Activity

Holiday Sensory Bag Exploration – Festive Adventure

Whispers of wonder in a holiday sensory journey.

Introduce your 12 to 18-month-old to a Holiday Sensory Bag Exploration for sensory play and development. Prepare a bag with gel/oil, holiday items, and tape for a secure setup. Guide your child in feeling, squishing, and exploring the textures while discussing the sensory experience. This activity fosters language skills, fine motor coordination, and sensory development in a safe and engaging manner.

Children’s Age: 1–1.5 years

Activity Duration: 5 – 10 minutes

Developmental Areas:

Instructions

Prepare for a fun and educational Holiday Sensory Bag Exploration with your 12 to 18-month-old:

Gather a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag, holiday-themed items, clear hair gel or baby oil, duct tape, and a tray for setup.
Fill the bag with gel/oil, add items, seal tightly, and tape securely.

Engage in the sensory exploration activity with your child:

Sit with your child in a safe space and present the sensory bag.
Describe the items inside and encourage them to feel, squish, and explore under your close supervision.
Foster language development by discussing textures and sounds as they interact with the bag.
Monitor closely to prevent opening or ingestion of items throughout the play.

Conclude the activity with these steps:

After playtime, help your child wash their hands to remove any gel or oil residue.
Ensure all items are securely attached to avoid choking hazards.
Remember to supervise continuously to prevent accidents or ingestion.
Consider using gloves if your child has sensitive skin.
Never leave your child unattended with the sensory bag.

Celebrate your child's participation by praising their exploration and learning during the activity. Reflect on the sensory skills, language development, and fine motor coordination they practiced in a festive and engaging way. Encourage further sensory play and exploration in the future!

Safety Tips

Choking Hazards: Ensure all items inside the sensory bag are securely attached to the bag to prevent any choking hazards. Check periodically for loose items.
Supervision: Always supervise the child closely during the activity to prevent accidents, ingestion of gel/oil, or opening of the bag. Stay within arm's reach at all times.
Sensitive Skin: Consider using gloves if your child has sensitive skin to avoid any potential skin irritation from the gel/oil or holiday-themed items.
Prevent Ingestion: Monitor the child to prevent them from opening the bag and attempting to ingest any of the items inside. Be vigilant and ready to intervene if needed.
Hand Hygiene: After the sensory play, ensure that the child washes their hands thoroughly to remove any gel/oil residue or dirt from the items inside the bag.
Safe Space: Choose a safe and comfortable space for the activity, free of any hazards or distractions. Create a designated area where the child can explore the sensory bag without obstacles.
Language Development: Encourage language development by describing the textures and sounds of the items inside the sensory bag. Engage in conversation with the child to enhance their vocabulary and communication skills.

Warnings

Warnings and precautions for the activity:

Ensure all items are securely attached to avoid choking hazards.
Supervise closely to prevent accidents and ingestion of gel/oil or small items.
Consider using gloves if your child has sensitive skin or allergies.
Never leave the child unattended with the sensory bag to prevent any potential risks.
Monitor to prevent opening of the bag or attempting to ingest any contents.
After play, wash hands thoroughly to remove any residue from the gel/oil or items.
Choose a safe and comfortable space for the activity to avoid environmental hazards.

First Aid Tips

First Aid Tips:

Choking Hazard: Be cautious of small items that could pose a choking risk if they come loose from the bag. If a child starts choking, perform age-appropriate first aid techniques like back blows or chest thrusts to dislodge the object.
Eye Irritation: If the gel/oil leaks and gets into the child's eyes, rinse their eyes gently with clean water for at least 15 minutes. Encourage blinking to help flush out the substance.
Allergic Reaction: If a child shows signs of an allergic reaction (such as rash, itching, or swelling), remove them from the activity immediately. Administer any prescribed allergy medication if available and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
Cuts or Scratches: In case a child gets a minor cut or scratch from sharp items inside the bag, clean the wound with mild soap and water. Apply an antiseptic ointment and cover with a bandage to prevent infection.
Ingestion of Gel/Oil: If a child ingests the gel or oil, stay calm. Do not induce vomiting. Give the child sips of water to drink and contact poison control or seek medical assistance for further guidance.
Skin Irritation: Some children may develop skin irritation from prolonged contact with the gel/oil or items inside the bag. Wash the affected area with mild soap and water, pat dry gently, and apply a soothing lotion or cream.

Goals

Engaging your 12 to 18-month-old child in a Holiday Sensory Bag Exploration activity can significantly contribute to their overall development.

Cognitive Development:
- Enhances sensory skills through tactile exploration
- Encourages cognitive growth by introducing new textures and sounds
Emotional Development:
- Provides a safe space for emotional expression through sensory play
- Supports emotional regulation by offering a calming sensory experience
Physical Development:
- Improves fine motor coordination through grasping and manipulating objects
- Enhances hand-eye coordination during sensory exploration
Social Development:
- Encourages language development through descriptive conversations
- Promotes social interaction when exploring the sensory bag with a caregiver

Materials

Materials needed for this activity

This activity requires the following materials:

Gallon-sized resealable plastic bag
Holiday-themed items (e.g., small ornaments, jingle bells, plastic snowflakes)
Clear hair gel or baby oil
Duct tape
Tray for setup
Gloves (optional for sensitive skin)
Supervision to prevent accidents and ingestion
Hand wash station for cleaning up

Variations

Here are some creative variations for the activity:

Texture Exploration: Instead of using holiday-themed items, fill the sensory bag with a variety of textures like soft fabric, rough sandpaper, bumpy bubble wrap, and smooth stones. Encourage your child to explore and describe each texture they feel.
Color Sorting Challenge: Fill multiple smaller bags with items of different colors. Encourage your child to sort the items by color by squishing the bags and moving the items around. This variation adds a sorting element to the sensory play.
Outdoor Sensory Adventure: Take the sensory bag exploration outside! Fill the bag with natural materials like leaves, twigs, pinecones, and flowers. Let your child explore the textures and scents of nature in a sensory-rich outdoor environment.
Collaborative Sensory Play: Invite a friend or sibling to join in the sensory exploration. Encourage turn-taking and cooperative play as they describe the items to each other, fostering social interaction skills along with sensory development.
Sound Sensory Bag: Fill the bag with items that make different sounds when squished, such as jingling bells, crinkly paper, or squeaky toys. Encourage your child to explore the auditory aspect of sensory play by listening to the sounds they create.

Benefits

This activity is designed to support your child's development across the following key areas of learning and growth. Learn more about each area and how it contributes to your child’s overall development below:

Communication Skills

Communication skills involve the ability to express oneself clearly and understand others effectively. It includes verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, and social interactions. Strong communication skills help build relationships and succeed in various life situations.

Adaptive Development

Adaptive development refers to the acquisition of skills that enable individuals to effectively and independently manage daily life activities. This includes abilities such as self-care, problem-solving, decision-making, and adjusting to new situations. These skills are essential for personal autonomy and successful interaction within various environments.

Motor Development

Motor development involves the growth of fine and gross motor skills, which are essential for movement, coordination, and physical activity. It includes activities like crawling, walking, running, and hand-eye coordination. Developing motor skills supports overall physical and cognitive growth.

Parent Tips

Practical Tips:

Secure all items tightly inside the sensory bag to prevent choking hazards.
Supervise your child closely during the activity to ensure safety and prevent any accidents or ingestion of items.
If your child has sensitive skin, consider using gloves to protect their hands during sensory exploration.
Never leave your child unattended with the sensory bag, even for a short period of time.
After play, remember to wash your child's hands thoroughly to remove any gel or oil residue.