Bean bags are a great alternative to using balls during play. They are soft, they do not roll away, and they have a great squishy texture. Need to purchase bean bags? Check out Kozie's super cute tactile Sensory Bean Bags available on our website. The double pocket feature helps secure the weight and keeps them durable.
Sensory Benefits:
Visual Motor Skills
Bilateral Coordination
Sequencing Movements
Vestibular/Proprioceptive
Motor Control & Coordination
Enhanced Confidence & Fun
Attention Skills
Stabilization
Social Skills
Balance
Tactile
Pots Corn Hole - Set up two similarly-sized pots opposite from one another. The space between the pots can be determined based on level of difficulty you're going for. If playing 1 on 1, each player should stand behind a different pot, if playing in teams, each team should stand behind a different pot. Each person/team should start with an equal number of bean bags. The goal is to toss the bean bag from your standing position into the pot opposite of you. Each player/team should continue their turn until all bean bags have been thrown to the other side. Determine a scoring procedure such as 2 points for getting the bean bag into the pot and 1 point if the bean bag hits the pot but doesn't stay inside. Using Kozie Clothes Sensory Bean Bags will increase tactile sensory input. They are double pocketed for increased security of the internal beads and have different patterns and textures on the outside of the bag for sensory stimulation.
Pots and Pans Ski Ball - Grab 2-5 different sized pots and pans, depending on your child's level of ability. Make a boundary line that the child stands behind as they touch each bean bag into the various pots and pans that are in a line a certain distance away from the throwing line. Make up a scoring for how much each pot and pan is worth when the child lands it into the target, the smaller or farther targets being worth more points than the easier to hit targets. Put 60 seconds on a timer (or any predetermined time of your choosing) and allow the child to continue throwing the bean bags to rack up as many points as possible. ** Help them by grabbing and returning the tossed bean bags back to them to continue playing for the time duration.
Target Toss - Create different targets for your child to throw to, throw through, or throw into. Collect any paper you have on hand and use the bottom of the pot to trace a circle on the paper and cut out the circle. * Thicker paper and colored paper make the ideal targets. Feel free to use different sized circles to increase the level of difficulty of hitting the target. To work on fine motor skills, have your child help you cut out the circles if they are able to.
Alternate Targets can be throwing a bean bag through a hanging hula hoop, wreath, old tire, or the space between tree branches. Another fun idea is to stack up light objects such as plastic cups to throw a bean bag at and knock down. You can combine all of these ideas to make carnival-themed game stations. Keep it simple or get creative.