Hi, my lovely readers, i hope you are well today.
Today's post will be about making a sensory bag. I made one and it was super easy and fun. Less than 2 hours to make.
Sensory bag has similar concept to sensory bottles. It is used to expand children's sense of touch, fine motor skills, hand and eye coordination, creativity and adventure.
I don't think introducing early to your babies will bring any harm. However, keep in mind that babies tend to put everything inside their mouth. If you feel uncomfortable, you may skip and introducing later when they grow older (above 1 year old).
Please note that you must always supervise your baby during the play. Never leave them alone. And store away far and secure from your baby's reach out.
I wanted my baby to learn something new, therefore i am making one :)
If you search on the internet, you will find tons of great ideas and tutorials for making sensory bags. All are fun and creatives with different materials and elements.
I came up with ocean theme. Inside my imagination there is a dolphin, a jellyfish, a seahorses and some fish swimming around seaweeds. I think i went too overboard this time :D cause i don't think my baby will understand (yet). But, let's try to make one ;)
Let's Make Them.
You will need 1pc of freezer bag. You can find in storage section at supermarket. Most supermarkets will have stocks. I have seen at Giant, Fairprice Extra, Cold Storage, Daiso and even mini markets). As for the size, it depends on you. The one i am using is L size Daiso freezer bag size 27cm x 28cm.
For making a sensory bag, you will need rounded non sharp objects to prevent punctures to the bag. I am making my objects using glitter foam sheets. Feel free to use any rounded non sharp objects to put inside your sensory bag. It could be round beads, pom-poms, ribbons, etc.
For the sea animals (except the dolphin) and the seaweed i hand drawn then cut. As for the dolphin, i am using cookie cutter. Traced then cut.
Cut the seaweed smaller width than your freezer bag.
Hi there Mr Jellyfish.
1st Arrangement.
Googly eyes glued to each sea animals to added cuteness.
I don't want to look overcrowded, but i think need to add in something.
Pom-poms.
Hmm, how about 1 more sea animal?
Mr Seahorse and a fish.
Does it look better?
I decided to add in 1 more small fish :)
You can fill your bag with water or hair gel.
I went with clear hair gel.
My previous hair gel only left less than half tube. I went to buy new jar. I am going with blue colour.
Don't fill the bag until full as you can't move the objects.
I filled about 1/2 of bag.
Then squeezed many air as you can before slide the zipper closed.
The glitter from Mr Jellyfish came off not long after i poured the hair gel.
Use clear tape sealed around 4 edges of the bag, to prevent any leakages. I sealed 4 times.
For decorative touch, you may use patterned duct tape to cover the 4 sealed edges.
Since, i found duct tapes quite expensive in Singapore, i decided to draw my own pattern using a white colour tape.
You will need permanent markers. Preferably bold and bright colours. I am using my Sharpie markers. For the patterns or designs i am just using my patterned ruler? I do not know what this ruler called. It is a rectangle shape ruler with many sizes and shapes of circles, triangles, squares and hexagons.
Ta-da. This my final results!!!!
I drew the circles and triangles with the help of the ruler. The rest i just free hand drew them.
Wait until the ink are dry then give to your baby.
Always with adult supervision.
Stored away after play.
Hope he likes it.
Yup, his first reaction was to put it inside his mouth.
Yes, he likes it!!!!
He does not understand yet what inside the bag are. I supervised then played with him while described each animals to him.
To be honest, i enjoyed played it too :D
Fast Forward to few days later:
This was how the bag looked like.
More glitter from the sea animals came off.
The gel colour became blurry.
It looked better when taped onto the window.
All tangled cause my baby loves to crunch the bag :))
For future sensory bag prijects, i will make few amendments:
- Doubled the freezer bag to prevent any leaking. I think my bag was leaking. Cause i keep smell the perfume from the hair gel.
- Use non glitter foam sheets as the glitter easily came off after the hair gel been poured.
- Skip making patterned tape using permanent marker cause babies tend to put everything inside their mouth. I do not want my baby tasting the ink from Sharpie.
Okay, that it, we are finish :)
I will see you again on my next post.
Let's Make Them.
