Zig Zag Sensory Bag

We have come to the end of our A to Z Fine Motor Play series. For the letter Z we created a Zig Zag Sensory Bag using a zip-loc bag – plenty of z’s in this activity and lots of fine motor practice!

Resources needed to make a Zig Zag Fine Motor Sensory Bag

• Ziploc Bag
• Acetone or Nail Polish Remover and cotton wool
• Black Permanent Marker Pen
• Baby Lotion
• Tape – we used black electrical tape (optional)

How to make a Zig Zag Fine Motor Sensory Bag

1) Place the acetone or nail polish onto the cotton wool and gently rub the white lettering on the Ziploc bag. This will remove any print and give you a clear bag.

2) Use the black permanent marker pen to draw zig-zags on the back. I created one thick zig zag and two thinner ones.

3) Squeeze baby lotion or another thick liquid into the Ziploc bag. Ensure that you do not overly fill the bag. A little goes a long way.

4) Zip the bag up and close it securely with tape.

How to play with a Zig Zag Fine Motor Sensory Bag

I secured the Ziploc bag to a table using clear sellotape. This kept the bag in one position and enabled my son to move his finger around the bag without moving the bag. He spent time experimenting by squishing the lotion down with his fingers.

My son loved the idea of not getting dirty during the activity. He then discovered part of the thick zig zag. And he followed the zig-zag backward and forward with his finger until the zig zag was free of baby lotion.

Later on in the day I secured the zip-loc bag to our window. Standing to work on a vertical plane required my son to use different muscles whilst enjoying the same activity.

Learning Opportunities

With zig zag sensory bag your toddlers and preschoolers will work on following skills:

• handwriting practice (prewriting practice with lines)
• fine motor skills
• concetration and patience
• visual skills

Extend the Play with Storytime

Harold and his trusty crayon travel through woods and across seas and past dragons before returning to bed, safe and sound. Full of funny twists and surprises, this charming story shows just how far your imagination can take you.

Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

A Line Can Be… book uses a single black line printed across colorful, patterned backdrops to explore opposites on facing pages. Concepts include: hard/soft, up/down, simple/complicated, thick/thin, straight/curvy, and clean/messy. The versatile line even suggest happy/sad and facial expressions.

Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

Follow the line that runs through this picture book and turns itself into all kinds of things: the waves above an octopus, the veins in a leaf, the wrappings curling around a mummy, and the trapping threads of a spiderweb.

Find the book here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

Next Play Idea to Try with Your Kids:

• Shaving Cream Color Mixing Sensory Bag
• Net Fishing Sensory Bin
• Flower Garden Fine Motor Play with Playdough
• Sugar Cube Towers

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