Module 8 – Assisting the Family, Growth and Development

Assignment

Names: Jaspreet Kaur, Kamaldeep Kaur, Hyounggun Kim, Abhineet Kaur, Parneet Kaur,
Jaspreet Kaur

Date: 22-Feb-2025

Supporting a child’s growth and development is a shared responsibility between families,

caregivers, and educators. Families play a vital role in supporting a child's growth by creating a
nurturing environment that encourages exploration and learning. By engaging in age-appropriate
activities and fostering open communication, families help children reach developmental
milestones, promoting their emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. Active involvement
strengthens family bonds and supports a child’s overall growth in a holistic and positive way.

1. Identify and Describe the Activity: DIY Sensory Discovery Bags

• Name of Toy/Activity: DIY Sensory Discovery Bag.

• Age Group: Babies and Toddlers (0-2 years)
 DIY Sensory discovery bags are
engaging, hands-on tools that allow
infants and toddlers to explore and
develop their senses in a safe, stimulating
way. These bags are simple to make but
incredibly effective in supporting sensory
development. Filled with various
materials, such as colorful objects,
textured fabrics, or squishy liquids, these
bags allow children to touch, see, and
sometimes even hear new sensations. By
pressing, squeezing, and manipulating the
contents inside the bag, children can
engage in self-directed exploration, which
is vital for their early development.

Description of the Activity:

• Visual Elements: These are small, clear zippered plastic bags filled with different textured
materials (e.g., rice, beads, fabric scraps, glitter, foam shapes). The bags are sealed securely
to avoid any mess. The colors inside the bags vary, with bright colors like red, yellow, and
blue to grab the toddler’s attention.
• Texture: Each bag has a unique texture. For example, one bag might be filled with soft
cotton balls, another with rice that makes a gentle sound when shaken, and another with
shiny beads that provide a smooth, squishy feel.
• Sounds: When the bags are shaken, they make different sounds depending on their
contents, like the rice making a soft rustling sound or beads clicking together.
• Materials Used: The materials for these bags are simple and safe for toddlers. The bags
themselves are made from clear plastic, which is durable and soft but strong enough to
withstand toddler exploration. The fillers are common household items like rice, fabric
scraps, and foam pieces, all of which are non-toxic and safe if handled properly.
 2. Developmental Appropriateness:

What does the creation offer?

Sensory discovery bags offer a rich,
multi-sensory experience that
stimulates a child’s senses
simultaneously. The bags are
thoughtfully designed to allow children
to explore a variety of textures, observe
vibrant colors, and manipulate the item
inside, which promotes early sensory
exploration. By encouraging tactile
interaction, visual tracking, and
sometimes even auditory engagement,
these bags support the development of
motor skills, cognitive abilities, and
sensory processing. They provide a
safe, controlled environment for
children to discover and interact with
the world around them in a fun and
engaging way.

Meeting Developmental Tasks:

• Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): The act of squishing, pressing, and feeling
the different materials inside the bag helps infants and toddlers strengthen their hand
muscles. The use of fine motor control to interact with the contents enhances their dexterity
and hand-eye coordination.
• Cognitive Development: These bags provide children with cause-and-effect learning
experiences. For instance, squishing a squishy gel-filled bag or moving beads inside helps
them to understand that their actions can influence the objects inside the bag. This promotes
problem-solving and basic physics concepts like movement and pressure.
• Social and Emotional Development: This toy can be used individually or with a
caregiver. It encourages interaction, where a toddler might point to different bags,
expressing preferences or excitement. Additionally, it fosters a sense of accomplishment
when they figure out how to make the bags make noise or move.
• Sensory Development:
 o Tactile Stimulation: The varied textures inside the bag (e.g., soft fabric, squishy
gel, hard beads) help stimulate the child’s sense of touch, aiding in the development
of sensory processing skills. Infants and toddlers learn to differentiate between
hard, soft, rough, and smooth textures, which contribute to their tactile
discrimination abilities.
o Visual Stimulation: The clear bags allow children to see the items inside,
promoting visual attention. Bright colors and contrasting patterns stimulate their
visual tracking skills and the ability to focus on details.
o Auditory Stimulation: You can add small items inside the bag, like bells, beads,
or crinkly paper that make sound when moved. These sounds help infants and
toddlers learn about auditory discrimination and cause-and-effect relationships.

3. Detailed Example of How to Make a Sensory Discovery Bag:

DIY Squishy Gel Sensory Bag (for Infants):

Materials:

• Clear, resealable plastic bag (Zip lock bag works best)

• 1/4 cup of hair gel or baby oil (for a squishy, fun texture)
• Food coloring (optional, for color)
• Small plastic toys (e.g., small animals, buttons, or beads)
• Duct tape or packaging tape to seal the edges

Steps:

1. Prepare the Bag: Start by placing a clear plastic resealable bag on a flat surface. Make
sure the bag is large enough to allow free movement of the contents.
 2. Add the Gel: Pour the hair gel or baby oil into the bag. If you’re using hair gel, it will
provide a thick, squishy feeling when the child presses on the bag. Baby oil will give a
smoother, more fluid sensation. You can also mix a few drops of food coloring into the gel
to create a vibrant visual experience.
3. Insert Small Objects: Drop small plastic toys (e.g., animal figurines, buttons, or soft fabric
swatches) into the bag. The toys will provide texture variation for the child to explore by
touch. Some toys can even make gentle sounds when moved, providing auditory
stimulation.
4. Seal the Bag: Seal the Zip lock bag tightly. Then, use duct tape or packaging tape to tape
around the edges to ensure that it is completely secure and will not break open during play.
5. Testing: Squeeze and manipulate the bag yourself to ensure it’s sturdy and doesn’t leak.

Benefits of the DIY Squishy Gel Sensory Bag:

• Sensory Exploration: Babies and toddlers can squish, press, and explore the gel’s
consistency, helping to develop tactile awareness.
• Color Recognition: The food coloring makes the bag visually stimulating, which helps
babies focus on and recognize different colors.
• Fine Motor Skills: As children manipulate the bag, they practice their grasping and
squeezing motions, essential for developing fine motor control.
• Safe Exploration: Sensory bags offer a contained, mess-free way to let children explore new
sensations without risk of choking or injury from small objects or materials.

Conclusion:

DIY sensory discovery bags are a great way to stimulate the senses of young children while
providing an educational and interactive playtime experience. Babies and toddlers are naturally driven
to explore their world through their senses, and sensory bags encourage this exploration in a safe and
controlled way. These activities are not only cost-effective but also easy to customize to the specific
needs and developmental stages of different age groups.

Pricing:

• Price Point: The cost for creating these sensory bags would be minimal. I’d estimate a
price of around $10 for a set of 4-5 bags, considering the cost of materials like zippered
bags, rice, beads, and fabric scraps.
• Price Rationale: The toy is homemade and uses inexpensive materials that are readily
available around the house. The low cost makes it accessible for most families. Since it’s
 a DIY project, it also offers an affordable way to provide sensory stimulation to toddlers,
which makes it a valuable tool for parents on a budget.

Would You Purchase or Use It?

• Use It as an Activity: DIY sensory discovery bags are perfect for parents, caregivers, or
educators. They provide an inexpensive and customizable way to support sensory
development, particularly for young children who are just beginning to explore their world.
I would definitely use it as an activity, especially for infants or toddlers. The bags are safe
and engaging, and they promote critical developmental milestones.
• Would I Purchase It? While I could make these bags at home for a fraction of the price,
there are also commercially available versions of sensory bags that are pre-filled and ready
to use. These are often more durable and come with extra features like sound elements or
interactive textures. If I were buying for a specific purpose and didn’t have time to make
them, I’d consider purchasing a well-reviewed set.

Additional Sensory Bag Ideas:

1. Water Bead Sensory Bag (Ages 1-2):

o Materials: Clear plastic bag, water beads, food coloring (optional), and small
figurines. Water beads offer a unique squishy texture and promote fine motor
development and sensory exploration.
2. Rice and Button Sensory Bag (Ages 2-3):
o Materials: Rice, small colorful buttons or beads, and a clear bag. This bag is
heavier, so it may be better for older toddlers who can sit and engage with it for
longer periods.
3. Crinkle Paper Sensory Bag (Ages 1-2):
o Materials: Clear bag, crinkly paper (such as from snack bags), and small toys. The
crinkle sound helps engage auditory awareness while the paper’s texture promotes
tactile exploration.