If have a little one and it’s the season of all things orange and golden brown – sensory. play is a must!
These easy fall sensory activities for toddlers are super quick to set up and highly engaging for little people that love to explore with their hands (aka touch ALL the things!)
Sensory exploration is play-based learning at it’s best. Scooping, squishing, poking and shaking builds fine motor skills, helps toddlers and preschoolers process new textures and smells, and gives big feelings somewhere calm to go.
Fall just happens to hand you the best sensory materials of the whole year, completely free. Crunchy leaves, smooth conkers, rough pinecone scales, squashy pumpkin guts — nowhere else does texture quite like autumn does.
This round up of fall sensory activities runs the full spectrum — from calm, sealed-up sensory bottles that buy you a hot cup of tea, right through to pumpkin-guts, hands-on, let’s-get-stuck-in messy play.
Whatever mood you and your toddler are in today, there’s an activity here for it.
If you’re after something with a bit more of a keepsake at the end, our fall nature crafts and quick fall crafts for toddlers posts are both worth a look too. But right now, it’s time to get little hands stuck right in!
No & Low Mess Sensory Bottles & Bags
These nature sensory activities for toddlers won’t touch your worktop at all. Shake it, squish it, watch it settle — these ones stay sealed up, so the fun stays in and the mess stays firmly out.
Falling Leaves Sensory Jar
Foil leaf confetti, a swirl of glitter, sealed inside a bottle and shaken up like a snow globe. Watch a wound-up toddler go from zero to zen in about ninety seconds.
Head to The Soccer Mom Blog for more details
Nature Walk Sensory Bottle
Whatever you bring home from a walk — leaves, petals, a suspiciously interesting twig — goes straight into a bottle with water and oil. Shake it up, watch it swirl, repeat… again and again… and again and again!
Visit Little Bins for Little Hands for more details
Fall Sensory Bottle (Leaves, Acorns & Pony Beads)
The upgraded version — acorns for weight, pony beads for that satisfying rattle, on top of the classic leaf swirl. Fully sealed, so it’s safe to hand to a baby without a second thought.
Jump over to Views From a Step Stool for more details
Easy Fall Sensory Bag
Grab hair gel, your latest foraged nature finds, a scatter of sequins and other fun decorative items. Then seal in a bag and tape down flat.
Squish, swipe, draw shapes — all the sensory satisfaction, none of the actual mess.
Get the full details at Kaplan Early Learning
Fall-Inspired Musical Instruments
A lidded tub, a handful of acorns, fir cones or corn kernels, and suddenly you’ve got a shaker and a very proud toddler. Loud, chaotic, and genuinely one of the simplest to set up sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers this fall.
Scavenge and Collect Dead Leaves and Other Fall Stuff
Let your toddler loose with a bucket and set them the task of collecting specific leaves, conkers or another item of your choice. Or let them collect all the fall items they love.
This is the precursor to many of the sensory activities and many other fall crafts. Simple and satisfying.
Dry Sensory Bin Ideas for Easy Clean-Up
Dry sensory play ideas give you plenty of texture and scooping without the potential mess. Clean-up should be a two-minute job with a dust pan and brush.
Fall Colored Oats Sensory Bin
Oats dyed in warm fall shades, ready for scooping, pouring and watching the colours blend together. Yes, the fall-colored oats need making ahead — but they really add the sensory experience.
See the full tutorial at Taming Little Monsters
Apple Picking Sensory Bin
Plastic apples hidden in faux leaves and twigs, ready to be “picked” one by one. A simple fine motor workout dressed up as an orchard trip.
Find out more at Happy Toddler Playtime
Fall Sensory Bin with Corn
Dry corn kernels, pine cones, toy tractors, scoops, green felt – there are so many different ways for little ones to explore and play. Remember less is more for younger toddlers — a bin that’s too full turns into overload fast.
Head over to Little Ladoo for more details
Fall Harvest Farm Sensory Bin
Dried beans as the base, then add mini farm animals and toy vegetables for a farm-themed sensory bin. If farm toys already live under your sofa, this one’ will be a cinch to set up!
Check it out at Happy Toddler Playtime
Fall Apple Tree Sensory Bin
Green dyed rice scattered with red, yellow and green pompom “apples” ready to be picked and sorted. Skip the cardboard tree entirely on the days you just don’t have it in you.
Get the full details at Taming Little Monsters
Magnetic Apple Sorting Sensory Bin
Hand your toddler a magnetic wand and watch the enjoyment as they’re able to move the pipe cleaner apples around and into the tubs. A sneaky first taste of magnetism dressed up as play.
Visit Happy Toddler Club for more details
Pinecones and Tissue Paper
Just pinecones, crinkly tissue paper and a bin — the heavy, rippled texture against the soft crunch is oddly mesmerising for toddlers. About as low-prep as sensory play gets, and somehow still a hit every time.
Head to Living Life and Learning for more details
Sensory Dough & Slime Play Ideas
These fall sensory play ideas are a little more hands-in, plenty of opportunity for squishing and smooshing and getting fingers and hands working.
Fall Scented Playdough
Apple, cinnamon or pumpkin — follow the tutorial below and your whole kitchen will be smelling like autumn.
Jump over to The Soccer Mom Blog for more details
Edible Candy Corn Slime
Made from candy corn, marshmallows and a splash of oil — actually edible, so it’s the one to reach for if hands are still headed straight to mouths or if you want your sensory play to turn into a delicious treat!
Find out more at In The Kids Kitchen
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Playdough
The pumpkin-pie-spice cousin of the recipe above. This one smells so cosy you’ll want to keep a batch just for yourself.
Check it out at Homeschool Preschool
Orange Glitter Fall Slime Recipe
Gold glitter and fall leaf confetti stirred through a classic glue-and-activator base. Not leaf-based itself, but the confetti earns it a firm spot in fall territory.
Head to Made In A Pinch for more details
Fall Slime
Here’s a slightly more mellow slime recipe for fall, with a lovely autumnal color and fabulously engaging squish factor.
See the full tutorial at Mommy Made That
Wet & Messy Sensory Play Activities
Save these for the days when you have a bit of time to spare, since there may be a little clean up. A mild fall afternoon (so you can take these outside) and a towel are your best friends here!
Pumpkin Boats Water Sensory
Hollow out tiny “Jack-Be-Little” pumpkins into boats and set sail with a fleet of toy figures aboard. Works just as well at bath time as it does at the water table — double the play, one activity.
Visit Frugal Fun 4 Boys for more details
Bob for Apples
Skip the head-dunking version and hand over a ladle or slotted spoon instead, fishing apples out of a water-filled bucket. Once the basics click, throw in colour-sorting to keep the fun going.
Explore the Inside of a Pumpkin or Squash
Bare hands, real pumpkin guts, real seeds — let your toddler dive right in and get thoroughly, gloriously grossed out. Hand over tweezers afterwards once the novelty wears off, for a fine motor round two.
Which One Will You Try First?
Whether it’s a calm sensory bottle for a wound-up afternoon or a full-on pumpkin-guts free-for-all, there’s a fall sensory activity here to match exactly the day you’re having.
Looking for more fall fun? Take a look at these:
- 35 No-Mess Fall Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers (No Paint Required!)
- 25 Easy Fall Arts, Crafts & Sensory Activities for Babies & Infants
- 25 Simple Fall Learning Activities For Toddlers
- 27+ Adorable Fall Handprint Crafts for Kids, Toddlers & Babies too
- 25 Fun & Easy Fall Leaf Crafts for Kids
- Cute Free Fall Handprint Craft Templates for Babies & Toddlers
Explore more sensory activities for kids here.
- 19 Scarily Fun Halloween Sensory Activities for Little Learners
- 50 Christmas Sensory Activities & Bins for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- 25 easy FAKE SNOW sensory bins & sensory play activities for kids this winter
- 5 Best Sensory Bin Tables for Toddlers {+Sensory Table Ideas}
- 21 Fun & Easy Dinosaur Sensory Activities (inc Dinosaur Sensory Bin Ideas) For Toddlers
- 75 Easy Sensory Activities For 1 Year Old Toddlers At Home
