Building a play kit - feely bags

Feely bags are a great resource that you can make at home, using things that you already have in your cupboards and drawers. 

Building a play kit for your child is great for when you are stuck for something to do. Having something like a feely bag on hand is a fantastic way to fill up time when you have a quiet moment in the day, and having them prepared saves you precious time.

Feely bags and development 

There are many areas of development that feely bags can support.  

They enable your baby to explore a variety of objects using their senses. Taking away the visual aspect of this also encourages them to rely more on the sense of touch. 

Exploring objects through touch also encourages fine motor skills, as your baby will be stroking, touching, holding and squeezing a wide variety of textures and surfaces.If your baby sits when they explore the feely bag, this can also have a positive impact on their gross motor development and core strength, as they work on staying stable and steady. 

How to make a feel bag  

When it comes to making a feely bag a home, try to use a lightweight bag that is not see-through. A simple tote bag or cotton drawstring bag work well. When using a bag with handles, it is important to consider the safety of this. You could either tie up the handles of the bag, or even just carefully remove them if you can. 

It can be tempting when making a feely bag to pile it full of whatever you find. However, this can make it more tricky for your baby to explore the contents, and may also make it feel a little overwhelming, with them feeling a bit unsure of where to start. Starting with around three objects is a good beginning point – you can always add more things if you feel that is necessary.  

Choosing objects 

When thinking about what to put into your bag, try to consider items that will provide a contrast of experiences. Dig around for items with different textures, sizes, and even any that might make a sound. A few starting ideas could be rattles or toys with bells. Sponges are fantastic for encouraging your child to grip and squeeze, and so are dog toys such as a ball (just make sure that it is clean first, or even better, brand new and unsued).  

It also good idea to switch up what you put in the bag every so often. After a trip to the beach, you may want to collect a few bits that you found and pop those into a feely bag, or you may want to add a little variety so that it doesn’t get boring. Keeping a little box or basket of items to use tucked away in a cupboard could make it easier – just grab a handful of things, pop them into a bag and off you go! 

 If you have older children they might want to help you gather items together and get involved in the fun too.

Safety first 

With play that can involve bags and small items, it is important that your baby is supervised at all times. When they pull the things out of the bag, they may want to explore them further by looking at them, or using their teeth, lips or tongue.