Sensory Sprinkle Party: Donut Style!

This Donut sensory play is perfect for hot days or rainy days!

Get ready for some seriously sweet (and messy!) fun with this donut-inspired sensory play! All you need are three simple things: a pool noodle, some shaving cream, and colorful water beads. Turn an ordinary afternoon into a sprinkle-filled sensory adventure. Let your kids’ creative juices flow as they “frost” and decorate their pretend donuts with gooey, squishy goodness. It’s the perfect combo of tactile play, imagination, and a little bit of chaos in the best way possible!

“Donut” Messy Play:

What you will need:

• Pool Noodle
• Water beads

Keep in mind that your water beads will need about 24 hours to fully soak and reach their full size. However, if you’re short on time, you can also find pre-soaked ones ready to use at stores like Target. This makes setup even quicker and easier for busy parents!

• Shaving cream

Extras:

Just about anything that you have at home will work to make this play time fun. But here are some ideas.

• Small stretchy toys
• Buttons

To get started, you’ll need to cut your pool noodle into various sizes. This is quick and easy with a sharp knife. Plus, Dollar Tree has tons of fun colors in stock right now for just $1.25 each, so it’s the perfect time to stock up. You really can’t beat that price for a whole afternoon of creative play!

Next, add your shaving cream to a bowl. While I was at the Dollar tree I grabbed a party tray with 3 spots. This worked out perfectly to hold the shaving cream plus water beads and buttons. Add a plastic knife into the shaving cream.

Now it’s time for the best sensory play! Let your little ones dive in by spreading the shaving cream over the pool noodle “donuts” and decorating them however their imagination leads. With sprinkles of creativity and squishy fun, there’s no limit to the messy masterpieces they’ll create!

Clean up:

This clean up is simple and easy. Which I was happy about. I used a strainer to place all the messy “donut” pieces in it. Run hot water on top of the pieces till clean. Once cleaned I then placed everything onto dry paper towels. Once dried we saved everything so we could play again another rainy day.

5 Reasons Why Sensory Play Is Great for Preschoolers

Sensory play isn’t just fun. It’s a powerful tool for your preschooler’s development! Here are five amazing benefits that come with all the mess, squish, and giggles:

• Boosts Brain Development

Sensory activities help form important connections in your child’s brain. These experiences lay the groundwork for more advanced skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and memory.

• Sparks Creativity and Imagination

Give a preschooler a handful of foam and water beads, and watch their imagination soar! Sensory play invites open-ended exploration, encouraging kids to create, pretend, and play freely.

• Builds Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Scooping, squeezing, pinching, and stirring all work those tiny muscles! Sensory play helps develop both fine motor skills for things like writing and buttoning, and gross motor coordination too.

• Promotes Calm and Emotional Regulation

Whether it’s squishing shaving cream or running fingers through water beads, sensory play can have a calming, grounding effect—helping kids manage big feelings and shift their energy.

• Encourages Language and Social Skills

As children explore textures and talk about what they feel or create, they’re practicing vocabulary, communication, and even teamwork when playing with friends or siblings.

We hope this donut messy play idea brings big smiles and even bigger creativity to your day! Whether your little ones are frosting pretend donuts or diving into sensory fun, it’s sure to be a sweet time. 🍩 Ready to give it a try? Save this idea for your next play day and tag us in your messy masterpieces! We’d love to see how your donut fun turns out on Facebook!

Looking for more sensory play ideas? Check out our watermelon rice bin from last month.

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