Did you try the Paint in a Bag activity? Wasn’t it great not having a mess to clean up? Well, here is another great sensory activity that has no mess. The squish bag!
Materials
- Hair gel (You can use any kind of hair gel. I just picked up something cheap.)
- Zip close plastic bag (I used a quart size, but feel free to make a large sensory squish bag)
- Small objects to add: sequins, glitter, beads, small plastic animals or toys (I only had glitter and laminated sheets of colored paper on hand so that is what I added. I used a paper-punch to punch different shapes out of the laminated paper)
- Tape or glue to seal the bag shut tight
- Optional: rubbing alcohol and cotton swab to remove the label from the zip close bag
Directions
- Optional: Remove the white label from the zip close bag - This is so it doesn't block the contents of the squish bag, I used a cotton swab soaked with rubbing alcohol to rub away the writing.
- Fill the bag with hair gel - I used the entire container of hair gel. As you fill the bag with hair gel, mix in the glitter. I find it easier to disperse the glitter if you add it through out rather than at the end.
- Add in the small objects to the bag
- Remove as much air as possible as you seal the bag. For added measure, tape or glue the bag shut so that it doesn’t come open as your little one plays.
- Mix up the bag - Squish the bag around to disperse the small objects throughout or let your little one do this step.
- Double check the bag - If you are concerned about the bag leaking or popping, then place the squish bag inside a second zip close bag and seal.
Riley's experience
Riley loves to drag her squish bag all around the house. She plays hide and seek with it. She presses toys against it, slides it across the ground, stands on it, tosses it, and shakes it. She isn’t gentle with it and it hasn’t popped! The bag always feels cool so we often press that against our bare skin and talk about the temperature. We squish and kneed the gel around. As we play, I talk about what it feels like and sounds like. This is a great toy to create and let your child keep coming back to it whenever they like!
Play modifications
For younger babies, let this be a tummy time or high chair activity. Keep the squish bag in place by taping it to the play mat or high chair tray with painters’ tape.
For toddlers and older children, let them help you make the squish bag. You can also use these squish bags for letter, shape, and squiggle writing. Using your pointer finger and a little pressure, you can write letters in the gel from the outside of the bag. For the writing practice, you will want less gel and a large bag so that it is a thinner layer of gel. When your little one draws or writes with their pointer finger on the outside of the bag, they will be pushing the gel aside as they move their finger to leave a clear shape or letter behind.
This can also be used as a calm, quiet activity for children who might be overstimulated or are getting ready for naptime/bedtime. Remove all other toys and distractions and let them play with the squish bag. Play soft, soothing music in the background during this time.
Benefits
- Fine motor skills: Your child is working their hand and finger muscles as the kneed and squish the squish bags.
- Language development: Your child is learning contextual vocabulary as you describe what they are doing and feeling while playing. They might hear words such as squish, kneed, grab, cool, etc.
- Cognitive development: During sensory play, more neural connections and paths are being formed as more senses are involved.
##Links to materials ##
