Looking for sensory play ideas you can do at home? The bath is one of the easiest places to start. It's warm, it's contained, and everything rinses away afterwards. Here are our favourite sensory water play ideas for kids aged 3 and up.
What is sensory play?
Sensory play is any play that engages children's senses: touch, sight, sound and smell. Water play is one of the simplest kinds. Kids splash, pour, squeeze and watch how things change in the water.
1. Feel the fizz
Give your child a kids bath bomb to hold under the water. They'll feel it fizz and bubble in their hands and watch the colour swirl out. Our colours won't stain hands, the bath or towels, so it's messy play without the mess. When the fizzing stops, there's a surprise sponge toy to find.
2. Rainbow water play
Shake in some Bath Sprinkles colour bath powder and watch three layers of colour spiral up and blend into one. Add a second colour, or an Egg or Jumbo Sprudel, and see what new colour you make. It's rainbow water play and a fun way to learn about colour mixing.
3. Potion play
Give kids a few cups and let them mix their own colourful bath soak. Pouring, stirring and colour mixing turn the bath into a potion lab.
4. Watch the toys grow
Drop a Bath Bean into warm water and watch it slowly dissolve as the sponge toys unfold and "grow". Little ones love waiting to see the shapes appear, from dinosaurs to unicorns.
5. Squeeze, stamp and sort
After bath time, the sponge toys are great for more play. Squeeze them, sort them by colour or theme, or use them as paint stamps for a craft afternoon.
6. Outdoor water play
On a warm day, take the fun outside. Add Bath Sprinkles to a tub of water for colourful outdoor water play.
Why kids love sensory water play
Water play keeps little hands busy and curious. Kids explore how things feel, watch colours change, and play happily for longer, which can make bath time much easier for children who don't love the bath.
Is it safe?
Our bath bombs, Bath Beans and Bath Sprinkles are suitable for ages 3 and over, due to the size of the sponge toys inside. Every Bath Buddies bath product carries the CE mark and is tested to the toy safety standards EN71, ISO 8124 and ASTM F963-23. Our bath bombs and Bath Sprinkles use food-grade colours and are dermatologically tested. Always supervise children in and around water.
Sensory play FAQs
What is sensory play?
Play that engages the senses, like touch and sight. Water play in the bath is an easy way to do it at home.
What are good sensory play toys for the bath?
Fizzing bath bombs, colour bath powder and sponge toys that grow are all great for sensory water play.
Is sensory bath play messy?
Not with our products. The colours only change the water and rinse away, so it's messy play without the mess.
Shop sensory bath play: kids bath bombs with toys inside, Bath Sprinkles colour bath powder and Bath Beans sponge toys.
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