Sensory activities can reduce anxiety and evoke positive emotions in people of all ages. A sensory pouch is also known as a squish bag or sensory pad. They’re an easy, mess-free, and inexpensive way to create a relaxing sensory experience for your residents in memory care.

To make a sensory pouch, reinforce the sides of a medium-sized Ziploc bag with tape. Fill the bag with something like hair gel, shaving cream, sand, or paint. Add small, soft objects like buttons, beads, coins, or shells. Try to squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can when you seal it. 

There are a couple of different routes you can take with sensory bags. You can make them with objects that can be sorted by colour. Or, you can put in nothing but paint to turn them into an art project. Click here for detailed instructions and a video tutorial on how to make sensory bags.