25 Sensory Recipes for Every Classroom and Home — and Why They Matter
Ever needed a quick way to calm an overstimulated child… or a simple way to spark communication during messy play?
Sensory play isn’t just “fun” — it’s regulation, language, connection, independence, life skills and confidence rolled into one.
And you don’t need expensive kits or Pinterest perfection.
You need a handful of ingredients, a tray… and a sensory learner ready to explore.
That’s where our Sensory Recipes come in.
Why Sensory Play Is So Powerful
Sensory play provides hands-on, real-world feedback that supports:
- Emotional regulation
- Motor planning and coordination
- Language development (especially for non-speaking and gestalt language processors)
- Focus and attention
- Sensory integration across touch, smell, sight, and proprioception
Best of all, it meets learners where they are — and creates joyful, low-demand engagement opportunities.
What Makes These Recipes Special?
Unlike other guides, the Sensory Recipes resource is:
✅ Taste-safe where possible — ideal for early years and sensory seekers
✅ Colourful, textural, and easy to adapt for different needs
✅ Organised by theme and function — calm-down tools, messy tray fillers, science links, and more
✅ Includes Widgit Symbolised recipes, alongside text-based recipe
✅ Linked with Amazon suggestions to make prep easy
There’s no fluff — just simple, effective activities that work in real settings.
A Few Favourites from the Pack
💜 Velvet Sensory Mixture – use edible lustre and water to create swirling magic for trays and bottles
🟠 Taste-Safe Moon Sand – oil + flour = a soft, mouldable filler for mark making
💚 Edible Chia Seed Slime – perfect for sensory bins, freezing, or rainbow trays
💦 Tornado in a Jar – a swirling visual calm-down tool that doubles as science
🌾 Lavender Sensory Rice – grounding and calming, ideal for transition times
🌈 Rainbow Spaghetti – amazing for texture exploration and fine motor work
🧁 Pudding Slime & Fairy Dough – squishable, scented, and surprisingly soothing
Whether you’re working on messy play tolerance, turn-taking, mark making, or regulation — these recipes slot beautifully into everyday routines.
Try This: One-Tub Challenge
Pick one of the following this week:
- Rainbow oats
- Oobleck
- Coloured salt
- Finger paint (taste-safe)
🟣 Set it up in a single tray or tub
🟡 Hide objects or symbols inside
🟢 Model words like “in,” “on,” “more,” “feel,” “help,” or “stop”
🔵 Watch what happens — no pressure to “complete” anything
You’ll be amazed what comes from 10 minutes of open-ended sensory play.
Get All 25 Sensory Recipes in One Easy Download
👉 The Sensory Recipes Download includes:
✔️ 25+ play-based recipes using simple ingredients
✔️ Taste-safe, inclusive, and age-flexible
✔️ Printable format — use at school, therapy, or home
✔️ Symbolised Recipes to print and use
✔️ Amazon links for easy supply shopping
✔️ Ongoing updates emailed to you as new recipes are added
Perfect for EYFS, SEND, sensory diet, home & classroom learning, or just… a rainy afternoon.
Final Thought:
Sensory play doesn’t have to be messy chaos — it can be calming, structured, and deeply meaningful.
And it starts with just a spoon, a tub, and a few scoops of colour.
Let’s build regulation, language, and joy — one recipe at a time.
