Let's make it
Instructions.
- 1
Color and cut: print the Monster Sensory Belly templates on cardstock or sturdy printer paper and let kids color their monsters. For the crinkly paper, squishy glitter, and play dough monsters, cut out the circular belly opening. An adult can do this, or older kids may be able to help cut the circle, especially if the paper is folded or an adult begins the first cut. Leave the belly circle intact on the cotton ball monster.
- 2
Crinkly Paper Monster 💙 (crunchy, crinkly, and noisy): add colorful crinkle paper to a clear bag. Remove excess air, seal securely, and reinforce the closure. Tape the bag behind the belly opening. Kids can gently press, squeeze, and listen to the crinkling sounds.
- 3
Squishy Glitter Monster 🧡 (smooth, squishy, and sparkly): add a small amount of hair gel to a clear sandwich bag, then mix in a drop of food coloring and a little glitter. Remove excess air and securely seal the bag. Have an adult attach it behind the monster's belly opening using packing tape. Gently press and move the gel around to watch the colors and glitter shift.
- 4
Fluffy Cotton Ball Monster 💚 (soft, fluffy, and three-dimensional): this one doesn't need a sensory bag! Apply craft glue directly to the belly, add cotton balls until the belly is covered, and allow the glue to dry.
- 5
Play Dough Monster 💜 (firm, moldable, and smooshy): add small pieces of play dough to a sturdy clear bag and arrange different colors inside. Remove excess air, seal securely, reinforce the closure, and tape the bag behind the belly opening. Encourage children to gently press, flatten, and move the play dough.
Safety tip
- Recommended for preschool-age children and older, with close adult supervision and materials selected according to each child's developmental abilities.
- Adults should prepare and secure sensory bags. Supervise older kids who help cut the belly openings, and use child-safe scissors for kids.
- Plastic bags can pose a suffocation hazard. Keep them away from babies and young children.
- Small materials, including pom-poms, glitter, and detachable cotton balls, may pose choking hazards.
- Hair gel, glitter, craft glue, and other sensory fillers are not intended for consumption.
- Check sensory bags before and during use for leaks, tears, or loose seals. Discard damaged bags immediately.
- Do not overfill sensory bags.
- Supervise children using glued-on materials that could become detached.
- Protect clothing and surfaces from possible staining, and wash hands after play.
More Sensory Belly Ideas
There are so many ways to change up this activity depending on your child's interests and the materials you have available.
Pom-poms: Create a colorful, bumpy belly using pom-poms glued to the paper or enclosed in a securely sealed pouch.
Tissue paper: Crumple or tear colorful pieces for a lightweight texture.
Yarn: Add short strands to create a stringy, tangled belly.
Cellophane: Make a shiny belly that crackles when pressed.
Soft foam shapes: Add shapes inside a secure pouch for children to push and move around.
You can also combine materials or let children choose their favorite textures to create their own unique monsters.
Why We Love This Activity
I love activities like this because so much learning happens without kids even noticing. While they color their monsters and cut out the bellies, they're building fine motor skills, bilateral coordination (one hand holds and turns the paper while the other cuts), and visual motor skills as they follow the circle. Then the fun part: squishing gel, flattening play dough, and crinkling paper gives their hands a real workout and lets them explore how fluffy, smooth, firm, and crinkly textures feel. Kids also love describing what they notice ("it's squishy!", "it's so loud!"), which is great for language, and choosing colors and fillers lets their creativity shine.
One of my favorite things about this activity is how easily it can be adapted. Some kids love the squishy gel, while others prefer the dry textures of cotton balls or crinkle paper. Offering options lets every child explore at their own comfort level.
Field Notes
- Cutting tip: fold the paper in half through the middle of the belly circle so kids can start cutting at the fold.
- Avoid overfilling the gel bag. Hair gel is not edible, and food coloring may stain clothing or surfaces.
- For another texture experience, gently pull apart the cotton balls before gluing them down.
- Try combining two or three colors of play dough to see how they change as children press them together!
