This simple butterfly sensory bag provides a calming effect for kids. The glitter makes it appealing for kids to play with. You can make it just for fun or to go along with a butterfly unit in school or homeschool.
One of the things I like about sensory bags is how portable they are. While sensory bins provide more opportunity for a variety of textures and sensory experiences, sensory bags are smaller and can be taken anywhere. We have also made a butterfly sensory bin, but it was not of course as portable.
Butterfly Sensory Bag:
Materials needed:
- medium sized resealable bag
- hand sanitizer
- silver glitter
- butterfly confetti in various colours
- optional: duct tape
- Fill the bag about half full with the hand sanitizer.
- Add a fair amount of glitter. (*see note below)
- Put in some butterfly confetti.
- Seal the bag, taking out as much air as you can.
- If younger kids are going to be using this sensory bag, take duct tape and fold it in half over each of the sides of the bag (4 pieces of duct tape total). You can even use a pretty butterfly tape.
*A note about the glitter: I usually say that there’s no such thing as too much glitter, but in this case, I may have put in a bit too much glitter! It made it hard to see the butterflies.
Mistakes don’t have to ruin your activity though. I turned it around. I told the kids that the goal was to try to find all the butterflies and count them.
Sensory benefits:
This butterfly sensory bag provides tactile (touch) and visual (sight) sensory input. When kids, squeeze, squish, and press the bag, it gives them proprioceptive sensory feedback.
Language and math skills:
A child can discuss how the bag feels (squishy, gooey, textures, etc.). They can talk about the colours of the butterflies and they can count the butterflies or sort them by colour.
Get 175 sensory activity ideas in convenient printable lists which are ideal for using in the home, classroom or in a therapeutic setting.
Some of our other easy to put together sensory bags:
Squishy Shark Sensory Bag 
Mermaid Sensory Bag 
Trolls Sensory Bag 
This cute activity can be taken with you for use as a busy bag. It can be taken in the vehicle or used in waiting rooms. If you’re going to take it out and about, it’s definitely best to seal the edges with duct tape. Using a holiday themed duct tape makes it extra cute.
Sensory bags engage the senses while containing the mess.
If you’re using the sensory bag with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, I recommend sealing the bag with duct tape. Fold duct tape over all sides of the bag. You can find all kinds of fun coordinating prints and colours.
American Girls Doll Sensory Bag
If you want, you can ensure a better seal by using duct tape on all the sides of the sensory bag. As with any sensory activity, children should be supervised while playing. 
Depending on the age and ability of the child who is using this, you may want to use duct tape to firm up the seal so that they can’t open it and pull out the contents which could be choking hazards for younger kids. You can finds all kinds of Christmasy duct tape to make it look more festive. Of course, as with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used.
It was amusing for me when the Trolls fad came around again now that I’m raising my own kids. When they made the Trolls movie, it brought back memories of my troll doll collection. I wish I had held onto some of those dolls for my kids. Though I may not still have my troll dolls to pass down to my daughters, I was able to make them this simple Trolls Sensory Bag for them to play with.
