Play-Based Learning Roadmap (Birth to Age 6)

Play is not just entertainment — it is how young children learn best. From tummy time to school readiness, sensory play builds the foundation for language, motor skills, creativity, and confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered what toddlers should be learning and how to support it through play, this guide walks you through exactly what to focus on at every stage.

Save this guide and come back to it often — because every stage builds on the last.

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Why Play-Based Learning Works

Children learn through:

• exploring

• touching

• moving

• experimenting

• pretending

Play activates multiple areas of the brain at once, making it one of the most powerful forms of early childhood education.

This roadmap shows how sensory play ideas for toddlers evolve as children grow from babyhood to school age.

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0–6 Months

Focus: Visual stimulation • Tummy time

During the first months of life, babies are learning to:

• focus their eyes

• track movement

• strengthen neck and core muscles

• explore textures and sounds

Best Activities

• High-contrast cards

• Soft textures and fabrics

• Gentle sound toys

• Tummy-time visuals

These early experiences lay the groundwork for later motor skills and early learning.

Free Printable Tummy Time Mats →

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6–12 Months

Focus: Grasping • Mouthing • Cause & effect

Babies begin learning:

• how their actions create reactions

• how to grasp and release objects

• how to explore safely with their mouths

Best Activities

• Taste-safe sensory bins

• Shaking, banging, rolling toys

• Water sensory play with supervision

• Object exploration

This stage is perfect for taste-safe sensory play and water sensory play for toddlers.

Explore taste-safe sensory play →

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12–24 Months

Focus: Fine motor • Independence • Curiosity

Toddlers now want to do everything themselves.

They begin developing:

• hand strength

• coordination

• early problem solving

• curiosity about how things work

Best Activities

• Scooping and pouring

• Large object sorting

• Simple toddler sensory bin ideas

• Push, pull, and dump play

This is the stage where easy sensory play setups become a daily lifesaver.

Explore Activity Ideas →

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2–3 Years

Focus: Imagination • Language • Motor skills

Pretend play explodes at this stage.

Children begin:

• storytelling

• role playing

• color matching

• simple crafts

Best Activities

• Pretend play setups

• Color matching activities

• Sensory bins with tools

• Simple crafts

This is the golden age of themed sensory play ideas for toddlers.

Free Printable Ice Cream Shop →

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3–4 Years

Focus: Problem solving • Skill building

Preschoolers are ready for more structured play that builds:

• problem solving

• patience

• planning

• early academic skills

Best Activities

• Tongs and tweezers

• Letter and number sensory play

• Patterning and sorting

• Multi-step activities

This is where fine motor skill activities for toddlers really shine.

Explore Learning Materials →

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4–6 Years

Focus: School readiness • Creativity

Children begin preparing for classroom learning through play.

They are ready for:

• early literacy

• math manipulatives

• creative building

• longer projects

Best Activities

• Literacy-based sensory play

• Math manipulatives

• Themed sensory setups

• Process art and building

This stage bridges play and early academics beautifully.

Explore the Preschool / Kinder Collection →

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How to Use This Roadmap at Home

You don’t need a classroom or expensive toys.

Most DIY sensory activities for toddlers can be created using:

• containers

• scoops

• rice or pasta

• play dough

• household items

Play-based learning can be:

• affordable sensory play setups

• toddler activities with minimal prep

• sensory play on a budget

Even 15–20 minutes a day makes a huge difference.

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The Benefits of Sensory Play

Sensory play supports:

Brain development
Multi-sensory experiences build neural connections.

Language growth
Children naturally talk about what they feel and see.

Fine motor skills
Scooping, pouring, pinching, and grasping strengthen hands.

Emotional regulation
Sensory play is one of the best calm-down activities for toddlers.

Independence and confidence
Kids learn by doing.

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Final Thoughts

Every child develops at their own pace. This roadmap is not a checklist — it’s a guide to help you support learning through joyful, hands-on play.

If you ever feel unsure what activity to try next, come back to this roadmap and pick a simple activity for your child’s stage.

Play is powerful.
Play is learning.
Play is childhood.

Fluffy Marshmallow Rainbow Doh (Taste-Safe!)

Fluffy Marshmallow Rainbow Doh (Taste-Safe!)

If you’re looking for a magical sensory activity that toddlers instantly fall in love with, this Fluffy Marshmallow Rainbow Doh is the perfect choice. It’s soft, stretchy, pastel-pretty, and has a unique marshmallow-puff texture that feels like squishing tiny clouds. Kids adore it, and parents love how easy it is to make at home.

This taste-safe sensory doh uses simple pantry ingredients and creates the perfect invitation to play — especially for rainbow-loving preschoolers and toddlers who enjoy soft textures, color play, and hands-on sensory exploration.

And the best part? This activity ties beautifully into Weather Week inside my Homeschool Curriculum & Planner, making it not just fun but a meaningful learning experience too.

Let’s get into the recipe!

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Ingredients

To make your fluffy marshmallow doh, you'll need:

• 1 cup marshmallows (mini or regular)

• 2–3 tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable or coconut)

• ½–1 cup cornstarch (add gradually)

• Food coloring (I used pastel rainbow tones — pink, peach, yellow, mint, blue, lavender)

• Microwave-safe bowl

• Spoon or spatula

• Extra cornstarch for kneading

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Melt Your Marshmallows

Add 1 cup of marshmallows and 1–2 tablespoons of oil to a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for 20–30 seconds until soft and melty. Stir until smooth.

2. Add Color

Add a drop or two of food coloring to the warm marshmallow mixture.
Stir until fully combined. (Tip: For pastel shades, use the tiniest amount of color!)

3. Add Cornstarch

Start with ½ cup of cornstarch and fold it into the mixture.
Keep adding small amounts until the dough becomes soft, stretchy, and slightly bouncy, but no longer sticky.

4. Knead With Hands

Dust your hands with cornstarch and knead the dough for about 30 seconds.
This step is where the magic happens — the texture transforms into a fluffy, marshmallow cloud.

5. Repeat for Each Color

If you're making a full pastel rainbow, repeat steps 1–4 with a new bowl or rinse between colors.

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⭐ Why this version works

• Marshmallow crème + frosting = a soft, airy binder.

• Powdered sugar makes it smooth and stretchier than classic cornstarch dough.

• Cornstarch keeps it moldable.

• Oil keeps it from crumbling and gives it the buttery texture.

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⚠️ Notes for Parents

• Completely taste-safe, but extremely sweet — not meant to be eaten as a snack.

• Store in an airtight container for 1–2 days (because it’s edible).

• If it gets dry, knead in a little extra oil.

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Ways to Play

(And why this dough is so good for toddler development!)

This sensory doh is incredibly versatile. In the photos, you’ll see little hands twisting rainbow ropes, squishing puffy “clouds,” and shaping colorful weather scenes — and truly, anything goes. Here are a few guided play ideas:

🌈 Rainbow Twists & Swirls

Kids can roll the dough into ropes and twist the pastel colors together.
Great for:

• Fine motor skills

• Bilateral coordination

• Color recognition

Want to extend the learning? Pair this with my Color Flashcards, which help toddlers identify, match, and describe each pastel shade while they play. It’s an easy way to sneak in early language and color awareness!

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☁️ Cloud Puffs

Press, poke, and squish!
The marshmallow texture is softer than regular playdough, making it especially calming and satisfying.

🌦️ Weather Scenes

Use the pastel colors to make:

• Clouds

• Raindrops

• Sun rays

• Rainbows

• Stormy skies

You can even add small toys or loose parts to create a full small-world weather setup.

✋ Calming Sensory Play

The pillowy bounce of this dough makes it ideal for emotional regulation and slow sensory exploration.

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Weather Week in the Homeschool Planner

Inside the GoodnightFox Homeschool Curriculum & Planner, this activity fits perfectly into Weather Week — one of the most hands-on, sensory-friendly themes in the program.

Here’s how it ties in:

• Rainbow colors = perfect for learning about sun, rain, and weather patterns

• Cloud-soft texture = great for sensory science

• Small-world scenes = ideal for storytelling and vocabulary

Weather Week already includes:

• A Rainbow Playdoh Day

• Cloud science observation prompts

• Weather cards & matching games

• Weather charting and daily sky tracking

This marshmallow doh recipe is an easy add-on to extend the learning and bring the theme to life in a magical, hands-on way.

If you’re not using the planner yet, this is a great preview of the kind of playful, development-focused learning you can expect inside!

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More Pastel Rainbow Activities From My Blog

If your child loves rainbow themes (and yours definitely will after this!), try these pastel-friendly favorites next:

• Pastel Rice Sensory Bin

• Rainbow Popsicle Stick Craft

• Cloud Color-Matching Craft

• Pastel Chickpea Dyed Sensory Bin

• Rainbow Cutting Strips Activity

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Weather-Themed Products From My Shop

Bring even more weather learning into your home with these GoodnightFox resources:

Weather Station Printable Play

Weather Flashcards

Weather Play Rounds

Weather Memory Game

These pair beautifully with hands-on activities like the marshmallow doh and help create a complete, visually consistent learning environment at home.

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Educational Takeaways & Homeschool Value

• Sensory-based: strengthens fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and tactile awareness. (AgriCollege)

• Creative & cognitive: supports imagination, color recognition, cause/effect, and symbolic thinking. (Sunshine House Early Learning Academy)

• Emotional and social: encourages calm, concentration, connection (parent and child working together), and expressive play. (Mothercould)

• Language & pre-writing readiness: shaping, pressing, and sculpting dough helps build hand strength for writing, and talking through play builds vocabulary and storytelling skills. (curiositycornersensorydough)

Magical Unicorn Sensory Play: Spark Imagination and Learning Through Play

Unicorns bring a magical charm that captivates children of all ages. This unicorn-themed sensory play setup combines colorful, sparkly materials with hands-on activities that develop fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory exploration. With four enchanting bins and whimsical decor, this play setup will transport your little ones into a world of rainbows, clouds, and unicorn fun!

List of Materials Needed

• Poly fiber fill or Cotton balls

• Rainbow cutouts

• Pink and purple star patches

• Cloud and unicorn acrylic charms (GoodnightFox)

• Shaving cream

• Food coloring (pink, purple, blue)

• Sparkly glitter

• Materials for unicorn slime or chickpea foam (optional, for taste-safe play)

• Pom poms or unicorn cookies (for taste-safe play)

• Trofast bin unicorn insert (with feeding hole)

• Unicorn cutout (mane with hole punch)

• Fluffy rainbow yarn

• Scissors

• Printable decor items (castle, rainbows, unicorns, pattern-matching printables)

• Pink/purple awning

Overview of Learning Objectives by Age Group

• Age 0-6mo: Tactile exploration of soft materials like cotton balls and poly fiber fill.

• Age 6mo-12mo: Develop fine motor skills by grabbing pom poms and touching soft textures.

• Age 12mo-2yr: Practice cause-and-effect play, such as feeding the unicorn or swirling shaving cream.

• Age 3yr-4yr: Strengthen motor skills with threading, scissor use, and pattern-matching activities.

• Age 4yr-6yr: Enhance creativity and critical thinking by engaging in imaginary play and themed crafts.

Setting up unicorn land

The magical unicorn setup features a pink and purple awning that sets a whimsical tone. Decorate the space with cutout castles, rainbows, unicorns, and colorful pattern-matching printables. These elements not only create a cohesive theme but also encourage imaginative storytelling and role play.

Sensory Bin 1: Clouds & Rainbows

Materials List:

• Poly fiber fill

• Cotton balls

• Rainbow cutouts

• Pink and purple star patches

• Cloud and unicorn acrylic charms

Activity Instructions:

Create a fluffy cloudscape by spreading poly fiber fill and cotton balls across the bin. Add rainbow cutouts and scatter star patches throughout. Use cloud and unicorn acrylic charms for “rainbow run” imaginative play. Encourage children to create stories about unicorns jumping across rainbows and resting on clouds.

Sensory Bin 2: Swirled Shaving Cream Magic

Materials List:

• Shaving cream

• Food coloring (purple, blue, pink)

• Sparkly glitter

Activity Instructions:

Fill the bin with shaving cream and add drops of food coloring. Let kids swirl the colors to create magical patterns, then sprinkle glitter for a sparkly touch. For an alternative activity, mix unicorn slime or make taste-safe chickpea foam. Kids will love the soft textures and colorful visuals.

Sensory Bin 3: Feed the Unicorn

Materials List:

• Trofast bin unicorn insert

• Pom poms or unicorn cookies

Activity Instructions:

Use the unicorn insert with a hole to mimic a magical unicorn feeding station. Encourage children to “feed” the unicorn with colorful pom poms or taste-safe unicorn cookies. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination and is perfect for pretend play.

Sensory Bin 4: Rainbow Threading and Hair Cutting

Materials List:

• Unicorn cutout with hole-punched mane

• Fluffy rainbow yarn

• Scissors

Activity Instructions:

Thread fluffy rainbow yarn through the holes in the unicorn’s mane to create colorful braids. Once threaded, practice cutting the “hair” to encourage scissor skills. This activity combines creativity with fine motor development.

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Benefits of Sensory Play

1. Encourages imaginative play and storytelling.

2. Develops fine motor skills through threading, cutting, and feeding activities.

3. Enhances sensory processing with tactile, visual, and auditory elements.

4. Provides calming effects through repetitive, hands-on activities.

5. Builds problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

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Week-Long Unicorn Themed Homeschool Lesson Plan

Monday: Unicorn Exploring Colors and Textures

1. Color Sorting Activity: Sort pom poms by color. (Objective: Learn color recognition)

2. Unicorn Art Craft: Paint a unicorn outline using watercolors. (Objective: Explore creativity and fine motor skills)

3. Cloud Sensory Exploration: Use cotton balls and poly fiber fill to create tactile cloud art. (Objective: Develop sensory awareness)

4. Unicorn Matching Worksheet: Match unicorns to their rainbow paths. (Objective: Practice pattern recognition)

5. Rainbow Building with Blocks: Create rainbows using colored blocks. (Objective: Improve spatial awareness)

6. Taste-Safe Slime Making: Make chickpea foam. (Objective: Learn about textures and safe sensory play)

7. Story Time: Read a unicorn-themed book. (Objective: Enhance language and listening skills)

8. Movement Game: Unicorn gallop race around the yard. (Objective: Promote gross motor skills)

Tuesday: Unicorn Numbers and Patterns

1. Counting Clouds: Count cotton balls in groups. (Objective: Practice counting and number recognition)

2. Rainbow Sequencing: Arrange colored strips in rainbow order. (Objective: Understand sequences)

3. Pattern Matching Worksheet: Complete a unicorn-themed pattern sheet. (Objective: Identify and continue patterns)

4. Pom Pom Drop: Drop pom poms into numbered cups. (Objective: Number association)

5. Rainbow Sorting Game: Use rainbow-colored objects to create sets. (Objective: Learn sorting and grouping)

6. Sensory Writing Tray: Use shaving cream to write numbers. (Objective: Reinforce number writing skills)

7. Unicorn Shape Hunt: Search for hidden shape cutouts. (Objective: Recognize basic shapes)

8. Unicorn Cookie Math: Divide cookies into equal groups. (Objective: Learn basic division and sharing concepts)

Wednesday: Language and Storytelling

1. Unicorn Alphabet Game: Match uppercase and lowercase letters. (Objective: Letter recognition)

2. Vocabulary Craft: Create flashcards with unicorn-related words. (Objective: Build vocabulary)

3. Story Writing Activity: Write a short story about a unicorn’s adventure. (Objective: Develop writing skills)

4. Magnetic Letters: Use magnetic letters to spell unicorn-themed words. (Objective: Practice spelling)

5. Unicorn Puppet Play: Use a unicorn cutout to act out a story. (Objective: Foster imagination)

6. Rainbow Word Search: Find unicorn-related words in a custom word search. (Objective: Practice reading skills)

7. Interactive Story: Co-create a unicorn tale with prompts. (Objective: Enhance creative thinking)

8. Phonics Game: Match pictures to their starting sounds. (Objective: Strengthen phonemic awareness)

Thursday: Unicorn Science and Discovery

1. Rainbow Experiment: Use food coloring and water to create a rainbow. (Objective: Learn about color mixing)

2. Unicorn Slime Activity: Create glittery unicorn slime. (Objective: Explore chemical reactions)

3. Cloud in a Jar Experiment: Demonstrate condensation using a jar and hot water. (Objective: Understand weather concepts)

4. Pom Pom Launcher: Build a simple launcher to explore physics. (Objective: Learn about force and motion)

5. Unicorn Habitat Craft: Build a mini unicorn house using craft supplies. (Objective: Encourage design thinking)

6. Nature Walk: Collect items and discuss textures and colors. (Objective: Connect nature to sensory learning)

7. Unicorn Shadow Play: Use cutouts and a flashlight to make unicorn shadows. (Objective: Discover light and shadows)

8. Glitter Globe Craft: Make a mini glitter globe with unicorn charms. (Objective: Explore visual sensory effects)

Friday: Unicorn Fine Arts and Motor Skills

1. Rainbow Yarn Threading: Thread yarn through punched holes in a unicorn mane. (Objective: Develop fine motor skills)

2. Unicorn Hair Salon: Cut and style yarn to “trim” unicorn hair. (Objective: Practice scissor skills)

3. Collage Art: Create a unicorn collage with sequins and glitter. (Objective: Foster creativity)

4. Rainbow Pom Pom Toss: Toss pom poms into cups of matching colors. (Objective: Improve hand-eye coordination)

5. Unicorn Tiara Craft: Make a wearable unicorn crown. (Objective: Encourage creativity and design)

6. Unicorn Dance Party: Dance to music while pretending to be unicorns. (Objective: Build gross motor skills)

7. DIY Unicorn Puzzle: Cut a unicorn picture into pieces for a puzzle. (Objective: Enhance problem-solving skills)

8. Review Day: Discuss the week’s activities and reflect on what was learned. (Objective: Reinforce concepts)

This lesson plan ensures children are engaged in themed, educational activities all week while keeping the weekend open for free play and exploration with the full sensory setup..

25 Unicorn Vocabulary Words

1. Unicorn

2. Rainbow

3. Cloud

4. Glitter

5. Magical

6. Mane

7. Thread

8. Feed

9. Castle

10. Star

11. Charm

12. Yarn

13. Cut

14. Sparkle

15. Soft

16. Swirl

17. Color

18. Foam

19. Slime

20. Cookie

21. Imagination

22. Pretend

23. Story

24. Pattern

25. Explore
    
    
    
    
    

This magical unicorn setup promises hours of fun and learning while sparking your child’s creativity. Ready to dive into the world of sensory play? Share your favorite moments and tag @GoodnightFox for a chance to be featured!