coffee grounds)
- marbles
- flower petals
- hay
- sugar
- play dough
- slippery slime
- flubber: pour Elmers glue in with a little cornstarch until it becomes “blubbery”
- buttons
- cedar shavings
- sticks and twigs
- grass clippings
- jelly beans
- milk
- juice
- honey
- ice cream
- whole bananas for squishing!
- marshmallows
- broccoli
- crackers
- cookies
- tomatoes
- salsa
- bread crumbs
- pieces of bread
- small balls
- beads
- puzzle pieces, all different sizes
- confetti
- scarves
- fabric samples, all different sizes and textures
- seaweed
- blocks
- LEGOs
- coins (clean with rubbing alcohol first)
- popsicle sticks
- cottage cheese
- egg shells (clean with rubbing alcohol first)
- blueberries
- hair gel
- cut-up pool noodles
- pipe cleaners
- ribbon
- yarn
- sponges: various sizes, shapes, colors
- Ziploc baggies with various materials (water, paint, hair gel) inside the bin for a cleaner, and different experience
- plastic easter eggs
- candy corn
- acorns
- aquarium rocks
- toilet paper and paper towels rolls
- lids
- clothespins
- bells of different sizes
- photos
- the insides of cassette tapes
- plastic or rubber animals
- water beads
**Let me reiterate the importance of supervising children with these items, and teaching them how to properly play at the sensory table. This is equally important both at home and at school.**
Got any other ideas or suggestions for the sensory table? Share them here in a comment!
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--Barbara
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