Rainy Day Sensory Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Download the free printable cards

What can toddlers do indoors on a rainy day?

Pick a few ideas below and set them up on a towel or in the bath for easy cleaning. Each one uses water, sound or texture to keep little hands busy while you stay close.

Water play ideas

1. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few plastic cups to pour and tip
2. Drop in cotton wool clouds and watch them soak up the water
3. Float bath toys and scoop them out with a spoon or ladle
4. Add a drop of washing up liquid and swish for gentle bubbles
5. Freeze small toys in an ice cube tray and watch them melt free
6. Line up two bowls and move water from one to the other with a sponge
7. Drip water from a sponge onto your hand and talk about the raindrops
8. Wash a toy tea set together in soapy water

Sound and rhythm ideas

1. Tap a metal tray with a wooden spoon to make raindrop sounds
2. Tip dried pasta into a plastic tub and shake it like rain
3. Tap fast, then slow, to copy a light shower and heavy downpour
4. Make a drum from an upturned saucepan and a wooden spoon
5. Roll a few marbles round a tin to sound like rolling thunder
6. Stamp feet softly then loudly to copy rain getting heavier
7. Clap a simple pattern and ask your toddler to copy it back
8. Hum a rainy day song together while you tap along

Texture and touch ideas

1. Stretch and squeeze cotton wool clouds between your fingers
2. Press hands into a tray of dry oats and draw lines with a finger
3. Feel a cold spoon, then a warm sponge, and name each one
4. Scrunch tissue paper into balls and drop them like hailstones
5. Smooth shaving foam onto a tray and make swirls and shapes
6. Sort soft, hard and bumpy objects into a muffin tin
7. Roll a ball of cold dough and press shapes into it
8. Trace wet handprints on a dark tray and watch them fade

How to set up rainy day sensory play, step by step

1. Lay a towel down or use the bath to catch spills
2. Set out one or two ideas so it does not feel busy
3. Show your toddler once, then let them lead
4. Name what they feel and hear as they play
5. Pack away together and wipe hands when done

Ways to use these sensory play cards

• Print and tick off together. Keep the checklist on the fridge and let your toddler choose the next idea. Ticking a box gives a lovely sense of finishing something.
• Build a rainy day box. Pop a bowl, some cotton wool and a tray in one tub so you can start in seconds. Add a rain sound maker for the full rainy mood.
• Mix in music. Follow water play with a few minutes of tapping and shaking. A wooden xylophone turns raindrop sounds into real notes.
• Use it at nursery. Set up two or three stations and rotate small groups through them. It keeps things calm while every child gets a turn.
• Slow the afternoon down. Sensory play is a gentle reset before tea. Dim the lights, keep your voice soft and let them explore at their own pace.

Games and gifts for rainy days

These toys suit curious toddlers who love to touch, pour and tap. Each one gives you another easy rainy day activity with a grown-up close by.

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Rain Sound Maker - Rainmaker Sensory ToyShop nowWooden Xylophone - Music ToyShop nowBaby Music SetShop nowDiscovery Blocks - Wooden Sensory BlocksShop nowWooden Activity Cube - Activity Cube for ToddlersShop nowShape Sorter - Learning GameShop nowThreading Beads - Threading Beads for KidsShop nowBaby Puzzle - Wooden Toddler ToyShop nowStacking Toy - Wooden Rainbow ToyShop nowKids Building Blocks - Montessori ToyShop nowStacking Rings Toy - Wooden Rainbow ToyShop nowWooden Hammer Bench - Toddler ToyShop nowMarble Art SetShop nowRainbow Scratch Paper - Scratch Art PadShop now

Rainy day sensory play by age and key stage

What children learn from rainy day sensory play

• Touch. Feeling wet, dry, soft and bumpy things helps toddlers learn words for texture.
• Listening. Copying fast and slow tapping builds early rhythm and attention.
• Fine motor. Squeezing sponges and pinching cotton wool strengthens little hands for later writing.
• Language. Naming what they feel and hear grows vocabulary during play.
• Calm focus. Gentle, repeating actions help children settle and concentrate.

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Make it a Christmas tradition

Rainy days come round often, so a simple sensory routine becomes something your toddler looks forward to. Keep a small box ready and let them pick an idea each time. You do not need anything fancy, and the same bowl and tray work again and again. Over time these quiet half hours become a happy family habit that turns grey afternoons into something to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

What is sensory play for toddlers?

Sensory play lets children explore how things feel, sound and move using touch, sound and sight. Water, cotton wool and a tray are all you need to start.

Is rainy day sensory play safe for under threes?

It can be, with a grown-up close by the whole time. Use large, safe objects and keep small items such as rice and cotton wool away from mouths.

What age is sensory play best for?

These ideas suit ages 2 and up. Younger babies enjoy simpler touch play, while older toddlers like sound and sorting games too.

How long should sensory play last?

Around 15 to 30 minutes is plenty for a toddler. Follow their lead and stop when they lose interest.

How do I keep the mess down?

Lay a towel down, use a tray with sides or set up in the bath. Keeping everything in one spot makes cleaning up much quicker.

What if my toddler does not like getting wet?

Start with dry textures like oats or cotton wool. Let them watch you first and join in only when they feel ready.

Do I need to buy special toys?

No. Bowls, spoons, sponges and cotton wool work beautifully. If you want to add something, see our gift ideas above.

Can I do this at nursery?

Yes. Set up two or three stations and rotate small groups, keeping staff close by and small items away from mouths.

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Jaques of London is Britain's oldest toy and games company, founded in 1795. We have spent over 230 years making games families play together, from chess and croquet to wooden toys for the very young.

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Written by the Jaques of London team. Last updated 1 November 2026.