We wanted to find a way to explore color mixing within the sensory play. However, we needed the activity to be mess-free. Our Shaving Cream Color Mixing Sensory Bag provided the perfect solution for babies and toddlers who don’t really like to get paint all over their hands and clothes. As for you as a parent or an educator, this sensory bag requires no cleanup after play!
Shaving Cream as a Sensory Resource
Shaving cream is a wonderfully versatile sensory resource. It can be mixed with other resources such as sand and corn flour to make unusual sensory bin basis or used to hide objects underneath it. For children who do not like the texture of shaving cream, there is also the option of using it within a sensory bag.
Benefits of Using Shaving Cream Based Color Mixing Sensory Bag
Your child will work on so many aspects without them realising it! This sensory activity is perfect addition to color theme in preschool and tot school. Kids will also work on:
- fine motor skills (hand strengthening and grasping)
- visual skills as they observe how colors mix
How to Prepare Color Mixing Sensory Bag?
Materials needed:
- 3 ziplock bags
- tempera paint
- shaving cream
- duct tape
- nail varnish remover and cotton wool (optional)
I took three ziploc bags and removed the white writing with nail varnish remover and cotton wool. Next, I poured in yellow paint into one corner of the zip-loc bag and blue paint into the other corner.
Next, I squirted in shaving cream which I pushed down into the bottom corners. It is important not to overfill the bag as this increases the risk of the bag splitting.
After ensuring that any air bubbles were removed from the bag I closed the zip-loc attachment and secured the bag with green Duck Tape.
I repeated the process with red and blue paint. Whilst making the red and yellow sensory bag I squirted in the shaving cream first and then added the paint. I can confirm this process is much harder.
How We Played With Color Mixing Sensory Bag?
Once I had created three sensory bags I gave them to my son. He spent 15 minutes exploring the bags and therefore mixing the colors together. He squished them, squashed them and flattened them – each time checking his hands and declaring in amazement that they were still clean.
During play my son noticed that the colors were starting to combine. He was determined to make the two primary colors “disappear” and to make a “new” color appear. And he continued to rub, roll, lay on top and even stand on the shaving cream sensory bags. Eventually, he was able to mix the colors together to form an orange, purple and green shaving cream sensory bag.
It is not often you can explore color mixing and play with shaving cream whilst remaining mess free!
Extend the learning with books about mixing colors
Since my toddler is already learning about colors and color theory through this simple color mixing sensory bag, I added few of our favorite books about colors to enforce what he just learned.
Mixed: A Colorful Story
This book has a double benefit for kids: it talks about color mixing but also about tolerance and acceptance. Easy to follow language and fun family setting with kids being a mixed color between primary color parents. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Mouse Paint
This book is great for toddlers and preschoolers as anintroducion to the concepts of primary colors, secondary colors, and mixing colors. Kids also love the story and cute pictures of the mice scurrying around throughout the book. Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Recommended art supplies
1 year olds | 2 year olds
3 year olds | 4 year olds
Next Activity You Should Try with Your Toddler
You have to try our Zig-Zag sensory bag! It’s easy to make and you can sneak fine motor practice! We also used shaving cream before to explore textures. It provides wonderful tactile experience and all the materials for this activities can already be found in your kitchen. Next, you can try one of 33 shaving foam activites to try with your toddlers and preschoolers. Surely, there will be many your kids will enjoy!
This is a great mess-free alternative for use in my home daycare. Thanks for sharing this idea
Glad you find it useful! Thank you for taking the time to comment! And have fun! š
ParabƩns, com q fita prende-se a boca do saco?
Aguardo a resposta.
Yes, for safety, use tape to secure the bag. Make sure NOT to put too much of the shaving cream inside a bag.
Can you make these the night before?
I wouldn’t. Not sure shaving foam wouldn’t liquefy over night. But you can get everything prepared the night before and then simply squirt shaving cream and paint in each bag in few seconds. And seal them.
Does the duck tape really work to keep the bag closed?? I’d love todo this with my preschool kids but would be afraid of them getting the bag open
Yes, just make sure to let all the air out before sealing it with duck tape.