Calm Routines: How Sensory Play Can Help with Tantrums and Transitions
If you’ve ever tried to get out the door with a toddler, change their nappy mid-play, or convince them that yes, it really is bedtime, you’ll know that transitions can be some of the trickiest moments of the day. Tantrums often happen not because children are being “naughty” or “difficult,” but because they’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, or unsure of what’s coming next.
One gentle and powerful way to support children through these moments? Sensory play.
Let’s take a closer look at how sensory play can be used as a calming tool to help little ones move smoothly through their daily routines.
Why Transitions Are So Hard for Little Kids
Young children thrive on predictability. They feel safest when they know what’s happening and when, even if they can’t tell the time yet. So when routines shift, or something unexpected pops up (like suddenly having to leave the park), their nervous systems can become overwhelmed.
This often shows up as:
Crying or screaming
Going stiff or floppy
Running away or hiding
Refusing to engage or complete a task
These behaviours are a child’s way of saying: “I don’t feel safe or in control.”
Sensory Play as a Regulatory Tool
Sensory play engages the senses (touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement) It can help children come back into their bodies and feel grounded again, especially during or after big feelings.
Some sensory activities offer calming input (think slow, repetitive movements or soothing textures), while others help release energy safely. The key is to match the activity to the child’s nervous system needs in the moment.
Simple Sensory Activities to Calm Big Feelings
Here are some gentle, plastic-free sensory play ideas that can help during transitions or after a tantrum:
1. Warm Water Play
Set up a small bowl of warm water with a wooden scoop and some sponges. The warm temperature is comforting, and repetitive squeezing or pouring motions help regulate breathing and movement.
2. Nature Texture Tray
Fill a shallow tray with soft natural elements, dried petals, feathers, sand, or smooth pebbles. Let your child sift, sort, or simply run their fingers through the materials.
3. Breathing with Bubbles
Use homemade bubble wands and natural solution for a calming breath game. Slow, deep breaths to blow bubbles help settle a child’s nervous system, and bubbles bring immediate joy!
4. Weighted Play
Fill a small cloth pouch with dried lentils or rice and let your child carry it, squeeze it, or use it as a “heavy” toy. This gentle pressure can be grounding for overwhelmed bodies.
5. Scented Dough
Homemade playdough with lavender or chamomile essential oil offers calming aromatherapy alongside squishing and rolling, which helps release tension.
Using Sensory Play to Signal Transitions
Even better than using sensory play reactively (after a meltdown) is to use it proactively to signal and ease transitions. Here’s how:
Create a sensory-based ritual before bed, e.g. dim lights, soft music, and a few minutes of sand play.
Set up a “calm corner” with familiar textures and toys for post-nap wakeups.
Use a sensory cue (like the smell of a certain oil, or a soft bell) before shifting activities, so your child learns that a change is coming, but it’s a safe and supported one.
What Sensory Play Teaches Children
Over time, sensory routines can help children:
Recognise and name their feelings
Develop self-soothing strategies
Feel more secure in daily rhythms
Move from stress to safety more easily
And importantly, it gives parents and carers a non-verbal, connective way to support their child, even when words don’t work.
You don’t need fancy materials or hours of time to create calm. Even a few minutes of simple, grounded sensory play can transform a transition, for both you and your child.
Remember: tantrums aren’t failures. They’re communication. And with the right tools, we can meet them with calm, connection, and creativity.