When we work on alphabet with kids and get to last few letters, usually ideas run out. One of these letters is letter Z. We also had some issues but, at the end, we came up with a fun sensory bag! For the letter Z we created a Zig Zag Sensory Bag using a ziploc bag – plenty of z’s in this activity and lots of fine motor practice!
Sensory bags are awesome for toddlers and preschoolers. They provide needed sensory experience and without any mess!
Resources needed to make a Zig Zag Fine Motor Sensory Bag
We used following items:
- 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 for Kids
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
Here are few fun activities we suggest to try next:
- Shaving Cream Color Mixing Sensory Bag – explore color mixing within the sensory play without making mess!
- Net Fishing Sensory Bin – where bottle caps pretend to be fish.
- Flower Garden Fine Motor Play with Playdough – including several different ways to play with flower garden play dough.
- Sugar Cube Towers – super quick activity to set up that will challenge child’s patience and concentration.
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