Easy DIY Shapes Sensory Squish Bag For Toddlers and Preschoolers: Engaging Sensory Activity
What if I told you that one of the most powerful learning tools for your toddler or preschooler could fit right into a zip-lock bag? Yes, it’s true! A Shapes Sensory Squish Bag is not only simple to make at home but also delivers hours of learning, entertainment, and calm.
The very first time I made a Shapes Sensory Squish Bag, I was amazed at how long it kept my child engaged, squishing the beads, moving them to match the shapes, and giggling the entire time. This isn’t just a quick DIY craft, it’s a sensory activity that combines play with essential early learning skills.
Parents are often on the lookout for activities that feel fun but also serve a purpose. The Shapes Sensory Squish Bag does exactly that. It blends creativity, shape recognition, and fine motor skills all in one. Plus, it’s mess-free, affordable, and so easy to set up that you can have it ready in minutes.
By the time you finish this guide, you’ll not only know how to make a Shapes Sensory Squish Bag step-by-step, but you’ll also discover the developmental benefits, ways to adapt it for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and even ideas to turn this simple sensory bag into a Montessori art activity or math lesson at home.
So, let’s dive in and see how this Shapes Sensory Squish Bag can become your go-to sensory activity for learning and play!
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Why Sensory Play Matters for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Sensory play helps children build connections in the brain through hands-on experiences.
- Activities like a sensory bag or sensory shapes activity improve fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving.
- Engaging in shapes sensory play supports early math skills like sorting, classifying, and recognizing patterns.
- A shapes sensory squish bag gives kids the opportunity to learn through touch, sight, and movement, all essential for early childhood development.
- Shapes, colors, and textures provide multi-sensory stimulation that keeps children focused and curious.
Supplies You’ll Need to Make a Shapes Sensory Squish Bag
- 16 oz clear hair gel (affordable and easy to find at the dollar store)
- Plastic beads – multicolored (purple, pink, green, blue, and orange work great)
- Scissors
- Markers – choose colors that coordinate with the beads
- Zip-lock gallon-size baggie
- Packaging tape or colorful duct tape for sealing
- Alcohol swabs (or alcohol with cotton balls) to remove product labels
- White cardstock for backing
- Shapes to trace – star, heart, square, triangle, circle (cookie cutters, jar tops, or stencils work well)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Your Shapes Sensory Squish Bag
- Gather all the supplies. Having everything ready makes the process faster.
- Remove product labelling. Use alcohol swabs or cotton balls dipped in alcohol to erase any writing on the bag.
- Trace your shapes. Using cookie cutters or jar lids, outline shapes like a star, heart, square, triangle, and circle on white cardstock. Match marker colors to your bead colors for extra fun.
- Fill the bag. Add 16 oz of clear hair gel to your zip-lock baggie. Drop in about 10 beads of each colour.
- Seal the bag. Push out all the air before sealing the bag tightly. Place the cardstock with shapes on the back of the bag and tape it securely with duct tape or packaging tape.
- Playtime! Little hands can now squish the bag and move each colored bead to its matching shape.
This activity is simple yet incredibly effective. And the best part? Once sealed, the Shapes Sensory Squish Bag can be used over and over again without mess or fuss.
Learning Benefits of the Shapes Sensory Squish Bag
- Shape Recognition: Kids match beads to shapes like circles, triangles, and stars.
- Color Matching: Coordinating bead colors with marker shapes builds early sorting skills.
- Fine Motor Development: Pushing beads through gel strengthens finger muscles.
- Cognitive Growth: Following directions and solving small challenges boosts problem-solving skills.
- Math Foundations: Early exposure to math activities preschool style—counting beads, comparing shapes, and recognizing patterns.
- Calming Effect: The squishy texture provides stress relief and keeps little ones calm during transitions.
Shapes Sensory Squish Bag Variations for Different Ages
Infant Shapes Activities
- Use larger beads or buttons to make it visually stimulating.
- Focus on high-contrast colors like black and white to catch infant attention.
- Incorporate color and shape activities for infants with basic outlines like circles and squares.
Shape Sensory for Toddlers
- Toddlers love to squish, so the shape sensory for toddlers version can include textured beads.
- Introduce more shapes gradually: hexagons, ovals, rectangles.
- Let toddlers practice saying the shape names while moving beads around.
Preschool & Kindergarten Learning Activities
- Turn the activity into a mini math game, count the beads, add and subtract as they move them.
- Incorporate Montessori art activities by letting kids decorate the cardstock shapes themselves.
- Use the bag in small groups as part of kindergarten learning activities to encourage cooperative play.
Creative Ideas to Extend Shapes Sensory Squish Bag Play
- Shapes Sensory Bin Alternative: Place the bag in a sensory bin to combine with other tactile play items.
- Shapes Sensory Table: Use multiple squish bags with different shapes for group play at preschool or daycare.
- Colorful Shape Sorter Activity: Add matching shape cutouts next to the bag, letting kids pair squished beads with paper shapes.
- Shapes Lessons Integration: Connect it with a shapes book or song for a full-circle learning experience.
- Seasonal Play: Adapt shapes to fit themes, hearts for Valentine’s Day, stars for summer, pumpkins for fall.
Why Parents and Teachers Love Sensory Bags
- Mess-Free Learning: Unlike finger paint or slime, a sensory bag keeps play neat and controlled.
- Portable Activity: Great for car rides, waiting rooms, or calming transitions.
- Budget-Friendly: Most supplies are inexpensive and reusable.
- Flexible Use: Works for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with simple adjustments.
- Promotes Independence: Kids can explore, squish, and learn at their own pace.
Additional Shapes Sensory Play Activities
- Shapes Sensory Tub: Fill a tub with water beads and shape cutouts for hands-on play.
- Shapes Sensory Bin for Toddlers: Add foam shapes, rice, and scoops for sorting fun.
- Shapes Sensory Activity Outdoors: Tape the squish bag to a window for a sunlit effect.
- Shapes Sensory Bin Preschool Challenge: Hide paper shapes in sand or beans and let preschoolers dig and match.
- Shapes Sensory Table Rotation: Swap squish bags with different shapes weekly to keep interest alive.
Practical Tips for Success
- Always double-seal the bag to prevent leaks.
- Replace the bag if it gets too cloudy or worn.
- Supervise infants to ensure safe play.
- Store bags flat in a drawer for quick access.
- Refresh beads or gel every few weeks to maintain clarity and excitement.
Final Thoughts: Bringing Learning and Fun Together
The Shapes Sensory Squish Bag is more than just a craft, it’s a gateway into learning through touch, color, and creativity. It encourages toddlers and preschoolers to explore shapes, match colors, and develop fine motor skills in a way that feels like play.
From baby sensory play to kindergarten learning activities, this single activity adapts beautifully across ages. Parents, teachers, and caregivers love it because it’s simple, affordable, and mess-free. Kids love it because it’s squishy, colorful, and endlessly engaging.
If you’ve been searching for an activity that combines shapes, sensory activities, math activities, preschool style, and Montessori art activities, this Shapes Sensory Squish Bag is the one.
A Shapes Sensory Squish Bag doesn’t just fill an afternoon, it builds the foundation for curiosity, learning, and confidence. So grab your supplies, make your first bag today, and watch your little one’s eyes light up with discovery!
Check out these other sensory bin ideas:
Check out other fun sensory bottle ideas:
- Calming Sensory Bottle
- Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel
- Unicorn Sensory Bottle
- I Spy Sensory Bottle
- Pom Pom Sensory Bottle
- 4th of July Sensory Bottle
- Butterfly Sensory Bottle
- Magnetic Sensory Bottle
- DIY Rain Stick Shakers
- Summer Sensory Bottle
- Easter Sensory Bottle
- Fall Sensory Bottle
- Winter Find-And-See Sensory Bottle
- Calming Sensory Bottle
