Discover Big Kid Sensory Play!

Even big kids can enjoy sensory play. Children of all ages love digging their hands into a tray full of beads. They adore the feeling of the beads, and the sounds they make rattling together.  They like the imaginative possibilities beads hold.

I didn't always know this. 


(All the product links in this post are affiliate links.)

My twins got an amazing bucket  of beautiful wooden beads for their 4^th birthday. It was similar to this Big Bead Box, except it also had letter beads. For a long time, we just used them for stringing necklaces and bracelets. 

I didn't want the beads to spill and make a mess, so I kept them on a high shelf.

Yes, my kids really are growing. The other day they took the beads down from the high shelf, and started playing with them. 

Beads for Sensory Play

Only, they weren't stringing the beads. They were dividing them into categories, pouring them into baskets, and carrying them around.   Their enthusiasm inspired me to share the idea of using beads for sensory play. 

I pulled out a basket, lined it with a leftover scrap of fleece fabric, then dumped all the beads in. Then, to make it more interesting, we added an ice cube tray and a small bowl for sorting into.

My kids could hardly wait for me to finish taking pictures of the setup. They wanted to put their hands in and play! 

I had been thinking of this as sensory play for preschoolers. Yet, once I let my 5-8 year olds loose, they entertained themselves for a surprisingly long time.

It’s amazing how a new presentation of an old toy will spark kids’ imagination.

Once your kiddos have their fill of free play, consider these activities:

Language Activities

• Use letter beads to form simple words.

Yes, telling a story with beads might sound crazy...bear with me.

Did you ever read One by Kathryn Otoshi? Or Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni? The characters in these books are just blobs of color. Yet the stories are wonderful! 

You and your child could retell one of those stories or create your own using beads as characters.

Math Activities

• Estimate how many beads there are. Then count them.
• Sort beads by color, shape, and texture.
• Organize beads into a repeating pattern.

• Use them to add and subtract, and even group them to demonstrate multiplication and division concepts.

Fine Motor Activities

Any kind of play with beads of this size is great fine motor practice. Here are a few more ideas:

• Stringing beads – I like to use embroidery thread and a dull needle. I thread the needle, then secure it with an overhand knot. On the other end, I tie on the first bead to make a “stopper” for the other beads.

• Line beads up in shapes – draw simple shapes, or even short words, for kids to line with beads.

• Stack up as many square shaped beads as possible before they topple.

Use Your Imagination

Beads are fun because they allow open-ended, imaginative activities. I'd love to hear about the creative (and not so creative, but fun) ways you and your kids play with beads. Feel free to leave a comment below, or strike up a conversation on the Books and Giggles Facebook page. Don't be shy!

Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.