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!


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:
- Gallon size resealable bag
- Rice (other options: oatmeal, potato flakes, beans, coconut)
- A collection of small Christmas trinkets.
3 Easy Steps to make a Sensory Bag
- Fill the bag about 2/3 filled with rice and add the Christmas trinkets.
- Zip the bag and add packing tape over the top so it can’t be opened.
- 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.
- Fill the bag about 2/3 filled with rice and add the Christmas trinkets.
- Zip the bag and add packing tape over the top so it can’t be opened.
- 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!