Best Toys for Messy Sensory Play

Brittany Kozielski:  Kinetic Sand is just about the coolest thing ever invented. I find myself enjoying Kinetic Sand as much as my kids do. This is a no mess and easy to clean up sand. Kinetic sand does not get stuck to you it just kind of melts off. Some say it is 98% sand and 2% magic! You can play, mold and make beautiful sand art with it. This set includes a mess-containing tray and plastic sand molds, but you can also buy it on its own or make your own kinetic sand if you prefer!

Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty is some of the best toys for messy sensory play. It has taken the place of silly putty and play doh for slightly older children, and for good reason. It comes in many amazing colors, smells and effects, and is contained in a sturdy pocket-sized metal canister to avoid drying out. Its chic and trendy design makes them popular gifts for tweens to receive and trade with one another, too.

Hannah Scott:  Water beads are a fabulous sensory toy: they start out as small, hard beads but turn into squishy, marble-sized balls when soaked in water overnight. The best part? They're reusable! When the water evaporates, you can start the process all over again. These are a fun idea for filling the water table, too!

Nancy L.:  Crayola's Model Magic allows kids to make anything they can imagine using this spongy and lightweight compound. Soft and pliable, the compound can be re-used if stored properly. Kids can create pieces to save and share by letting it air dry. The dried pieces can be decorated using markers, paints, and more.

Vanessa M.:  Moldable, shapeable, squishable playfoam is fun for kids of all ages. Educational Insights Playfoam is a soft, styrofoam pellet playfoam that is never sticky and never dries out. It comes in a variety pack of rainbow colors and provides tactile and sensory learning as it invites kids to creative play!

Nancy L.:  This set contains 2lbs. of kinetic sand with six molds to make a variety of castles, pyramids, steps, and towers along with a play tray. Additional sizes and colors available.

Nancy L.:  Journey with The Magic School Bus’ Ms. Frizzle to create slime and so much more with this kit. Kids will learn about polymers as they produce glue from milk, make and melt snow from super-absorbent crystals, form a bouncy ball, expand super-absorbent gel crystals, and more. The kit comes with all the materials needed for various projects and an informative booklet.

Nancy L.:  Make slime that changes color with the heat of your hand. Make magnetic slime that moves. Make slime that glows in the dark. Learn the science behind slime with this hands on activity.

Kelly Maire:  These are so fun- my kids love the shape and that the containers double as stamps!

Nancy L.:  Great for developing fine motor skills and color recognition. This set includes 4 tubs of modeling dough along with tools to roll, cut, and make shapes.

Vanessa M.:  Slime lovers will have a ball with these kits, they are one of the best toys for messy sensory play for older kids too. One kit has everything kids will need to make their own gooey slime at home, including instructions. It also comes with special ingredients to make crunchy slime, glow in the dark slime, and even slime bubbles!

Kelly R.:  Mad Mattr is a modeling compound that feels like a cross between sand and dough. It holds it shape very well once molded, but is fun to squish, knead, and stretch! The formula is wheat, gluten, and casein free.