Sensory Activities to Improve Social Skills in Children with Special Needs (Especially Sensory Processing Disorder)

As a fellow parent on this journey, I know how deeply we wish for our children to feel connected, included, and understood in a world that sometimes doesn’t quite “get” them. Social skills - like making friends, taking turns, or understanding personal space - can be challenging for children with special needs, particularly those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). But the good news is that with the right support and activities, these skills can be nurtured in ways that feel safe, fun, and natural for our children.

In our home, we've found that sensory play isn't just about regulating the nervous system - it’s also a beautiful bridge to connection. When sensory activities are done alongside peers, siblings, or caregivers, they can gently invite our children into social engagement, helping them grow in confidence, communication, and connection.

Here are some sensory-rich activities that support social development in children with SPD and other special needs. These are ones we’ve tried, loved, or had recommended by therapists - and best of all, they’re adaptable to your child’s comfort level and sensory profile.

1. Sensory Bins with a Social Twist

Why it helps: Sensory bins are a safe and familiar space for many children. When shared with a peer or adult, they offer opportunities for parallel play (side-by-side play), turn-taking, and conversation.

What to try: Fill a bin with rice, dry pasta, kinetic sand, or water beads. Add small toys like animals, diggers, or pretend food. Set up a shared task, like “let’s find all the red items together” or “you dig and I bury.”

Social skill focus: Turn-taking, shared attention, descriptive language, cooperation.

Parent tip: Sit down with your child during the activity - model phrases like “Can I have a turn?” or “Wow, look what you found!” This gentle prompting builds vocabulary and social cues naturally.

2. Obstacle Courses for Cooperation

Why it helps: Movement-based activities help children regulate their bodies, which is often the first step to feeling socially “ready.” When two or more kids do the obstacle course together, they learn teamwork, patience, and encouragement.

What to try: Create a simple indoor or outdoor obstacle course with cushions to jump over, tunnels to crawl through, or lines of tape to balance on. Add a challenge like “carry the beanbag together” or “cheer each other on.”

Social skill focus: Collaboration, leadership, following directions, verbal interaction.

Parent tip: You can join in too! Let your child take the lead in creating part of the course—this boosts confidence and gives them ownership of the activity.

3. Sensory Art Projects in a Group Setting

Why it helps: Art is naturally expressive and sensory-friendly. When done with others, it invites sharing ideas, using joint materials, and complimenting one another’s work.

What to try: Finger painting, foam painting, textured collages with fabric or sandpaper, or group murals on big rolls of paper. Try a “pass the picture” activity where each child adds something to a shared artwork.

Social skill focus: Sharing materials, praising peers, collaborative creation, emotional expression.

Parent tip: Use emotion words during art (“That colour feels happy,” or “I love how you used that shape”). This helps children connect feelings with actions - essential for empathy and social awareness.

4. Play Dough Role Play

Why it helps: Play dough offers calming proprioceptive input, which can help children feel more settled and open to social play. Adding pretend elements boosts imagination and dialogue.

What to try: Use dough to make pretend food, animals, or people. Act out a mini social scene like “going to the shop” or “having a tea party.” Take turns being the shopkeeper or the guest.

Social skill focus: Pretend play, storytelling, turn-taking, flexibility in play.

Parent tip: Don’t worry if your child is more comfortable watching at first - model the play yourself and let them join in when they’re ready.

5. Music and Movement Games

Why it helps: Music engages multiple areas of the brain and offers rhythm and predictability - both of which are comforting for many children with SPD. Group music play introduces social cues and group participation in a non-verbal way.

What to try: Try “freeze dance,” passing instruments around the circle, or echo clapping. Singing simple call-and-response songs like “There’s a hole in my bucket” builds listening and turn-taking.  There are lots of examples on YouTube or search engines.

Social skill focus: Imitation, rhythm, waiting, group awareness.

Parent tip: Choose songs your child already knows or let them help pick the playlist. Their familiarity helps lower anxiety and increase participation.

6. Sensory-Friendly Group Games

Why it helps: Simple social games give children a framework to practice interaction with clear rules. Sensory-friendly adaptations make it more accessible.

What to try: Games like “Simon Says” (using quiet voices or visual cues), “Red Light, Green Light” (with gentle stop/go gestures), or “What’s in the bag?” where children take turns feeling an object and guessing what it is.

Social skill focus: Listening, responding to cues, patience, body awareness.

Parent tip: Modify the pace and volume to suit your child’s sensory profile. Some kids do better with visual instructions, while others need extra time to respond.

7. Calming Co-Regulation Activities

Why it helps: Social skills aren’t just about “talking” or “playing.” They’re also about learning to feel safe with another person. Quiet sensory activities like swinging together, blowing bubbles, or lying under a weighted blanket with a story can create moments of shared calm and connection.

What to try: Bubble blowing games where you take turns making big/small bubbles, rocking together in a hammock swing, or matching breathing (“Let’s take 3 slow breaths together”).

Social skill focus: Emotional attunement, non-verbal bonding, self-regulation through co-regulation.

Parent tip: These activities are great before or after social play - helping your child stay grounded and balanced.

Planned Social Activities Prompt:

1. Texture Sharing Bin

• Focus: Turn-taking, joint attention

• Sensory bin filled with textured objects. Two children explore and take turns showing or describing items.

2. Partner Obstacle Course

• Focus: Following instructions, teamwork

• Kids work in pairs to complete a simple course while encouraging one another.

3. Emotion Freeze Dance

• Focus: Emotion recognition, impulse control

• Music + movement game with emotion prompts like “Freeze like you’re surprised!, Freeze like you’re angry!”

4. Feelings Playdough Faces

• Focus: Emotional expression

• Create faces using playdough while discussing feelings.

5. Sound & Share Game

• Focus: Listening skills, conversational turn-taking

• Use sound tubes or shakers and take turns identifying and mimicking sounds.

6. Joint Painting Wall

• Focus: Parallel play, shared space use

• Children paint together on large vertical paper using sensory brushes.

7. Sensory Storytime with Props

• Focus: Listening, shared focus

• Read a short story and pass sensory items that match the story (e.g., soft fur, scented flowers, rain stick).