Multisensory Activities: A Practical Guide for All Learners

If homework time has become a nightly struggle filled with tears and frustration over worksheets, it might be time for a new strategy. Learning doesn’t have to be a passive activity where your child just sits and listens. Children, especially those who struggle to focus, learn best when they can move, touch, and interact with the material. This is the core principle of multisensory learning. By turning abstract concepts into tangible experiences, multisensory activities can re-ignite your child’s curiosity and help information stick in a way that rote memorization never will.

Key Takeaways

Make Learning Stick by Engaging Multiple Senses: This approach intentionally combines sight, sound, touch, and movement to create stronger memory pathways in the brain, which is especially effective for children with reading challenges like dyslexia.
Use Everyday Items as Powerful Learning Tools: You don’t need expensive supplies to make learning hands-on. Simple things like sand, building blocks, or even sidewalk chalk can transform abstract concepts into concrete, memorable activities.
Tailor Activities and Partner with Experts: The best strategies are personalized to your child’s interests. Stay flexible, and remember you don’t have to do it alone—working with a specialized tutor provides targeted, evidence-based support to reinforce your efforts.

What is Multisensory Learning?

If you’ve ever found yourself searching for ways to support a struggling reader, you’ve likely come across the term “multisensory learning.” It might sound technical, but the idea behind it is simple and incredibly powerful. At its heart, multisensory learning is about teaching in a way that involves more than one sense at a time. Instead of just asking a child to look at a book (visual) or listen to a lesson (auditory), this approach intentionally brings in touch and movement to create a richer, more “sticky” learning experience.

Think about how we learn about the world naturally. A baby doesn’t just look at a block; they pick it up, feel its edges, and maybe even put it in their mouth. They are using multiple senses to understand what a “block” is. Multisensory learning applies this same intuitive process to academic skills like reading and math. It’s a foundational component of highly effective, evidence-based approaches like the Orton-Gillingham method, which is designed to help all learners, especially those who find traditional methods challenging. By creating more pathways to the brain, we give information more chances to click and stick for good.

The Core Idea: Engaging All the Senses

The core idea of multisensory learning is to stop relying on just one or two senses. Instead, it combines sight, sound, touch, and movement to reinforce a concept. For example, when learning the letter ‘b’, a child might see the letter on a card, say its sound out loud, trace its shape in a tray of sand, and sky-write it with their whole arm.

This method gives a child’s brain four different ways to connect with and store the information about the letter ‘b’. Each sense provides another hook for memory to grab onto. This is why multisensory techniques are so effective—they build a strong, interconnected web of knowledge in the brain, making it much easier for a child to recall information later.

How Multisensory Learning Helps the Brain

So, why does this work so well? Multisensory teaching helps different parts of the brain work together, strengthening the neural pathways used for learning and memory. Think of it like building several roads to the same destination. If one road is blocked, there are still other ways to get there. This is especially helpful for children with learning differences like dyslexia, who may struggle with traditional teaching that relies heavily on just sight or sound.

Research from institutions like the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has shown that for kids who have difficulty learning to read, a multisensory approach is the most effective method. By engaging multiple senses, we can help bypass areas of weakness and build on a child’s strengths, making learning less frustrating and more successful. It’s a key reason why specialized online tutoring can be so transformative.

Why Use Multisensory Activities for Learning?

When you bring multiple senses into a lesson, you’re doing more than just making it fun—you’re tapping into the way our brains are wired to learn. This approach creates stronger, more lasting connections to information. It’s not just a special technique for certain kids; it’s a powerful strategy that can make learning more effective and enjoyable for everyone. By moving beyond just seeing and hearing, you give your child more ways to connect with and understand new ideas.

Improve Memory and Make Learning Stick

Have you ever noticed how a certain smell can instantly take you back to a childhood memory? That’s because our senses are powerful memory triggers. Multisensory learning uses this same principle to help information stick. When a child learns a new letter by seeing it, saying its sound, and tracing it in sand, they are creating multiple pathways in the brain leading to that same piece of information. These multisensory instruction techniques engage students on different levels, which strengthens memory retention and makes it easier for them to recall what they’ve learned later on.

Reach Every Type of Learner

Every child has a unique way of processing the world. Some are visual learners who need to see information, while others are auditory learners who learn best by listening. Still others are kinesthetic learners who need to move and do. A multisensory approach is effective because it doesn’t force a child into one specific learning style. Instead, it caters to various learning styles at the same time. By activating different parts of the brain simultaneously, you ensure that every child has a way to connect with the material, no matter their natural learning preference.

A Powerful Tool for Students with Learning Differences

For children who struggle with reading issues like dyslexia, multisensory learning isn’t just helpful—it can be a complete game-changer. Traditional teaching methods that rely heavily on reading and listening can be frustrating for a child whose brain is wired differently. Using multisensory techniques for teaching reading provides alternative routes for information to get in and stick. This is the foundation of proven approaches like the Orton-Gillingham method, which helps children build connections between letters and sounds through sight, sound, and touch. It gives them a concrete way to grasp abstract concepts, building confidence right alongside their skills.

Simple Multisensory Activities for Every Age

The best part about multisensory learning is that it’s not about buying expensive gadgets or following complicated lesson plans. You can weave these activities into your daily life, no matter your child’s age. The goal is to make learning a natural, engaging part of their world.

For Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 0-5)

Learning starts from day one, and for little ones, it’s all about play and interaction. You can support their development with simple, sensory-rich experiences. For infants, try repeating words and sounds as you play and make eye contact. As they grow into toddlers, play games that involve following simple directions with their favorite stuffed animals. For preschoolers, a fun game is to trace letters on each other’s backs and have them guess the letter. These everyday activities build crucial pre-reading skills by connecting touch, sound, and sight in a way that feels like pure fun.

For Elementary School Kids (Ages 6-11)

As kids enter elementary school, you can use multisensory techniques to support their homework and reading practice. Make learning active instead of passive. For example, you can clap, stomp, or jump out the syllables in new spelling words. During bath time or car rides, play listening games where you ask them to identify the beginning, middle, or ending sound in a word. These simple exercises help solidify phonological awareness, a key building block for strong readers. The more you can connect physical action to an academic concept, the more likely it is to stick in their memory.

For Tweens and Teens (Ages 12-18)

Getting older kids on board with multisensory learning might require a different approach, but it’s just as effective. Abstract concepts in history or science can be hard to grasp from a textbook alone. Encourage them to use kinaesthetic activities to process what they’re learning. This could look like creating a piece of art inspired by a historical event, acting out a scene from a novel they’re reading for English class, or building a model for a science project. These hands-on methods give them a tangible way to interact with information, making studying more dynamic and memorable.

For Adult Learners

Sensory activities aren’t just for kids! As adults, we can also benefit from engaging our senses to learn new things or simply manage stress. If you’re learning a new skill or trying to focus at work, try incorporating different sensory inputs. Use a nicely weighted pen, listen to instrumental music, or chew gum while you work. Taking a short walk to think through a problem can also be incredibly effective. These small actions can help improve mental and emotional well-being, reduce stress, and sharpen your focus. It’s a great reminder that we all learn best when our whole brain is involved.

What Makes a Multisensory Activity Great?

A truly effective multisensory activity is more than just a fun craft project; it’s a strategic way to build stronger, more durable pathways for learning in the brain. Think of it like this: instead of sending information down a single road, you’re opening up a whole network of highways. When a child can see, hear, and touch a concept all at once, the brain gets to process that information in multiple ways. This overlap is what makes the learning stick.

The best activities don’t just check boxes for different senses. They integrate them in a way that feels natural and reinforces the core lesson. For a child learning the letter ‘S’, seeing its shape, hearing its sound, and tracing it in sand creates a rich, layered experience that a simple worksheet can’t replicate. This approach is especially powerful for children with learning differences like dyslexia, as it plays to their strengths and offers alternative ways to grasp concepts that might be challenging through reading alone. It’s not about making things easier, but about making learning more accessible and effective for every kind of mind. The goal is to create a connection so strong that recalling the information becomes second nature.

See It: Visual Learning

Visual learning is all about using our eyes to connect with new information. For struggling readers, this goes far beyond just looking at black letters on a white page. It’s about making concepts visually engaging with color, shape, and imagery. Using brightly colored letter tiles can help a child distinguish between different sounds, while drawing a picture to go with a new vocabulary word creates a mental snapshot that’s easier to recall than a definition alone. These visual aids help organize information in a way that makes sense, enhancing both comprehension and memory. When a child can see the connection, it clicks into place.

Hear It: Auditory Learning

Hearing information adds another critical layer to learning. This involves using sound to reinforce what your child is seeing and doing. When a child says the sound of a letter out loud as they trace it, they are connecting the visual shape to the auditory output. Listening to audiobooks while following along in a physical book can improve fluency and model expressive reading. You can even make up silly songs or rhymes to remember spelling rules. These multisensory teaching strategies help students process information through their auditory channels, solidifying their understanding and making it easier to remember later on.

Touch and Do It: Tactile and Kinesthetic Learning

This is where learning gets physical. Tactile learning involves touch, while kinesthetic learning involves body movement. For many kids, especially those who need to move, these hands-on activities are a game-changer. Tracing letters in a sand tray, building words with magnetic tiles, or molding letters out of clay are all fantastic tactile exercises. Kinesthetic learning takes it a step further by getting the whole body involved—think jumping on floor mats with letters to spell words or acting out verbs. This physical engagement helps anchor concepts in the brain in a way that sitting still simply can’t.

Smell and Taste: The Forgotten Senses in Learning

While we don’t often think about using smell and taste in academic lessons, they can be surprisingly powerful tools. These senses are strongly tied to memory and can help create strong associations that make learning experiences more vivid and memorable. For example, you could have your child smell a lemon while learning the letter ‘L’ or bake alphabet cookies and have them eat the letters as they name them. While you won’t use them for every lesson, incorporating smell and taste can add a fun, novel element that deepens your child’s engagement and makes a lesson truly unforgettable.

How to Bring Multisensory Learning into Your Day

You don’t need a special classroom or expensive supplies to make learning a multisensory experience. The best part about this approach is how easily it fits into your daily routine. By making small, intentional shifts, you can transform homework time and everyday moments into powerful learning opportunities that support your child’s unique needs. Here are a few practical ways to get started.

Set Up a Sensory-Friendly Space

A child’s environment can either help or hinder their ability to focus. For kids who struggle with sensory overload or distractions, creating a calm, organized workspace is the first step. This doesn’t mean you need a perfectly silent, sterile room. It’s about providing a structured environment where your child feels secure and ready to learn. Start by clearing clutter from their desk or table. Try to minimize background noise from the TV or other devices. Some children work best with soft lighting, while others might benefit from noise-reducing headphones. The goal is to create a predictable and calming space that tells their brain, “It’s time to focus.”

Use Everyday Items as Learning Tools

You already have a treasure trove of multisensory tools right in your kitchen and craft drawers. Simple, everyday items are perfect for hands-on learning because they are familiar and fun. Multisensory instruction techniques and strategies stimulate learning by engaging students on multiple levels, and you can do this with things you already own. Let your child trace letters in a shallow tray of salt or sand. Use magnetic letters on the fridge to build words. Practice spelling with alphabet pasta or Scrabble tiles. These tactile activities reinforce concepts in a way that sitting with a worksheet simply can’t.

Get Moving to Learn

For many kids, sitting still is the hardest part of learning. Incorporating movement is a fantastic way to keep them engaged and help information stick. The multisensory approach is powerful because it activates different parts of the human brain at the same time, strengthening memory. Take learning on the go! Practice spelling words with sidewalk chalk in the driveway, where they can write the letters big and bold. Recite multiplication facts while jumping on a mini-trampoline or tossing a ball back and forth. Even something as simple as pacing while reading aloud can make a huge difference for a child who needs to move to think.

Adapt Any Lesson with a Multisensory Twist

The beauty of this approach is that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You can adapt almost any lesson your child brings home from school. Multisensory instruction is a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time, giving kids multiple pathways to connect with what they are learning. Is your child working on vocabulary? Have them act out the words. Studying a historical event? Help them build a model out of clay or LEGOs. Learning about plant life cycles? Plant a seed together and watch it grow. By adding a simple hands-on, auditory, or visual element, you make the lesson more memorable and accessible.

Multisensory Ideas for School Subjects

The beauty of multisensory learning is that it isn’t limited to one area of study. You can weave these techniques into almost any subject to make complex ideas more concrete and memorable. Here are a few simple ways to get started with reading, math, science, and history.

Reading, Writing, and Spelling

This is where multisensory learning truly shines, especially for children with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Methods like Orton-Gillingham are built on this foundation. Instead of just looking at letters on a page, your child can engage their sense of touch. Try having them trace letters in a sand tray or a shallow dish of shaving cream while saying the letter’s sound aloud. This simple activity connects the physical motion of writing with the sound and sight of the letter, creating stronger neural pathways. You can also use magnetic letters on a cookie sheet to build words or tap out the syllables in a word on their arm to feel the rhythm of the language. These multisensory reading techniques help make abstract symbols concrete.

Math

Math can feel abstract, but multisensory activities make numbers tangible. Move beyond worksheets and use physical objects to bring concepts to life. Use blocks or LEGO bricks for counting, adding, and subtracting. Let your child physically group, separate, and build with them. For learning fractions, slice up a pizza or an apple to provide a delicious visual and tactile lesson. You can also get the whole body involved with kinaesthetic activities. Have your child jump along a number line on the floor or use their arms to form the shapes of numbers and geometric figures. When math becomes a hands-on experience, it’s much easier for children to grasp and retain the core concepts.

Science and History

Bring stories and facts off the page by turning them into rich sensory experiences. For science, this means getting your hands dirty. Build a model of the solar system with styrofoam balls, conduct a simple kitchen chemistry experiment with baking soda and vinegar, or plant a seed and document its growth. For history, think about how you can recreate a piece of the past. Build a castle out of cardboard boxes, create a timeline on the wall with yarn and clothespins, or cook a recipe from a historical period. These activities provide powerful sensory experiences that help anchor information in your child’s memory, making learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure. If your child needs extra support, District school tutoring can help reinforce these concepts and provide additional guidance along the way.

Common Roadblocks and How to Get Past Them

Even with the best intentions, bringing a new learning approach into your home can feel daunting. You might run into a few common hurdles along the way, and that’s completely normal. The key is to anticipate these challenges and have a simple plan to get past them without adding more stress to your plate. Let’s walk through some of the most frequent roadblocks and find practical solutions that work for your family, so you can focus on what matters: helping your child succeed.

“I Don’t Have Enough Time”

This is the most common concern for busy parents, and it’s completely valid. The good news is that multisensory learning isn’t about adding another hour-long task to your day. It’s about weaving sensory experiences into the things you’re already doing. Start by creating a structured environment for homework that is free from outside distractions like the TV or clutter. This simple change helps your child focus without taking any extra time from your schedule. You can also practice spelling words with bathtub crayons during bath time or use magnetic letters on the fridge while you make dinner. Small, consistent moments often have a bigger impact than one big, stressful session.

“I Don’t Have the Right Supplies”

You don’t need to buy expensive kits or fancy gadgets to get started. In fact, you probably already have everything you need right at home. The power of a multisensory approach comes from using simple, stimulating materials to make learning tangible. Think about things like sand, shaving cream, or even uncooked rice in a shallow tray for tracing letters and numbers. Sidewalk chalk, play-doh, and pipe cleaners are also fantastic tools. The goal is to supplement learning with hands-on activities, not to replace your current methods entirely. Get creative with what’s in your pantry and craft drawer—you’ll be surprised at what you can turn into a powerful learning tool.

“My Child Isn’t Interested”

If your child has found school challenging, they might be resistant to anything that feels like another lesson. This is where multisensory learning truly shines, because it often feels more like play than work. The secret is to connect activities to your child’s interests. If they love superheroes, have them write sight words in “superhero slime” (shaving cream with food coloring). If they’re into building, use blocks to practice math concepts. Multisensory instruction techniques work because they engage different parts of the brain at once, which can make learning feel fresh and exciting. When you reframe learning as a fun, hands-on game, you can often bypass that initial resistance and help them rediscover their curiosity.

Your Game Plan for Success

Putting multisensory learning into practice can feel like a big undertaking, but you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. The key is to have a simple, sustainable plan. Think of it as a roadmap to guide your efforts and ensure you’re providing the best possible support for your learner. By focusing on your own growth, building a support team, and staying flexible, you can create a learning environment where your child will truly thrive. This approach isn’t about perfection; it’s about making consistent, thoughtful progress.

Continue Your Own Learning

One of the most powerful things you can do is to keep learning yourself. The world of educational strategies is always evolving, and staying informed helps you bring the best techniques home. Understanding different multisensory instruction techniques allows you to engage your child on multiple levels, which is proven to help with memory and retention. When you know the “why” behind an activity, you can adapt it more effectively. You’ll start to see opportunities for multisensory learning everywhere, turning everyday moments into chances for connection and growth.

Partner with Tutors and Specialists

You are your child’s best advocate, but you don’t have to be their only teacher. Collaborating with professionals can be a game-changer, especially if you suspect a learning disability. Specialists can help identify specific challenges and create a tailored plan for support. Working with an experienced tutor provides targeted instruction that reinforces what you’re doing at home. Whether you choose in-home tutoring or a flexible online format, having an expert on your team ensures your child gets the focused, evidence-based support they need to build confidence and skills.

Personalize and Be Flexible

Every child is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. The most successful multisensory strategies are personalized. Pay attention to what sparks your child’s interest and what causes frustration. While it helps to provide a structured environment with minimal distractions, it’s just as important to be flexible. If skywriting spelling words isn’t clicking, try building them with clay instead. The goal is to find the right combination of sensory inputs that make learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure. Trust your instincts and be ready to adjust your approach.

How to Know If It’s Working

When you introduce multisensory activities, you’re probably eager to see results. But progress isn’t always measured by test scores or report cards. Sometimes, the most meaningful changes are in your child’s attitude, confidence, and willingness to engage. Knowing what to look for can help you celebrate the small wins and stay motivated. It’s about noticing how your child interacts with learning, not just what they can recall on a quiz. By paying attention to their engagement, asking for their input, and remembering the solid research behind these methods, you can get a clear picture of how well it’s working.

Watch for Progress

One of the first signs that multisensory learning is effective is a change in your child’s engagement. You might notice them leaning in, staying focused for longer, or showing genuine curiosity. Because these techniques stimulate learning by engaging students on multiple levels, you’ll see improvements in how they retain information. For example, a child who struggled to remember sight words might suddenly recall them after tracing them in sand. Progress can also look like a newfound confidence to try a difficult task or the ability to explain a concept in their own words. These moments are clear indicators that their brain is building stronger connections.

Ask Your Child for Feedback

Your child is the best source of information about what’s working for them. Make a habit of checking in with them in a low-pressure way. You don’t need to grill them; instead, have a simple conversation. Ask questions like, “Was it more fun to use the letter tiles or write on the whiteboard today?” or “Did making the salt dough map help you remember the states?” Their answers give you valuable insight into which activities resonate most. This also empowers them by making them an active participant in their own education, showing them that their opinion matters and that learning can be tailored to them.

Trust the Science

On days when progress feels slow, remember that multisensory instruction is an evidence-based approach. It’s not just a collection of fun activities; it’s a method supported by significant research. Studies have consistently shown that for children with learning difficulties, a multisensory method is highly effective. When you feel uncertain, lean on that knowledge. You’re using a strategy proven to help the brain learn more efficiently. If you need more support, you can always partner with tutors who are experts in applying these science-backed methods, like the Orton-Gillingham approach, to create a personalized plan for your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is multisensory learning only for young children or those with dyslexia? Not at all. While this approach is a complete game-changer for children with learning differences like dyslexia, its principles benefit every type of learner. Multisensory teaching is simply about making learning more effective by engaging different parts of the brain at once. It helps make abstract concepts concrete and strengthens memory for everyone, from toddlers learning their first letters to adults acquiring a new skill.

Do I need to buy expensive kits or special supplies to do this at home? Absolutely not. You likely have a wealth of powerful learning tools in your home right now. The goal is to get creative with everyday items to make learning a hands-on experience. Things like shaving cream, uncooked rice, or sand in a shallow tray are perfect for tracing letters. Sidewalk chalk, play-doh, and even alphabet pasta can be used to practice spelling and math in a way that feels more like play than work.

My child is older and might think these activities are silly. How can I adapt this for them? That’s a common concern, and the key is to adapt the principle, not necessarily the activity. For tweens and teens, multisensory learning can look like building a model for a science project, creating a piece of art inspired by a novel, or acting out a scene from a history lesson. The focus shifts from simple tactile exercises to more complex, project-based work that gives them a tangible way to interact with and process information.

How can I fit this into our already busy schedule? The idea isn’t to add another hour-long lesson to your day, but to weave these techniques into the things you’re already doing. You can practice spelling words with bathtub crayons, use magnetic letters on the fridge while you make dinner, or chant multiplication tables while tossing a ball in the backyard. These small, consistent moments are often more effective than a single, long session and fit naturally into your existing family routine.

How long does it take to see results from using multisensory methods? Progress looks different for every child, and it isn’t always measured by a test score. The first changes you’ll likely notice are in your child’s attitude and engagement. They might stay focused for longer, show more curiosity, or feel more confident trying something difficult. These are the real signs that the information is sticking and that their brain is building stronger connections. The academic improvements will follow from this foundation of confidence and engagement.