I Spy Sensory Bags

I Spy Sensory Bags are a great way for kids to expand their sense of touch, creativity, and adventure, and they are so easy to make!

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While shopping in a craft store in October I saw a display that had a Christmas I Spy Sensory Jar.  I loved the idea but was unsure how easy it would be to create for the grand kids.  I bought 1 container and some Christmas small items and made a great jar 2 months later. It was so easy to assemble I decided to go back to the dollar store to get 5 additional containers, so each grand kid would have their own.  You guessed it!  Four dollar stores later and not a jar in sight, I decided to improvise and try resealable gallon bags.

Grand kids loved finding the items in their bags and even switched with their cousins to find their I Spy List.  However, I still love the look of the Christmas containers. Note to self: Buy the Christmas containers before the week before Christmas!   

To make the Christmas sensory bag, you will need:

To make the Christmas Sensory Bag you will need:

  1. Gallon size resealable bag
  2. Rice (other options: oatmeal, potato flakes, beans, coconut)
  3. A collection of small Christmas trinkets.

3 Easy Steps to make a Sensory Bag

  1. Fill the bag about 2/3 filled with rice and add the Christmas trinkets.
  2. Zip the bag and add packing tape over the top so it can’t be opened.
  3.  Print out labels with the words “I Spy with my little eye” and a list of the items included in the bag.  I made each grandchild a bag that included a collection of Christmas trinkets along with a magnetized letter of the first letter of their name. (Ex. E for Emily). I just used letters from an A to Z magnetic alphabet set.  My choice of including a magnetized letter was so they could move the magnet inside the bag by moving a magnet on the outside of the bag.  They loved it! Tip: Save some time and take a photo of the items and tape it on the bag.
  4. Fill the bag about 2/3 filled with rice and add the Christmas trinkets.
  5. Zip the bag and add packing tape over the top so it can’t be opened.  
  6. Print out labels with the words “I Spy with my little eye” and a list of the items included in the bag.  I made each grandchild a bag that included a collection of Christmas trinkets along with a magnetized letter of the first letter of their name. (Ex. E for Emily). I just used letters from an A to Z magnetic alphabet set.  My choice of including a magnetized letter was so they could move the magnet inside the bag by moving a magnet on the outside of the bag.  They loved it!

A Sensory Bag can easily be made with other items. Try it with sight words, letters, numbers, shapes, rhyming words, photos, Let your imagination soar!