When I worked in daycare, we made these oil & water sensory bags during our glow them for VBS week. The kids LOVED them and it kept them busy for a very long time….and if you’ve ever worked with a big group of preschoolers you know that’s a difficult thing to do. These bags are easy to make at home and not too costly for a larger group of kiddos. They might even be a fun party craft for a glow party.
What you’ll need for Oil & Water Sensory Bags:
- 1 baggie per kid (I used sandwich size)
- baby oil or vegetable oil (I prefer baby oil because it’s clear but both work fine)
- fluorescent watercolor paints or glow in the dark(I use Sargent because it is non-toxic and washable, Great for kids)
- small bowl for mixing
- clear tape to seal the ends
- blacklight of some sort (check out my diy blacklight from your smartphone)
As most of us are aware, oil and water do not mix. So, building on that concept I decided to try to put some fluorescent paint into the water and then mix in the oil. The results were these FABULOUS BAGS. They are great for learning about the density of liquids and for sensory play. The additin of fluorescent paint and a black light make these a cool project for the kids.
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To start, open your baggie and fill it about ¼ of the way with the oil. NOTE: If you are using baby oil with a plastic piece in the opening to control the flow DO NOT.….I repeat DO NOT squeeze that baby too hard!!! Trust me on this one!!! You will have one heck of a mess and a really oily floor 
Then, get your small bowl and mix 1 TBSP fluorescent paint with 2 TBSP warm tap water and mix together.
Next, add the paint/water mixture to your bag of oil. At first the two will separate like the picture.
Once you are happy with your mixture. Seal the bag and then tape across the top with your clear tape to keep it from opening (or to keep little ones from getting it open)!
Now, take them to a dark place and turn on your flashlight. Squish your bags and have fun playing.
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