When the weather turns chilly, there’s no better way to warm up than by getting creative with some fun, indoor activities! One craft that’s a hit is the Snowman in a Bag. This sensory-friendly activity is easy to make and offers a fantastic way for children to develop fine motor skills, express creativity, and engage in tactile play—all while making a cute snowman!
What is a Snowman in a Bag?
A Snowman in a Bag is a squishy, tactile craft where a plastic sandwich bag is filled with materials like glue or shaving cream. The result is a soft, fun texture that children can feel and manipulate as they create their very own snowman. It’s simple to make, requiring just a few materials—and best of all, it’s perfect for kids on the autism spectrum because of its sensory nature.
Materials You’ll Need:
A plastic sandwich bag
White glue or shaving cream (for a squishy, snow-like texture)
Markers (for drawing the snowman’s face)
Optional: Buttons, foam pieces, or fabric scraps for additional decoration (such as a hat or scarf)
Steps to Make Your Snowman:
1. Fill the Bag: Start by filling the plastic sandwich bag with a generous amount of white glue or shaving cream. This will create a soft, squishy texture inside the bag that mimics the feel of snow. You don’t need to overfill it—just enough so that it’s squishy and comfortable to the touch.
2. Shape the Snowman: Seal the bag tightly, shaping it so that the contents spread out flat. Gently press the bag to smooth out the contents, giving it a flat, rounded shape for the snowman’s face.
3. Draw the Face: Using markers, draw a simple snowman face on the bag. Add two eyes, a smile, and a bright orange carrot nose. The squishy texture allows children to enjoy the fun of manipulating the bag while decorating it!
4. Add Extra Details: If you’d like, glue on buttons, small foam pieces, or fabric scraps to create a scarf or hat for your snowman. This adds even more fun details and gives kids the chance to be creative with how their snowman looks.
This activity offers a great hands-on sensory experience that promotes creativity and fine motor skills. Kids can feel the texture of the glue or shaving cream as they squish and manipulate the bag, which provides excellent sensory input, helping children with regulation and focus.
Why Crafting is Important
At Cornerstone, we understand how important it is to offer children opportunities to explore, create, and develop their skills through hands-on crafts. The Snowman in a Bag is more than just a fun winter craft—it helps children practice fine motor skills like squeezing, drawing, and manipulating objects while enjoying a calming sensory experience. Sensory-rich activities like this are a wonderful way to regulate emotions, practice focus, and express creativity in a safe and engaging way.
Whether it’s an activity at home or in the classroom, this craft will bring smiles as children build their own squishy, tactile snowman to enjoy during the winter months. Stay creative, stay warm, and happy crafting. To check out more winter friendly hands-on activites, check out our blogs.
