Pittenzakjes regenboog

Play ideas beanbag toys

Sensory beanbags are great to have in the play corner. They're considered open-ended toys; it's fun to let your child explore and discover what imaginations arise.
Still, it's sometimes nice to get play ideas with sensory beanbags. You can read about them in this blog! Beanbag activities for indoors or outdoors, for King's Day games, children's parties, Zwarte Piet training, or just while playing and growing up .

Throwing and catching with bean bags

It's much easier to catch a beanbag than a ball. This is because a beanbag can change shape. It can be grasped between your fingers.
In addition, a beanbag does not roll any further, so you can come up with lots of fun games with it.

Catching a beanbag requires precise hand-eye coordination, and the body has to learn to respond accordingly. How fun is it to practice this through play?

Throwing exercises with bean bags

  • Throw the bag as far as you can
  • throw the bag close
  • throw the bag back
  • throw the bean bag very high
  • throw the bag and catch it yourself
  • throw with left hand and then with right
  • catch the beanbag with your left hand and then with your right
  • throw the bean bag into baskets or hoops
  • throw the bean bag through the hoops
  • throw bottles or cans with it
  • slide them through each other's gate at a rapid pace.
  • move a balloon by throwing or sliding bean bags at it
  • Draw two lines, optionally with tape on the floor. The bags can be placed within these lines.

Pastel sensorische pittenzakjes b2b - Pit and play

Educational activities with bean bags

Counting and calculating

  • Show them simple math problems using the bags. Stack four and remove one.
  • Place a piece of paper with a number on it in a hoop. How many bags should go in it?

Reading and spelling

Write letters on paper and place it on the floor.

  • Throw the bag into all the vowels.
  • Throw the bag into the letters until you have spelled the word 'monkey', for example.

Color recognition and awareness

  • Lay out different colored bags. What else can you find (inside or outside) in that color? Collect them!
  • Throw the bags on a colored paper or, for example, in a similarly colored stacking stone.
View all bean bags here

Sensory stimulation with bean bags

  • Place them in the refrigerator or freezer. And experience the difference between warm and cold.
  • Feel the different textures, blindfolded if necessary, or hold them against your cheek. Can you feel which one is the softest?
  • Listen to the rustling sound of the cherry stones and feel them roll around in the bag. Wonderfully relaxing after a busy day at school.
  • Walk over it with bare feet, it instantly massages the bottom of your feet!

Body-conscious activities with bean bags

  • Identify the parts of the body where the bag can be worn: on the back, shoulder, head, on an outstretched arm, or under the armpit. Or on the instep of the foot. Have them run a course, spin around, or do a few jumps. This is good for body awareness and control. It's also a fun way to burn off some energy!
  • A variation on this is to name two body parts. Then, you have to clamp the beanbag between them. For example, between cheek and shoulder, between hand and knee. Or between both arms or knees. This is also fun to do in pairs. For example, with your backs touching and a beanbag clamped between them. How quickly can you get to the other side? A fun game for learning to work together!

Still have some energy left at the end of the day?

  • Line them up and zigzag around them, hopping, running, cycling, or crawling.
  • Stand on it and jump off.
  • Jump over it.
  • Walk over it, with bare feet if necessary.

More fun game ideas with beanbags

Butter, cheese and eggs

Use sidewalk chalk to create a grid of nine squares. Use two colors of beanbags, or perhaps one child uses plain beanbags and the other a patterned one. Play the famous game!

Hide-and-seek games with beanbags

Who doesn't love playing hide-and-seek? Children start playing it early.

  • Hide them under a cloth.
  • Hide them around the house and let them find the bags.
  • Let them come up with their own hiding places for the beanbags. Exciting!

Color quartet

Give each child or pair of children four beanbags in a different color. Have them swap by crossing the table fairly: one beanbag for another. Once they've collected four beanbags of one color, the game is over.

In and out

Many young children find practicing "in and out" incredibly educational. Just put out a basket with three beanbags. Guaranteed fun!

Building towers with beanbags

How many can you stack before they fall over? Great for motor skills, and an extra challenge because the beanbags change shape.
Besides, it is always hilarious for children to knock over a tower.