Setting up a sensory play tray at home does not need to be complicated, expensive, or messy. With a few simple materials and a little intention, you can create an experience that genuinely supports your child's development - and that they will return to again and again.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know: how to choose the right tray, what to put inside it, how to set up the space, and how to keep it fresh over time. Whether your child is a baby exploring textures for the first time or a five-year-old building elaborate small worlds, the principles are the same.
What is a sensory play tray?
A sensory play tray is a defined, contained space that invites children to explore materials through touch, sight, sound and movement. It gives play a boundary - which is especially helpful for younger children who benefit from clear visual limits - while still offering complete freedom within that space.
Trays are used widely in early childhood classrooms, Family Day Care settings and homes across Australia because they make sensory play practical. They contain the materials, simplify clean-up, and make it easier to present intentional invitations to play that can be adapted as a child grows.
A good tray does not need to be a specialist product. Many families begin with a baking dish, a storage container, or a shallow plastic box. What matters most is that it has raised edges and a surface that is easy to wipe clean.
Step 1: Choose your tray
The tray is the foundation of the experience. When choosing one, consider three things: size, depth, and ease of cleaning.
For babies and younger toddlers, a shallow tray works well. It allows easy access to materials without tipping, and the low sides make it simple for small hands to reach every corner. For older children who enjoy more elaborate set-ups — small worlds, science trays, construction scenes — a deeper tray with removable sections offers more versatility.
A tray with a lid that doubles as a secondary shallow surface is particularly useful. It effectively gives you two trays in one, which opens up more possibilities for layered play invitations.
Consider the surface your child will be playing on. If the tray will be used on a timber floor or a polished table, look for one with an anti-slip base or place a silicone mat underneath.
At CC's Sensory Play, our Sensory Play Tray was designed with exactly these needs in mind — deep enough for wet and dry play, with six removable sections and a lid that works as an additional shallow tray.
Step 2: Pick your base filler
The base filler is the material that fills the tray and forms the foundation of the sensory experience. It should be chosen based on your child's age, sensory preferences, and the type of play you want to support.
Some reliable options for different ages and needs:
- Kinetic or sensory sand — flows slowly, holds shape, and stays contained within the tray. Suitable from around 18 months with supervision. Excellent for moulding, mark-making and calm, focused play.
- Dried rice or pasta — an inexpensive and accessible option that works well for scooping, pouring and hiding small objects. Easy to colour with food dye for added visual interest.
- Water — the most universally appealing base for children of all ages. Add a few drops of food colouring, some ice cubes, or a small amount of dish soap for foam play.
- Dried beans or lentils — heavier than rice, with a satisfying sound when scooped. Avoid with children under three who may mouth materials.
- Shredded paper or tissue — a lightweight, low-cost option for hiding objects and encouraging fine motor exploration.
- Natural materials — bark, leaves, pebbles, pinecones and soil work beautifully for nature-themed trays and connect children to the outdoor world.
There is no single right answer. Follow your child's interests and your own comfort with mess. A child who dislikes wet textures may respond far better to sand or rice. A child who seeks strong sensory input may thrive with water, foam, or heavier materials.
Step 3: Add loose parts
Loose parts are the open-ended objects you place within or alongside the base filler. They give the tray its narrative — the small story or theme that invites children to imagine, explore and build.
The beauty of loose parts is that they do not prescribe a single way to play. A set of small animals in a sand tray might become a wildlife reserve, a veterinary clinic, or a hiding game. A collection of shells might be sorted by size, buried and excavated, or arranged into patterns.
Some ideas to get started:
- Small animal figurines or miniature people
- Natural materials — shells, pebbles, seed pods, feathers
- Simple containers — cups, bowls, small jars
- Wooden pieces — blocks, discs, sticks
- Recycled materials — cardboard tubes, lids, corks
Rotate loose parts regularly to keep the invitation fresh. The same base filler can feel completely different with a new set of objects placed inside it.
Step 4: Include simple tools
Tools extend play and build fine motor skills simultaneously. Even very simple additions — a spoon, a small cup, a pair of tongs — give children something purposeful to do within the tray and support the hand strength needed for writing, self-care and daily tasks.
Match the tool to the child's age and ability:
- Babies and young toddlers: soft spoons, small cups, silicone scoops
- Toddlers and preschoolers: tongs, tweezers, droppers, small funnels
- School-age children: measuring tools, magnifying glasses, pipettes, craft sticks for mark-making
Tongs and tweezers in particular are worth introducing early. The pinching movement they require directly strengthens the tripod grip — the same hand position used to hold a pencil.
Step 5: Set up the space
Where you place the tray matters. A tray at the right height and in the right location will be used far more than one tucked in a corner or placed somewhere inconvenient.
For young children, place the tray on the floor or on a low table they can access independently. This supports autonomy and encourages them to return to the tray without needing adult help to get started.
For older children who enjoy standing play, a bench or kitchen table works well. Some children engage more deeply when they are standing because it allows for larger body movements and a different physical relationship with the materials.
Consider the light in the space. Natural light makes colours and textures more vivid and engaging. If your set-up is near a window, you may notice children spending longer periods at the tray simply because of how the light interacts with the materials.
Keep the invitation visible. A tray that is already set up and placed where a child can see it is far more likely to be used than one stored away. The visual invitation is part of what draws children in.
Step 6: Plan for clean-up before you begin
The most common reason families stop offering sensory play is that clean-up feels overwhelming. Planning for it before you start makes a significant difference.
Place a splat mat, an old sheet, or a shower curtain beneath the tray. This catches spills and stray materials and can be shaken out or wiped down in seconds. For water play, a towel on the floor nearby is usually sufficient.
Keep a small hand brush and dustpan close by for dry fillers like sand or rice. A quick sweep around the tray after play takes less than a minute.
Involve your child in clean-up from an early age. Scooping rice back into a container, pouring water away, or collecting loose parts into a bowl are all fine motor activities in themselves — and children who feel ownership over the process are far more likely to care for the space.
How to keep sensory trays fresh over time
One of the most common questions from families is how to stop the tray from becoming boring. The answer is almost always rotation rather than replacement.
You do not need new materials every week. Changing a single element — the loose parts, the tools, or a small addition like food colouring or a new figurine — is enough to make the experience feel completely different to a child.
Some simple ways to refresh a tray:
- Add a new colour to water or rice
- Introduce a seasonal element — autumn leaves, flowers, or shells from a recent beach trip
- Change the theme — the same sand tray can become a dinosaur dig, a beach scene, or a construction site with different loose parts
- Swap the tools — replace a spoon with tongs, or add a new mould
- Invite a different sense — add a few drops of vanilla or lavender to the base filler for a new olfactory dimension
Trays that connect to a child's current interests tend to generate the deepest engagement. If your child is fascinated by ocean life, a water tray with shells, sea animals and blue-tinted water will hold their attention far longer than one you have chosen at random.
Sensory trays and NDIS
Sensory play trays are widely used to support children with sensory processing differences, developmental delays and disabilities. For families who are self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants, sensory trays and accompanying materials may be eligible for funding under Core Supports — Consumables or Assistive Technology (Low Cost), depending on your individual plan and your child's disability-related needs.
CC's Sensory Play provides proper tax invoices for all NDIS purchases. Please check with your plan manager or support coordinator before purchasing to confirm eligibility. Learn more about NDIS at CC's Sensory Play →
A final thought
Sensory play trays are not about creating Pinterest-perfect set-ups. They are about giving children a space to slow down, explore, and learn through their hands — in a way that feels natural, low-pressure, and genuinely enjoyable.
Start simply. A shallow tray, some rice, a few spoons, and a handful of small animals is enough. Watch what your child does with it. Let their curiosity guide what comes next.
The tray is just the beginning.
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