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July 28, 201610 DIY Sensory Activities for Deaf Kids
Sensory activities and sensory play can be any activity that stimulates the senses. Hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch.
These types of activities are especially important for deaf children to help them to develop on their hearing as well as all the other senses. I especially love playing sensory activities with Harry because they are both educational and fun.
Here are some of my favorite 10 DIY Sensory Activities for Deaf Kids:
DIY Moon Sand
I love moon sand, but it can be pricey to buy in the shops and full of lots of ingredients that could irritate sensitive toddler skin. I much prefer to make my own, as it is so cheap and easy. This one from Pinterest is my go to recipe. Moon sand is a great multi-sensory activity for toddlers and children. There is texture to feel and talk about, you could experiment with colours and it encourages imaginative play as you mould the sand into different shapes. This activity can be a little messy so consider playing it outside!
Sensory Bags 
There are so many different ways you can fill a ziplock bag to make it into a sensory bag. Just fill the bag with body wash, confetti and glitter to make a soapy/sparkly bag. Alternatively, you could use hair gel, food colouring, sand and seashells for a beach themed bag. Not only do these sensory bags have a lovely texture when squeezed, but you can also use them to talk about the different objects inside. Just make sure you reinforce your bags with some clear tape to make sure they don’t leak!
Glitter Bottles
These glitter bottles I found on Pinterest remind me of a glitter lava lamp I had when I was little! I used to stare at it to help me fall asleep! They are great for calming overactive toddlers but are also a great visual stimulant for babies.
Sensory Blocks
This DIY will take a little more effort and a few more materials than the others, but it will be worth it! A sensory block is perfect for babies and toddlers to help discover different textures and colours. It is also a great starting point to start learning about different shapes.
Colored Spaghetti
This has got to be one of my favorite inexpensive sensory activities as there is just something so silly about colored spaghetti! All you need to do is cook up a batch of spaghetti, divide it up into bowls and add different food coloring. Once dry, the fun begins! You can talk about the different colors with your child, as well as the slimy texture but our favorite thing to do is threading the noodles through a colander! It keeps Harry busy for ages!
Edible Sensory Balls
Again these edible sensory balls I found on Pinterest are really simple and inexpensive to make. They are simply jelly made in different moulds. Being completely edible this activity is perfect for babies and toddlers as we all know they like to put things straight into their mouths! Of course this one could get a little messy, so it could be one to play outdoors!
Wash the Dog
Fill one tray with mud and another with water and have your own pretend pet wash. Not only is this a great sensory game but its also a good place to start teaching little ones about keeping clean and hygiene. You could talk about the different animals, how clean they are once washed and you could do exactly the same activity with cars or trains instead.
Sand & Rock Box
Harrywould would go crazy for this sand and rock box, and I love how it is completely reusable. Simply fill a sandpit or tub with sand/rocks, add a few diggers and let their imaginations run wild! This is a really good one for hand eye coordination as they load the rocks into the diggers and wheel them around.
Touch Book
Again, this one will take a little longer to make and will need more materials, but its something that will last and you can enjoy with a baby or toddler. You will need several different materials, fur, cardboard, sandpaper etc so that each page is a different texture to feel and talk about.
Sensory Board
I love the idea of having a sensory board up on a nursery wall as it encourages little ones to explore. You could get really creative and nail on some door knobs and doorbells or it could be really simple with some bells, zips and keys.
Do you have a favorite DIY sensory activities for deaf kids? I’d love to read about them in the comments!
