How do you talk about the senses with your child? Games and activities to support sensory awareness

“Do you hear the bird?”, “Is it soft or rough?”, “Can you smell the cinnamon?” — talking about the senses with a child is not a biology lesson: it is a light way to help them put words on what their body is experiencing. When the world feels too intense or too flat, a simple vocabulary can become a regulation tool (“there’s too much noise in my ears”) long before long sentences. This article offers a playful approach: everyday games, ideas without a perfectionist Pinterest setup, and pointers so you do not push anyone past their comfort zone.

This text is informational: it does not replace medical or allied health advice. If your child’s reactions to sensations persistently block school, meals, or relationships, speak with a health professional (doctor, occupational therapist, psychologist, etc.).

Why “play with the senses” instead of explaining them?

Young children learn through experience and joyful repetition. Naming a sensation when it happens links lived experience and language: what matters most is not the lesson on “the five senses,” but the through-line “we notice together what the body is taking in.”

On the sensory processing side — how the nervous system filters and uses sensory information — these small games do not “fix” anything on their own; they mainly help make visible preferences (liking or avoiding certain textures, sounds, positions) and avoid interpreting everything as opposition. Resources on development and age-related skills, such as the CDC’s child development pages, remind us that a wide range of normal variation exists — useful for keeping perspective.

A first game: the sensation radar

Goal: practice describing without judging.

How: during a walk or a bath, you start a hunt: “Today we’re looking for three rough things” (or shiny, quiet, nice-smelling ones). The child points or picks them up; you repeat their words and add a little: “Yes, the bark is rough; it scratches the fingers a bit.”

Express variant: “Soft / loud / medium” for sound (clicks of the tongue, footsteps in grass, a squeaky door) or touch (fabric, sponge, rough towel). The point is not performance but the pleasure of comparing.

Games by “family” of sensations

Touch: the mystery box (zero-waste version)

In a cloth bag or closed box, slip in 5 everyday objects: wooden spoon, squash ball, dry sponge, ribbon, bottle cap. The child guesses by touch without looking — then you swap roles. For very young children, start with 2 very different objects (soft vs hard).

Parent tip: if your child refuses surprise touch games, start with objects they choose and can see; the “mystery” game can wait.

Hearing: the living-room orchestra

Close your eyes (or gently blindfold with a scarf). Make a sound with an object (scratch a pan, run water, turn a page). The child guesses; then they conduct the “orchestra.” Add musical directions: “A tiny sound, then a huge one!”

This builds selective listening and vocabulary (high, low, long, short) without a screen. Professionals who support children in everyday activities — occupational therapists, in particular — often include this kind of sensory exploration in assessments; the AOTA children and youth section describes occupational therapy’s role when difficulties persist in daily tasks.

Sight: shades of color in one minute

On a journey or at the window: “How many different greens can you see?” Then blue, yellow. For older children: “Find something shiny that isn’t a lamp” or “something striped.”

This slows the rush and trains visual attention without a worksheet.

Smell and taste: the nose market (without forcing eating)

Offer 2 to 3 strong but safe smells: lemon, vanilla, fresh grass. The child closes their eyes, smells, and sorts “I like / meh / not a fan.” Same idea at snack time with very small bites or even licking a dab of yogurt on a spoon — no obligation to finish the plate.

Important: allergies, feeding difficulties, or nausea with certain smells = you stop the game, without negotiating. Pleasure comes before “sensory progress.”

Movement and position: sensory statues

Proprioception (pressure sense in muscles and joints) and the vestibular system (head movement, balance) matter as much as the textbook “five senses.”

Simple games:

• Run then freeze: run to the tree, then hold a “heavy statue” (knees bent, hands on thighs, “like a rock”).
• Roll on a thick mat or get a firm hug (gentle roll, pressure suited to age and comfort).
• Animal: “snake crawling” (pressure on the floor), “kangaroo” (small jumps if appropriate).

If your child is hypersensitive to movement (dizziness, fear of upside-down positions), avoid acrobatics; favor the floor, wide support, and very short back-and-forths.

Weaving the senses into routines (without weighing the day down)

A few anchors that do not add screen time:

• Getting dressed: “Sock: soft or a bit tight? Shall we adjust?”
• Meals: “Is it crunchy, melty, or sticky?” (one word is often enough)
• Going out: “Noise level: 1, 2, or 3 fingers?” to help plan ear defenders or a break.

Organizations such as the CDC offer guidance on when to seek help if development or daily life is affected; these playful routines do not replace professional advice if everyday life stays very constrained.

Adapting to temperament: playful does not mean “always more”

A child seeking sensation may want to ramp up intensity (jumping, noise, speed): you set safety and places, while offering slots to “discharge” before homework or dinner.

A hypersensitive child may prefer short, predictable games with an immediate stop option. The message “senses are fun” must stay compatible with “no thanks, not today” — otherwise play becomes an ordeal.

Research syntheses on sensory processing are available through databases such as PubMed; they confirm strong research interest while reminding us of diversity across profiles — a good reason to stay flexible and kind in what you offer.

In short

Talking about the senses with your child is mainly naming together what they experience, playing at comparing and observing, and respecting their limits. You do not need a perfect workshop: a bag, a scarf, cupboard objects, and five minutes are often enough to open the conversation — and strengthen your bond.

Go further

If you want a structured view of your child’s sensory processing in concrete everyday situations — beyond one-off games — you can start the questionnaire on Sensorikid: a guided conversational flow, inspired by Winnie Dunn’s model, to spot action ideas suited to your context. The service runs without an account and without storing your personal data on our servers; answers stay on your device. The full version is €5, deliberately affordable compared with an in-depth in-clinic assessment.

For more articles on hypersensitivity, sensory profiles, or daily life, see the blog and the home page. If you have concerns about your child’s health or development, contact a health professional: only qualified advice can point you to the right support.