When people hear “sensory play” two things almost always come to mind.
A tuff tray aaaaaand those glowing bubble tubes.
And don’t get me wrong, they look great and can be a great addition to sensory play plus they photograph well. They’re all over Pinterest. They feel like the right thing to be doing.
But in reality?
For a lot of the children I work with, especially autistic children, children who struggle with attention, or children who follow their own path rather than adult led play, these are often some of the least effective tools you can use.
Why tuff trays and bubble tubes don’t always work
Here’s the bit that often gets missed.
If a child struggles with joint attention, sustained attention, adult led activities, or engaging in structured play, then sitting them in front of a tuff tray and expecting interaction is already setting things up to fail.
The same goes for things like bubble tubes. Yes, they’re visually stimulating. Yes, they’re calming to look at. But they don’t require anything from the child. There’s no reason to interact, no need to communicate, no shared experience being built.
They’re passive.
And the reality is, many of the children we’re supporting aren’t lacking stimulation. They’re just not getting the right kind of input.
What these children actually need
A lot of the children I support are sensory seekers.
They’re not looking for something to sit and look at. They’re looking for something they can feel. Something they can move through. Something that involves their whole body.
This is where the shift happens.
We move away from sitting and observing and towards movement, pressure, and connection. That’s where you start to see real change. That’s where you get engagement. That’s where shared attention begins.
That’s where communication starts to grow.
25 sensory activities that actually meet the child where they are
Instead of trying to bring the child into a set up that doesn’t match how they process the world, these are the kinds of activities I reach for first.
Think less “set-up” and more “experience.”
For children who need movement and heavy work, activities like animal walks, pushing a loaded laundry basket, carrying shopping bags, or climbing over cushions can be far more regulating than anything placed on a tray. Obstacle courses, jumping on a trampoline or bed, crawling under tables, or even wheelbarrow walks all give that deep body input many children are seeking.
For children who crave movement and balance, things like spinning, swinging, rolling across the floor, rocking on a chair or being pulled along on a blanket can be incredibly powerful. These aren’t just fun — they’re helping the body organise itself.
For children who crave deep pressure, something many children naturally seek out. Squish games with cushions, being wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito, squeezing putty or stress balls, or even just firm, predictable pressure can help support regulation in a way that visual activities simply can’t.
And finally, we bring in interaction.
Because sensory play doesn’t have to be separate from communication, in fact, it’s one of the best ways to build it.
Chase games, “ready, steady, go” routines, balloon play, pausing during bubbles, or simple water play in the bath all create natural opportunities for connection, turn-taking, waiting, and communication.
Why these work better
All of these activities have something in common.
They involve the whole body.
They naturally invite interaction.
They don’t rely on the child sitting still.
And most importantly, they follow the child’s sensory needs rather than fighting against them.
They allow you to join the child instead of trying to pull the child into something that doesn’t fit.
The biggest shift to make
Instead of asking,
“What activity should I set up?”
Start asking,
“What does my child’s body need right now?”
Because when you meet that need first, everything else, communication, attention, connection becomes so much easier to build.
If you’re looking for sensory activities that actually lead somewhere, not just something that looks good, these are the ones to start with.
And if you’re sat there thinking “but which one is right for my child?” that’s exactly what my £16 Clarity Plans help with. They break down your child’s sensory needs and show you how to use the right input to support communication and engagement.
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