This 5 senses activity is a fun way for kids to learn about the sense of smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch with a DIY puzzle. Keep on reading to get the free printable to make your own cardboard puzzle or to simply use it as an easy matching worksheet game! 

How to Play with The Five Senses 

It’s such a fun topic to talk about with kids. Not only will they learn where all their 5 senses are located on their body, but there are 3 examples of each sense to reinforce that knowledge. 

While this activity is all about matching up the senses and putting them where they belong, challenge the kids to think of other ways they use certain senses, too. 

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make This 5 Senses Activity DIY Puzzle

It’s amazing how easy it is to make your own puzzles! All you need is some cardboard, a sharp knife, and glue to easily create the foundation of a puzzle board and pieces. 

Our free printable makes it that much easier for grown ups who don’t want to draw out the images of this 5 senses activity!

I love that cardboard keeps the puzzle durable and budget friendly at the same time! A great opportunity to save money while using what you have at home for playful learning!

Get the FREE Printable for This 5 Senses Activity

This 5 senses activity printable has 2 different versions for ways your kiddo can play with the 5 senses!

You can do what we did and make a DIY puzzle out of cardboard, or as an alternative, we’ve also included a worksheet where kids can simply match the 5 senses on the page itself. We understand that grown ups get busy, so definitely wanted to included an option for those who may not have the time to create the full DIY version.

For more printable activities, visit our comprehensive collection! There are so many opportunities to turn printable pages into hands on play, like our Systems of the Human Body printable, Emotions Cup Activity with Elmo, our Brush the Teeth Activity, and our Count the Pizza Activity to name a few!

• Craft Knife
• Glue

Step 4

Glue the cardboard with the cut outs on top of the other piece of cardboard.

Step 5

Once it’s dry, enjoy playing the puzzle over and over again!

Step 1

Grab our free printable, print them, and then cut out the images.

Step 2

Glue the images to one of the pieces of cardboard in the correct order.

Step 3

Create the puzzle pieces by cutting out the objects that relate to the 5 senses. Do not cut out the mouth, nose, hand, ear, or eye.

Step 4

Glue the cardboard with the cut outs on top of the other piece of cardboard.

Step 5

Once it’s dry, enjoy playing the puzzle over and over again!

Beyond This 5 Senses Activity for Kids

This 5 Senses Activity is a great way to learn, review and reinforce what kids know about the 5 senses! It will help them connect the dots to the importance of senses while also looking for new ways to use their senses in the real world too. 

Extend the playful learning with actually using real world objects! One fun game is to have kids close their eyes and have a taste test. See if they know what they’re eating by what you put in front of them! You can also do this same game with all of the other senses – smelling items, feeling items, and hearing items too!

This Fall activity for toddlers is a fun way to enjoy all things Autumn! The set up is super easy, and it’s so great for for sensory play and fine motor skills!

An Adaptable Fall Activity for Toddlers

The great thing about sensory bins is that there really isn’t any set “rules” on how to make one. Since this is a fall theme, you can plan on everything being all about fall! 

Do you have fallen leaves, pine cones, or acorns?! Use them! Yup, it’s that simple! Throw in some fake apples and pumpkins too to talk about some typical produce of the season. We included corn kernels as well, but be sure to omit this if your kiddo is too young and likely to try to eat these. 

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Having Fun with this Fall Activity for Toddlers

Watch this video to see how super engaged toddlers can be with such simple materials! Providing bowls, spoons, and tongs will allow young kids to use real world objects that will help them strengthen fine motor and practical life skills!

No doubt, their imaginations will spark as they have fun concocting unique bowls of Autumn soup with all the loose parts!

Tips for Setting Up This Fall Activity for Toddlers

Use What You’ve Got! As I mentioned earlier, don’t underestimate the magic of natural objects that may have fallen right near your feet! Think: acorns, vibrantly colored Autumn leaves, and pine cones! 

Dealing with the Mess. When toddlers first use sensory bins it may be difficult for them to keep the items from falling all over the floor. After all, they are likely working on a very important skill of scooping and pouring. And you don’t learn how not to spill unless you make that mistake a few times! Place some towels on the ground or set this up outside to help with the clean up!

Provide Bowls and Tools. Bowls and tools will not only help your kiddo develop fine motor skills, but they will spark their imaginations by finding new ways to use the loose parts in front of them!

• Apples
• Pumpkins
• Corn Kernals (unless toddler will try to eat)

Step 2

Let the kids dig in with their hands or kid-friendly tools.

Step 1

Add all your favorite fall items to a bin. 

Step 2

Let the kids dig in with their hands or kid-friendly tools.

Language Development. Sensory play is a great time to build vocabulary! Talk about the items, explain what Autumn is, and have your kiddo repeat and explain these new words to you!

For more sensory play fun, visit our comprehensive list!

The Benefits of This Fall Toddler Activity

Sensory Play. Have you heard that sensory play helps to build nerve connections in the brain? Yes, that’s right! Including different textures and sights in this bin will allow kiddos to think and explore using their hands in new ways. You could even add some scents, like cinnamon for your kiddo to smell and explore!

Fine Motor Skills. And if you throw in some fine motor tools like tongs along with bowls and spoons they will have the opportunity to strengthen their fine motor skills.

Pouring sensory bases from one bowl to the other, or scooping up the materials with a spoon are also all wonderful practical life skills they will use for the rest of their life.

Language Development. Sensory play is a great time to build vocabulary! Talk about the items, explain what Autumn is, and have your kiddo repeat and explain these new words to you!

The consistency should be a solid when squeezed in your fist, but when you relax your hand it will turn into a liquid. Add more water if too dry, add more corn starch if too liquidy.

Step 3

Grab some washable toys, tools, and a bucket of water for kiddos to clean off their hands!

Watch How to Create Swirl Play Dough!

Making Play Dough for Kits and Gifts!

Play dough is so fun to include in kits that you can use whenever you need a quick activity to set up (definitely a great rainy day idea!), or as a gift!

We have made play dough kits in so many themes: ocean, insect, unicorn, car, princess, Mickey Mouse, Power Ranger, alphabet, dinosaur, Frozen, Aladdin, Peppa the Pig, birthday, and more!

Play dough can last up to 6 months if sealed properly. We like to use clear plastic container jars with lids. These lids are small enough to fit in kits too!

Keep in mind that overtime, swirl play dough will lose some of it’s vibrancy when stored.

Perks of Playing with Play Dough

Play dough is the ultimate sensory play experience. There are a lot of sensory bases available to explore (more on that below), but play dough is such a classic! The kids can mold it, hold it, shape it, and use it to make letters and other fun designs as well. You can also explore color mixing with play dough!

It is also fantastic for strengthening fine motor skills. As they grip and mold, kid’s hands and fingers are getting a great work out! Just think about all the different movements the hands will make in just a short time of playing with play dough – roll, stretch, mold, pinch, push, to name a few!

They can also use it to work their creativity and imagination as well and build and create fun artwork and projects.

I also love to give play dough as gifts to toddlers and preschoolers, often in a themed-kit! For example, dinosaurs, unicorns, ocean, and super heroes are just some of the many themes I’ve put together! It is such a nice way to give a gift with a personal, homemade touch!

With just a handful of simple ingredients, this easy to make play dough recipe is a fast, no-cook way to make the ultimate sensory base for kids! The best part about making dough is that it can last a really long time – up to 6 months! – and can be used for so many fun learning activities, too.

Sensory Fun with Play Dough

Not only is play dough fun to play with, but it is also super fun to make together! It is an awesome sensory experience mixing all the ingredients together and kneading the dough to form the perfect consistency. I also think that this is a super cool and unique idea for birthday parties as well as a parting gift for each child who attends.

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How-to-Video for this Easy to Make Play Dough!

We’ve been making this play dough recipe for years and it’s always a hit. Just be certain that if you have little hands helping you, that you don’t let them handle the mixture when it’s hot. I even wear gloves myself, taking extra precautions so that I don’t burn my hands either! Full step-by-step instructions and more tips below on how to make this easy to make play dough the best consistency (or salvage a batch that needs some help!).

How can I store and how long does it last?

Play dough can last up to 6 months if stored in a sealed container. We like using 4oz jars as pictured below. But with all things that kid’s touch, there is risk of germs entering once touched, so always be sure to look for mold – seen as black dots. If black dots form, it’s time to throw out!

Easy to Make Play Dough – Tips and Tricks!

Mix while hot, but use caution! 

I wear gloves and mix the *very hot* play dough by hand to make sure that the dough is kneaded thoroughly, which spreads the heat, dissolving the granules to make a smooth texture. Don’t have your kiddos do this part!

Why is my batch too sticky?

Too much water was added! If too sticky add a little more flour.

Why is my batch too dry?

Not enough water was added! If too dry add a little more water.

Do I need to add oil?

The coconut oil gives the dough a super silky texture. You could also use glycerine. Alternatively, other vegetable oil will work too, but I’ve found that coconut oil makes it super silky!

What is cream of tartar, and do I need it?

The cream of tartar is a preservative and it makes the play dough have a longer shelf life. You can omit it, but the dough will not last as long!

How can I store and how long does it last?

Play dough can last up to 6 months if stored in a sealed container. We like using 4oz jars as pictured below. But with all things that kid’s touch, there is risk of germs entering once touched, so always be sure to look for mold – seen as black dots. If black dots form, it’s time to throw out!

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
• 3/4 cup of boiling water
• 1 tablespoon Food coloring or Liquid Watercolor
• Storage Jars (optional)

• 1 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup of fine salt
• 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)
• 3/4 cup of boiling water
• 1 tablespoon Food coloring or Liquid Watercolor
• Storage Jars (optional)

Step 4

Boil the water. (In my microwave, it takes about 2 minutes to reach best temperature.)

Step 5

Mix the water to the flour mixture, transferring to a flat surface to knead until smooth and not sticky. Don’t miss my note above about wearing gloves to protect your hands from the heat!

Step 1

Mix together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl.

Step 2

Add the coconut oil for a soft and silky texture. You can also use food-grade glycerine.

Step 3

Add food coloring into the 3/4 cup of water.

Step 4

Boil the water. (In my microwave, it takes about 2 minutes to reach best temperature.)

Step 5

Mix the water to the flour mixture, transferring to a flat surface to knead until smooth and not sticky. Don’t miss my note above about wearing gloves to protect your hands from the heat!

I also love to give play dough as gifts to toddlers and preschoolers, often in a themed-kit! For example, dinosaurs, unicorns, ocean, and super heroes are just some of the many themes I’ve put together! It’s such a nice way to give a gift with a personal, homemade touch!

Perks of Playing with Play Dough

Play dough is the ultimate sensory play experiece. There are a lot of sensory bases available to explore (more on that below), but play dough is such a classic! The kids can mold it, hold it, shape it, and use it to make letters and other fun designs as well. You can also explore color mixing with play dough!

It is also fantastic for strengthening fine motor skills. As they grip and mold, kid’s hands and fingers are getting a great work out! Just think about all the different movements the hands will make in just a short time of playing with play dough – roll, stretch, mold, pinch, push, to name a few!

They can also use it to work their creativity and imagination as well and build and create fun artwork and projects.

I also love to give play dough as gifts to toddlers and preschoolers, often in a themed-kit! For example, dinosaurs, unicorns, ocean, and super heroes are just some of the many themes I’ve put together! It is such a nice way to give a gift with a personal, homemade touch!