Valleymom | SAHM

21.5K followers

Follow

Follow

Follow

1/4

15 saved

20

10

🍉☀️ Play Dough + Summer = Sensory Magic

Some days are made for slow, creative play—and play dough is always a win in our house 🎨💕

We pulled out the summer scents and colors:

🍋 Lemon yellow

🍓 Strawberry pink

🍉 Watermelon green

☀️ Sunshine orange

The kids rolled, squished, shaped, and made their own little “ice cream shops” and “beach scenes.” The best part? It’s screen-free, calm, and so good for those little hands.

💡 Mom Hack: Add cookie cutters, rolling pins, shells, or even popsicle sticks for easy imagination boosts!

We love keeping it simple and sensory all summer long 🫶

#SummerWithKids #momlife #lemon8challenge #sensorybinactivities

2025/6/26 Edited to

Summer is the perfect time for creative activities that keep kids engaged without screens. Play dough is an excellent medium for sensory exploration, and incorporating seasonal themes can spark joy and creativity. Use colorful scents such as lemon yellow and watermelon green to make the experience even more delightful. There are plenty of activities that can complement your child's play dough sessions. For budding chefs, consider transforming play dough into an imaginary ice cream shop. Kids can create different ice cream flavors using various colors of dough, encouraging them to think creatively about their favorite treats. Additionally, you can set up a beach scene with shells and popsicle sticks, which will make for an exciting world-building experience. Moreover, using cookie cutters and rolling pins can enhance fine motor skills while allowing for imaginative play. This type of hands-on activity also satisfies the sensory needs of children. Remember, the key is to keep playtime relaxed and pressure-free, providing a sanctuary where children can explore their creativity freely. Lastly, don't forget to document these playful moments! Share your sensory creation on social platforms using tags like #SummerWithKids and #SensoryBinActivities to connect with other parents looking for fun summer activities. This not only builds community but also inspires others to engage in similar enriching experiences with their children.

Related posts

Cloud Dough Summer Magic ✨

For today’s sensory summer play, we made soft and squishy cloud dough in four dreamy colors! This stuff is so fun to play with and smells amazing too! Here is what you will need: ✨ ½ cup conditioner (we love using something that smells good!) ✨ A few drops of food coloring, mix well ✨ 1 cup co

879 likes

A colorful infographic titled 'Sensory Play Recipes' features 12 illustrated recipes for kids' activities. Recipes include Cloud Dough, Play Dough, Rainbow Rice, Slime, Jello Sensory Mold, Oobleck, Pasta Play, Moon Sand, Fluffy Slime, Foam Party, and Kool-Aid Play Dough, each with ingredient lists.

Sensory Play Recipes 💙

#sensoryactivity #sensorylearning #sensorytraining #sensoryplayforkids #sensoryplayrecipes

702 likes

Scoopable Ice Cream Play Dough! 🎨🍭

Scoop, Play & Pretend! 🍦🖐️ Who knew you could make soft, moldable play dough with just TWO ingredients?! This DIY Ice Cream Play Dough is so fun for sensory play—and it looks good enough to eat (but don’t 😉)! Customize with colors and sprinkles for extra fun. The full post is getting cut off

64 likes

A graphic detailing DIY Rainbow Bubble Foam Sensory Play, featuring a vibrant visual of pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow foam. The image lists ingredients like baby shampoo, water, food coloring, and optional scent, along with partial instructions on how to make it.

🧼 DIY Rainbow Bubble Foam Sensory Play 🌈🫧

RAINBOW FOAM FUN! 🌈🫧 Here’s a super easy DIY for sensory play—so fluffy and colorful! Make this with your kids and let them explore with their hands (or use it for bath time bubbles too!) Would your kids love this?👇 I’ll put the whole recipe in the comments 💕 #lemon8moms #diykidsfun #s

112 likes

🧠 Why Sensory Play Is So Important for Infants & Toddlers 👶✨

Sensory play isn’t “just playing.” It’s actually one of the biggest ways babies and toddlers learn about the world around them. When little ones touch different textures, pour water, scoop sand, squish food, hear sounds, or explore movement, their brains are building connections constantly. Sens

5 likes

Overhead view of an edible dirt sensory bin with yellow toy construction trucks and gray rocks, set in a wooden frame. Text overlay reads 'EDIBLE DIRT Sensory Play'.

Ingredients for edible dirt: a bag of flour, a container of cocoa powder, and a large bottle of vegetable oil, displayed on a white surface.

A white rectangular bin filled with light-colored flour, ready for mixing the edible dirt sensory play material.

Edible Dirt Sensory Play Activity

My son, Jack, has been into all things construction. I thought it would be fun to make him a dirt sensory bin to play with his trucks in. Jack is 19 months old and still occasionally puts things in his mouth so I wanted to make it edible incase he decided to spontaneously take a fist full to the fa

668 likes

No Mess, No Stress Sensory Play Ideas

Budget-Friendly Sensory Play Ideas for Busy Parents Sensory play is amazing for kids’ development 🤯 helping with focus, calming, and exploring the world. But it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming! 🙌🏾🥹 Here are easy, affordable ideas you can try at home with stuff you probably

35 likes

A hand holds a pink ball of moon dough outdoors, with text overlay "2 iNGREDIENT MOON DOUGH Summer Craft For Kids." The dough appears soft and pliable, set against a background of grass and concrete.

A child's hand presses into pink moon dough on a light green plate. Text overlay indicates the recipe: "Half Cup Lotion & Half Cup Cornstarch *Dye optional," highlighting the simple ingredients.

A child's hand lifts from pink moon dough on a light green plate, revealing a clear handprint. The image captures the sensory play aspect of the dough, showing its soft and impressionable texture.

2 Ingredient MOON DOUGH 🌙

Looking for an easy, low-mess summer activity? This moon dough is made with just lotion and cornstarch. That’s it! (Half a cup of each to be exact) You may need to add more lotion or more cornstarch. Just mix it well until it's soft, squishy, and oh-so-satisfying! It’s perfect for sens

2413 likes

Homemade play dough sensory jars 🩷🩵

This was so easy to make and you’ll likely have all the ingredients. 🙌🏻 You’ll need: • 2 cups of flour • 1/2 cup of salt • 3/4 cup of water • Food coloring (optional) • 1 tablespoon of cooking oil Instructions: 1. Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. 2. If using food co

22 likes

A child's hands interact with a fall-themed sensory bin containing artificial leaves, next to another bin with wooden apples arranged on a tree-shaped board for an 'Apple Picking' activity.

A hand holds several small wooden apples, with a sensory bin in the background filled with orange and yellow artificial fall leaves and more wooden apples, labeled as 'Fall leaves for filler' and 'Wood apples for picking'.

An overhead view shows a child playing with two sensory bins: one filled with artificial fall leaves and the other featuring a wooden apple tree board with small wooden apples and tongs, illustrating an apple picking activity.

Sensory Play can do ALL this for your child👋🏼🧡

It’s fall & we’ve started our fall theme sensory bins in our house🍁 The beauty about sensory bins is that you can add ANYTHING (as long as it’s age appropriate). You can find everything you need to make a sensory bin for your kid right in your kitchen. For example: uncooked rice, beans o

80 likes

AFFORDABLE Sensory Play Supplies for Kids 👋🏼🖌️✂️

If you’re looking for sensory play supplies for your kids but haven’t checked out Hobby lobby‘s cake decorating section YOU REALLY NEED TO! First off, almost all of Hobby lobby‘s cake decoration supplies are ALWAYS 50% OFF making them more affordable than other retailers. Secondly, they have

972 likes

Two 'Sense & Grow' 5-piece sensory sand tray kits with space themes, featuring an alien and an astronaut, are held in a hand. The kits include kinetic sand and figures, promoting independent creative play for toddlers.

A hand holds two 'Water Timer' liquid hourglasses, one green and one blue, designed for sensory play. These timers are suggested for creating a calming corner and screen-free activities.

Two 'Sensory Disks' 2-pack sets are displayed, featuring different textures like soft loops and sequins. These disks are described as great for babies to explore various textures and for sensory fidget fun.

Sensory Play Accessories on a BUDGET👏🏼

Whoever is in charge of the logistics side of what gets put out in Target’s Bullseye section… YOU NEED A RAISE! Cause lately I can’t walk past that section without Target taking my money! (Don’t tell my husband lmao). SO MANY good finds for learning activities & sensory play for babies &a

184 likes

10 Summer Play Themes to Keep Toddlers Busy 🫶

If you’re looking for ways to keep toddlers entertained and make the most of these long sunny days, try turning playtime into simple themed adventures! Here are 10 fun summer play themes to mix things up and make everyday moments feel special: 1️⃣ Beach Day — Build a “beach” in a sensory bin,

51 likes

A colorful graphic titled "2-INGREDIENT SENSORY RECIPES" lists various easy summer sensory activities like cloud dough, soap foam, oobleck, and fake snow, along with their simple ingredients. Summer-themed icons like a sun, flip-flops, and sunglasses decorate the page.

A hand holds a pink ball of cloud dough against a green grass background. The text "CLOUD DOUGH" is visible at the top, indicating the recipe shown.

A child's hand presses into a flattened pink cloud dough on a light green plate, leaving a clear handprint. The child's legs are visible in the background.

2 Ingredient Sensory Recipes For Summer Fun 🔆

Looking for easy, low-prep sensory play? These super simple 2-ingredient recipes are perfect for summer! Think beachy vibes, sunshine, and mess-free fun you can whip up in minutes! From cloud dough to foam slime, every activity is made with ingredients you probably already have at home. Perf

827 likes

SENSORY PLAY: learning, growth & fun👋🏼

Sensory play is one of the BEST ways for toddlers to learn & grow!🫶🏼 Exploring different textures, sounds & colors, helps toddlers develop essential skills that help them make sense of the world around them.🌎 When toddlers feel different textures or manipulate objects, they’re strengt

146 likes

A person in a heart-patterned sweater holds a baking sheet filled with rows of pink, purple, orange, and red colored chickpeas, ready for sensory play.

Ingredients for coloring chickpeas are displayed on a kitchen counter, including ziplock bags with dry chickpeas, hand sanitizer, and various non-toxic paints.

Hands are shown shaking four ziplock bags, each containing chickpeas mixed with different colored paints, illustrating the process of coating them.

DIY colored chickpeas for SENSORY PLAY 👋🏼🎨

If you’re looking for a different type of sensory bin filler for your toddlers that will be fun & colorful, chickpeas is a great option. It’s a good budget friendly option, you can find dry chickpea bags for as low as $1.25 & it’s something you can reuse over & over for sensory play

36 likes

Sensory play ideas

One thing I’ve learned as a mom: toddlers don’t need constant entertainment, they need opportunities to explore. A bucket of water becomes an ocean. A few ice cubes become a science experiment. A pile of sand becomes buried treasure. These simple sensory activities are helping us slow down th

15 likes

🎃Sensory Play Magic: Fun Fall-Themed Sensory Bins

🍂 Ready for some fall sensory fun? 🍂✨ These sensory bin ideas are perfect for curious little hands! From pumpkin guts to corn kernels, your toddler will love exploring these autumn-inspired bins. Let’s dive into some hands-on learning fun! 🎃 What’s your favorite sensory play activity? Drop it in

131 likes

2 Ingredient Summer Sensory Play

Summer is a great time to start doing lots of sensory play because you can keep the mess outside! Most of these are just combine and stir, but here is a few extra directions for a few of the sensory play ideas. ✨ Psyllium Husk Slime Stir the psyllium husk powder into the water and place ove

243 likes

SENSORY PLAY SUNDAYS🍝

This was one of the easiest sensory bins I’ve set up for my toddlers & one the played with the longest!🍝 I kept it out all week cause they kept come back to it over and over again. All you need is yarn for “noodles”, brown pompoms for “meatballs” & small bowls for serving. Add some mi

1071 likes

Sensory play ideas

Summer with toddlers doesn’t have to mean expensive outings every single day. Honestly, some of our best summer memories happen in the backyard with a bin of water, melting ice cubes, bubbles everywhere, and popsicles dripping down tiny hands. I made this week of sensory activities for the

10 likes

3 Dinosaur Sensory Activities

🦕 DINO-mite fun for little explorers! 🦖 Set up these easy dinosaur activity bins to keep your kids entertained and learning through play! From fossil digs to dino rescue missions, we’ve rounded up our favorite ideas (printables included!) in this blog post 👉 link in bio. 🥚 jello eggs 🥚 fizzi

28 likes

MESS-FREE Sensory play idea 👏🏼

This is for all the moms that like to set up sensory bins for their little ones BUT don’t like the mess. Sensory play👋🏼 is very important for babies & toddler’s growth & development, but it can get messy specially with fillers like rice, beans, corn, etc. You might be ready to give up

378 likes

A hand holds a jar of RiceSelect Pearl Couscous, with text overlays reading 'Fun Summer Sensory Activity For Kids' on a tiled floor background.

A close-up shows pearl couscous boiling in a pot, surrounded by foamy water, with a text overlay stating 'boil 8-10 min 2 cups of couscous'.

Three black bowls and a measuring cup are filled with cooked pearl couscous on a counter, with text indicating they should be soft to sight and touch.

🌞Fun Summer Sensory play 🤸🏽‍♀️

Get those kids off the tablets and do something sensory based, exploratory & mind stimulating! I used pearl couscous boiled 8-10 min until soft (it's basically a 🍝 noodle but not your typical one it's Egyptian based) I got it from @Meijer it was affordable too. also got the foo

44 likes

Activities & Play with your Eighteen Month Old 🫶

If you’re not sure what to do with your eighteen month old, here’s some activities to try! These activities help your baby’s brain develop, help develop their motor skills, language development and social skills! Focus on activities that involve sensory play, fine motor skills, language and so

173 likes

A toddler sits on a colorful outdoor mat, painting a large paper with ice paints. The paper features the word "Summer" and various summer-themed drawings. Text overlays read "PAINTING WITH ICE" and "Summer Activity."

A close-up shows colorful ice paint blocks, made with toy handles, resting on a white tray. Melted paint in red and blue hues is visible on the tray, indicating active use.

An overhead view captures a toddler sitting on a vibrant outdoor mat, engaged in painting a long sheet of paper with colorful ice paints. The scene is set in a sunny backyard.

Easy & Budget Friendly Craft and Sensory Play!✨🌸

I mixed 1 part paint with 2 parts water, froze it with big blocks as handles, and let my son paint a little summer scene outside. Easy, fun, and perfect for a hot day! If you have a baby or toddler that is still mouthing things, use food coloring instead! #toddlerlearningactivities #senso

42 likes

SENSORY PLAY materials for the low🧪

Do you do sensory bins for your kids? If you do or if you’re looking to start doing them, right now is the perfect time to pick up some supplies from target. Target’s Bullseye playground section has some really neat sensory been finds for only $3 or less! 🙌🏼 If they don’t stop putting ou

131 likes

A toddler pours yellow liquid from a white pitcher into a clear bin with lemon slices on a colorful blanket outdoors, illustrating summer lemonade sensory play for littles.

A clear bin displays items for lemonade sensory play: a clear pitcher labeled 'Dollar Tree Pitcher', cups with ice, a ladle, yellow food coloring, fun straws, and lemon slices.

A toddler practices pouring yellow liquid from a white cup into a glass within a clear bin filled with lemon slices, enhancing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination outdoors.

Lemonade Sensory Play

This simple setup is great for sensory play and working on other skills! For toddlers, it works on: ✨ Fine motor skills – Scooping, pouring, and using the ladle strengthen hand and wrist muscles. ✨ Hand-eye coordination – Aiming the ladle or pouring into a small opening takes practice! ✨ Cau

58 likes

How to dye chickpeas for SENSORY PLAY 🩷💜❤️

Let's dye chickpeas for a Valentine's Day themed sensory bin for my toddlers. WHAT YOU NEED: •2-4 bags dry chickpeas •Non-toxic paint •Hand sanitizer •ziplock bags •pan & wax paper for drying #valentinesday #lemon8contest #letschat #sensoryplay #toddlermom

361 likes

Toddler sensory activities

I used to think sensory play was just “Pinterest mom” stuff until I realized how much it actually helps with meltdowns, attention span, language, creativity, and independent play. And honestly? These activities kept my toddler busy longer than half the toys in our house. The best part is most of

9 likes

Summer sensory activities

Summer feels different when you have toddlers. ☀️ It’s not about checking off a bucket list or planning elaborate adventures every day. It’s the watermelon juice running down their arms, the muddy shoes by the back door, the flower “soups” they proudly serve you, and the bubbles that somehow end

11 likes

A baby's hands interact with colorful rubber toys in a clear container of water, illustrating sensory play for infants.

A baby's hands play with rubber duckies and other colorful toys in a clear water-filled container, ideal for tummy time sensory exploration.

Baby's feet are near four clear sensory bottles containing water with glitter, beans, and pasta, demonstrating DIY sensory shakers for developmental play.

Sensory play acitivites for babies ✨

Sensory play is incredibly important for infant development because it helps babies learn about the world through their senses — touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. Here’s why it matters: ⸻ 🌟 Why Sensory Play Is Important for Infant Development 1. Builds Brain Connections 🧠 When babies

69 likes

Simple Sensory Activities Kids - Save for Summer

This setup was intentionally simple: • A large ice block • Animal figurines • A wooden scoop • A rubber dropper • Warm water • Sunshine That’s it. But inside this simple activity? So much learning. As the ice slowly melted, little hands squeezed the dropper, poured water, and patient

5 likes

A bin filled with numerous colorful sensory balls, each individually packaged in a mesh bag, displayed in Target's dollar section. The image is titled 'SENSORY PLAY in Target's DOLLAR SECTION'.

A hand holds a box of 'SENSE & GROW Sensory Flash Cards' for ages 3+, featuring a red textured triangle and text 'Learn Shapes & Feel Textures'.

A hand holds a 'Sensory Disks' 2-pack for ages 3+, containing one teal sequin disk and one purple textured disk, labeled 'SENSORY FIDGET FUN!'.

SENSORY PLAY IN TARGET’S DOLLAR SECTION

When I tell you I was exciteddd when I walked into Target and saw SO many interactive/educational toys for such a good price!! This is awesome for if you want to make a little sensory basket for your kids. Also nice because you can use these for a pretty big age range! My daughter is 14 months o

48 likes

Summer Sensory Play Ideas

I created this fun and engaging summer activity using everyone’s favorite… ice cream! I found the cherries as a set of fake fruit from Amazon and the rest of the materials from Hobby Lobby! #sensoryplayideas #sensoryactivities #sensoryplaytime #activitiesforpreschoolers #summeractivities

12 likes

Fun Bubble Snow Dough

#sensory #craft #science #school #education

108 likes

Sensory Play Sunday | Frog Life Cycle🐸

Forgot to post this one yesterday😅 But here’s episode 2 of my SENSORY PLAY SUNDAY series. The sensory band was all about frogs, we talked about their lifecycle, different types of frog, what frogs can do & what environments they live in. Don’t forget to follow for more sensory play id

89 likes

Sensory play for toddlers 🐷

This was so fun for my 2 year old, However it was super messy so I highly recommend lots of towels and baby wipes on hand, if your child is prone to making a mess! Mine had an immediate bath when he was done 🤪 #sensory #toddleractivityideas #playtimeideas #toddlerfunactivities #toddler

79 likes

DIY Herbal Calm Jar (Sensory-Friendly + Soothing)

This little jar is pure magic — calming, easy to make, and surprisingly satisfying to look at 💆🏽‍♀️🌿 It’s made with aloe vera gel, fresh herbs, and a few optional extras like glitter or essential oils. It’s a great hands-on craft for kids too — especially sensory-friendly for little ones who lov

117 likes

Sensory Play Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Here are some of our favorite sensory play ideas to try this summer. Great for inside or outside play. Starting from when JJ was a baby and still going strong as a toddler! Chia Seed Slime Mix 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1¾ cups water, and food coloring. Soak overnight. Stir in 2 cups cornstarch (optio

45 likes

Sensory & stem for littles

#sensoryactivities #toddlerrecipe #preschoolfun

7 likes

Two rectangular sponges, one pink and one green, are shown on a speckled countertop. Overlaid text reads "10 Month Old Sensory Play" and "Two Sponges," introducing a simple activity for young children.

Pink and green sponges are cut into various smaller, irregular pieces and scattered across a speckled countertop. The text "Step 1. Cut Sponges" indicates the initial preparation for the sensory play activity.

A clear glass measuring cup filled with water sits on a speckled countertop. The text "Step 2. 2 cups of water Warm or Cold water" describes the next step for preparing the sensory play activity.

10 Month Old sensory play

Here’s a quick, easy, and cheap sensory play idea for your little ones. All you need is A bin Sponges 🧽(doesn’t matter how many) 2 Cups of water 💧 cold or warm scissors ✂️ I bought the sponges from the Dollar Tree for the colors. I then used scissors to cut them in length that my 10 m

64 likes

SENSORY PLAY SUNDAY✨

Today we’re setting up a super simple but festive Halloween themed sensory bin. Can’t forget about five motor skills, so I added a mini cauldron in a mini wood scoop. The cute Halloween wood blocks are from Target bullseye section for only $3! 🎃 #sensoryplay #sensorybin #sensorybin

322 likes

Sensory Play Sunday🐰🥕

SENSORY PLAY SUNDAY! Easy & simple sensory bin idea for Easter, feed the bunny 🐰🥕 Mini tongs are optional but great for fine motor skills. You can also add different size carrots to practice size sorting. #sensoryplay #toddlermom #sensoryideas #momsoflemon8 #letschat

96 likes

A white paper plate with colorful floral designs holds a portion of light-colored salt dough. A white star-shaped cookie cutter is pressed into the dough, creating an imprint. Overlay text asks, "WOULD YOUR LITTLE ONE LOVE THIS?" and instructs, "SAVE FOR LATER!" for this easy toddler activity.

Easy & Fun Salt Dough Play! ✨

Today, we made salt dough, and it was a hit! I mixed: 🥣 2 cups flour 🧂 1 cup salt 💧 1 cup cold water After kneading it into a soft dough, I gave my toddler a portion to play with—plus a cookie cutter to press out fun shapes! He had so much fun squishing, rolling, and cutting. The best part? I

10 likes

DIY Cloud Dough

#icecream #clouddough #tutorial #DIY #toys

4 likes

A sensory bin filled with light brown cheerio sand, featuring toy road pieces, a small black toy car, and a block structure. The image has a text overlay that reads, 'SENSORY PLAY MOM HACK'.

A close-up of a sensory bin containing cheerio sand, toy road pieces, and small toy cars. The image includes text that says, 'Why I love using cheerio sand for sensory play...'.

A black dog is shown under a table, licking cheerio sand off a tiled floor. The image has a text overlay stating, 'My cleanup crew takes care of the mess'.

Sensory Play MOM HACK⏳

Here’s one of my favorite mom hacks for messy sensory play. Sensory play is not only really fun for toddlers, but it’s great for their development. But sometimes it can get MESSSSSY specially with the smaller age kids.🫣 If you use regular sand for your kid’s sensory play set ups, I’m here to

39 likes

See more