- Age:6 mo+
- Time:15 min
- Difficulty:Easy
- Mess level:Low
- Supervision:Yes
Safety first
A baby will explore the sticks with their mouth first, so nothing can be a choking hazard. Glue every piece down really well and give each one a firm tug before every play session - any button or pompom that comes loose goes straight into the mouth, so anything that could detach must be too big to swallow. The glue gun burns, so keep it away from children and do the gluing yourself. Always supervise children under 3.
Sensorimotor Development and Why It Matters
We talked a lot about sensorimotor development and its importance in Sensorimotor development and activities for Children. If you are interested in a more theoretical overview, we recommend reading it.
Let’s just briefly go over the most important concepts.
Children explore the world through their senses. Everything is new and exciting to them - they must touch, lick and chew to understand and construct their environment. Freedom to explore nurtures their curiosity and allows them to improve their cognitive and motor skills.
That’s one of the basic needs of a small child and we as parents must support it. The key is to construct an environment that is interesting and stimulating but also safe. There should be many different stimuli - textures, sounds, contrasts and child should engage with them actively - as it interests him/her, not in some way prescribed by us.
This early sensory exploration is the basis for all other learning. If a child is curious and engaged, it will try to move towards the object of interest, grasp it, throw it. So motoric development is closely intertwined with this sensory exploration.
Tips for Making and Using Sensory Sticks
What I love about the sensory sticks is that there is no “right” way to make them. You can really get creative with the materials - old socks, carpets, sponges, buttons - possibilities are endless. Use many different textures - fluffy, hard, soft, coarse - the more the merrier.
Different materials promote curiosity and allow the child to experience a full range of stimuli. Just keep the safety note above in mind when you choose them - a baby will explore each stick with their mouth first, so everything must be firmly glued and too big to swallow.
This is a great toy to have on the go - small, won’t take much space but can provide tons of entertainment. Best thing is, they are so easy to make, you can make the new ones every few days to keep them fresh!
Materials Needed for Sensory Sticks
Craft sticks, glue and a mix of textures: sensory sticks are that simple.
- Wooden flat sticks (popsicle)
- Glue gun
- Different materials:
- Felt
- Buttons
- Rubbery textures
- Whatever you have and think your child would be interested in
How to Make Sensory Sticks
Watch the video at the top of the article to see a complete guide, or continue reading the description below.
- Decide what kind of materials will you use, there are tons of possibilities, we went with felt, fluffy balls, wood - part of the clothespin and sponge
- Warm up your glue gun and get creative
- Glue it really well and clean up any excess glue.
- Time to play!
When you first hand your baby a sensory stick, how will they most likely explore it?
Make your prediction, then tap an answer to check!
Why babies mouth everything
For a baby, the mouth is the most sensitive and well-developed tool they have for exploring - packed with nerve endings long before their fingers are precise. "Mouthing" is genuine investigation, not just teething, which is exactly why every part of a sensory stick has to be firmly attached and too big to swallow.
Benefits of Sensory Sticks
- Interesting texture ensures rich tactile stimuli
- Different colors and materials provide ample visual stimulation
- Fine motor skills development
Key takeaways
- Sensory sticks are craft (popsicle) sticks covered in different textures - felt, buttons, sponge, fluffy balls - for a child to touch and explore.
- They're small and travel-friendly, so they're perfect for keeping little hands busy on the go, and quick enough to remake with new textures every few days.
- Babies explore them with their mouth first, so every piece must be firmly glued and too big to swallow - supervise play at all times.
- They build tactile perception, visual stimulation, and fine motor skills in one simple, cheap activity.
- There's no "right" way to make them: the more varied the textures, the richer the sensory experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are sensory sticks?
Sensory sticks are wooden craft (popsicle) sticks decorated with a mix of textures - felt, buttons, sponge, fabric, fluffy balls - glued along each one. A child explores the different surfaces by touch (and mouth), which stimulates the senses and builds fine motor skills.
What age are sensory sticks good for?
They suit babies from around 6 months, who explore the textures by touch and mouth, through toddlers, who grip and compare them. Because babies mouth everything, make sure every piece is firmly attached and too big to swallow, and always supervise.
How do you make sensory sticks?
Choose a variety of textured materials, warm up a glue gun, and stick them firmly along wooden craft sticks - felt, buttons, sponge, and fluffy balls all work well. Clean off any excess glue, tug-test each piece, and they're ready for play.
Why do babies put sensory sticks in their mouth?
A baby's mouth is their most sensitive exploring tool, rich with nerve endings long before their fingers become precise. "Mouthing" is how they investigate texture, shape, and size - it's normal learning, which is why sensory sticks must be built to be completely choke-safe.
Are sensory sticks safe for babies?
Yes, when made carefully. Glue every piece down well, tug-test them before each play session, and make sure anything that could come loose is too big to swallow. Keep the hot glue gun away from children, and supervise babies and toddlers throughout play.
Why are sensory sticks good for travelling?
They're small, light, and take up almost no space, yet offer plenty of tactile entertainment - ideal for a bag or pocket on trips. They're also so quick and cheap to make that you can whip up fresh ones with new textures whenever the old set loses its novelty.
And that's it! Now you made some new toy in a form of Sensory Sticks for your child. Now watch and enjoy its play.
Are you looking for more sensorimotor activities? We recommend you to check How to make Homemade Sensory Bottle, How to make Sensory Play Colors and How to make Sensory Bag and let the fun to continue. Also, check out the Colored Rice activity for more sensory experiences and learning colors while playing.
