Lessons Learnt Journal » sensory tactile play

Waterbead Fishing

Pauline — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:24:47 +0000

Frozen worms threaded through a hook. My face scrunches up. Fishing. This was exciting. I sat and waited for the fish. The line started to twitch. What do I do now?! A kind uncle comes over and shows me how to bring the fish in. How exciting! I have caught a fish! Yay! Then I see the fish; and the hook through its’ mouth. My heart drops and my voice yells, “Quick! Throw it back in! Throw it back in!”.

We are yet to bring our children to their first fishing trip. If this play experience is anything to go by, I think they will be more determined than their mother to have some nice fish for dinner.

Materials

Large tub of water (we used our old baby bath)
Water beads
Small sieve with handle
Towels to line the immediate play area if playing indoors

How We Played

When water beads are placed in water they are very hard to see.

Swish, swish, swish. Time to scoop and catch some water beads.

Using a scoop is a fine motor skill that is easily incorporated into many types of daily play. It’s great for using both hands together; and building up the strength and stability of hands, fingers, shoulders, elbows and wrists.

Water beads are as slippery as fish and E managed to grab some with his bare hands.

Now what does a tot do with something as squishy as water beads? Squish them of course.

Yes, if this play experience is anything to go by, I think we’ll have some nice fish for dinner.

E: 1 year, 11 months
May 2012

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Squishy Worms Painting

Pauline — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:54:10 +0000

The rains have arrived in Sydney; a sure sign that Autumn is here. I take a deep breath of the crisp cool air as I savour the arrival of my favourite season. The rains have brought my sons delights of their own. The rains have beckoned worms to the surface. My preschool twin sons N&M poke at the worms with sticks. My toddler son E doesn’t bother finding a stick. He uses his fingers. Squishy worms; Bear Grylls, eat your heart out.

Materials
Yarn
Thin Acrylic Paint
Paper

Method

Dip the yarn into the paint to make some squishy worms.

Swish and wriggle the squishy worms around paper to make some squishy worm prints.

Experiment with different types of yarn.

Relish those squishy worms!

N & M: 3 years, 9 months
E: 1 year, 8 months

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Playdough Aliens

Pauline — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:09:03 +0000

I’m fortunate to have a very gifted preschool teacher as a friend. She asked how my day was. I rambled on about what a disaster my planned activity with the kids today turned out to be. The phrase, “What was I thinking?!” was repeated many times throughout our conversation. She reminded me of the KISS principle – Keep it Short & Simple.

Playdough Aliens is KISS to its core.

Materials:

Playdough (2 months later, our original cooked playdough is still going strong!)

Big googly eyes

Coloured matchsticks

Fuzzy pipe cleaners

I love it.

The kids love it.

You’ll love it.

KISS

N&M: 3 years, 8 months
E: 1 year, 7 months

Check out other Short & Simple play ideas.

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Jelly Paint

Pauline — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:46:12 +0000

Jelly paint.

Why? Remember those “smelly” textas in school? Those fruity scented ones? Or those scratch & sniff stickers?

Oh, what simple delights.

Jelly paint. Mmmm… scented deliciousness.

Ingredients:

Jelly crystals
Water

Method:

Mix a small amount of water into the jelly crystals. (That’s it… simple!)

How we played:

We flipped through a “how to draw” book. I asked them what they wanted to paint. M wanted a robot. N wanted a princess. I quickly scribbled their requests onto some watercolour paper, following the “how to draw” steps. Then painting commenced.

Throughout the whole activity, I asked them to sniff the paint. Mmmmm. The jelly paint smelt so sweet, they couldn’t resist giving it a quick lick. Yum!

N & M: 3 years, 7 months
E: 1 year, 6 months
January 2012

For more messy play see Lessons Learnt Journal Messy Play

For more art & craft see Lessons Learnt Journal Art & Craft

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