Try Sensory Storytelling with Your Little One

Looking to make storytime at home more fun and engaging for your toddler or preschooler?

Try sensory storytelling—an easy, hands-on way to bring books to life. Sensory storytelling (also called multisensory storytelling) involves using more than just words and pictures to tell a story. It taps into multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, and movement—to create an immersive experience for your child.

If you have ever read a “touch and feel” or “scratch and sniff” board book with your child or made silly animal noises while reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, then you have already introduced your child to sensory storytelling. Just by adding extra interactions to the story, you enabled them to experience the story through multiple senses, such as touch and smell, beyond their usual visual and auditory senses.

It's Easy to Do at Home

You don’t have to buy anything or need anything fancy to create a sensory story. You can use books that already have sensory elements (like textures, flaps, and even scratch and sniff) or turn your child’s favorite story into a sensory experience using everyday items you have around the house.

Here’s How to Get Started

1. Choose a story or book that is one of your child’s favorites: You can adapt it with sensory elements or even make up your own simple version using short, vivid sentences.

2. Identify key moments in the story – important characters, events, and interesting sounds or actions you want to highlight.

3. Look for household objects that match parts of the story:

• Touch: Soft toys, rough sponges, silky scarves, bumpy fabrics.

• Sound: Shakers, pots and pans, animal sounds, clapping.

• Sight: Colorful scarves, bubbles, flashlights, mirrors.

• Smell: Scented cotton balls, spices, flowers, citrus peels.

• Taste: (If safe!) Tiny bites of fruit, crackers, or flavored lip balm.

• Movement: Act out parts of the story—crawl like a bear, jump in puddles, run in place, twirl like a dancer.

** Note: Never leave your young child alone with scarves, food, or any props that could be a safety hazard.

1. Use big gestures, dramatic voices, and encourage your child to touch, move, and explore along with you. Let them help act out parts or hold the sensory items.

Why Sensory Storytelling Helps Kids Thrive

While sensory storytelling is often highlighted for children with special needs or learning challenges, it's an inclusive approach that all children can benefit from! It helps:

• Improve focus and attention.

• Enhance language and literacy skills.

• Lead to better comprehension and memory.

• Encourage creativity and imagination.

• Build empathy and connection to the story.

Try It This Week!

Pick one of your child’s favorite books and gather a few items to match the story—soft fabrics, toy animals, some bubbles or music. You’ll be amazed at how much more interactive storytime becomes.

More Resources to Explore:

• SaLT by the Sea: How to create a sensory story

• Understood: 8 multisensory techniques for teaching reading

• Growing Book By Book: Sensory Play Ideas for Extending Stories