Sensory Play Ideas for the Holidays with Edx Education Water Trays

The holidays are the perfect time to engage children in fun, educational activities that stimulate their development and creativity. Whether it’s sunny outdoors or cozy inside, sensory play can offer incredible benefits for children of all ages. At Edx Education, we champion learning through play, providing parents, caregivers, and educators with innovative educational toys, resources, and our popular podcast, Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education.

Sensory play using Edx Education’s Water Trays and accessories is a fantastic way to boost learning while children explore through touch, sight, and sound. Whether for early years maths skills, fine motor development, or creativity, sensory play offers a world of discovery and learning.

Why Sensory Play is Important for Early Years Development

Sensory play is more than just fun—it’s an essential part of early childhood education. When children engage in activities that stimulate their senses, they’re developing skills that are crucial for their overall growth and learning.

Benefits of Sensory Play:

• Fine Motor Skills: Pouring, scooping, grasping, and squeezing all help develop fine motor control essential for writing, drawing, and other skills.
• Cognitive Development: Sensory play promotes problem-solving, creativity, and understanding of cause-and-effect relationships.
• Social Interaction: When children play together, they learn cooperation, communication, and empathy.
• Emotional Well-being: Sensory activities like water play can be calming and therapeutic, helping children relax and focus.
• Language Skills: Describing their play helps children develop vocabulary and expressive language skills.

Sensory Play Ideas Using Edx Education Water Trays

Creating sensory-rich play experiences at home or in the classroom is easy with Edx Education’s Water Trays and educational toys. Here are some engaging ideas to try:

1. Water and Pebbles Discovery: Add Edx Education Rainbow Pebbles® to your Water Tray and watch children explore colours, shapes, and textures. Sorting, stacking, and creating patterns are excellent ways to introduce early maths concepts in a playful way.
2. Bubble Play: Add a child-friendly bubble solution to the Water Tray for foamy fun. Children can scoop, pour, and splash, learning about volume, texture, and movement while enhancing fine motor skills.
3. Nature Exploration: Incorporate natural elements such as leaves, flowers, or sand into the Water Tray. Encourage children to explore textures, sort objects, and engage in imaginative storytelling.
4. Color Mixing Experiment: Add a few drops of child-safe food colouring to water and let children explore colour mixing. This introduces them to early science concepts while encouraging creativity and curiosity.
5. Easter Egg Rescue: Perfect for the holidays, place plastic eggs in the Water Tray and have children “rescue” them using tongs or scoops. This playful activity enhances hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.

Sensory Play Beyond the Holidays

Sensory play is beneficial all year round, whether it’s through water play, sand exploration, or imaginative play with educational toys. The flexibility of Edx Education’s Water Trays makes them perfect for any setting—whether at home, in early years classrooms, or during outdoor play sessions.

How Edx Education Supports Play-Based Learning

At Edx Education, we provide high-quality educational toys designed to support children’s growth through sensory play and hands-on learning. Our products are trusted by parents, caregivers, and educators worldwide for promoting essential skills like creativity, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and early maths development.

Check out our downloadable resources and listen to the Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education podcast for more tips and inspiration on how to make learning fun and effective through play. Whether you are planning activities for the holidays or daily playtime, we’ve got you covered.

Happy playing!

Visit our website to explore our full range of educational toys and resources.

By Heather Welch, Author of Happy Children Play and General Manager of Edx Education UK