Free Play

After a mixed up morning, some free, undirected play was a great way to get the kids involved in something long enough for me to clean the kitchen. I gave them a tub each, split the blue/green water beads between them and had several large jugs of water available for them to use. Master E bought over his superheros and Little miss A a couple of cars. Later I gave them the box of sensory play utensils to keep them interested a little longer.  The water beads have been played with over and over are a due to be switched over for some new ones so I didn’t mind them getting squashed.

Not sure how long they remained engaged with this but it was long enough to have a clean kitchen and lots of good photos of them playing. With no instruction or direction from me they decided to be cooks, Mr Maker and firemen. Love their imaginations! 

Crocodile Play

Some Crocodile themed sensory play seemed appropriate given everyone was still talking about the croc park. I set up a sensory tub outside with some plastic crocs, a rock from the garden and some water. There were also some water beads in the water.

It didn’t take long until the crocs needed something to eat so I added some small plastic birds to the edge of the tub. A second tub, set up the same but with some dinosaurs was also played with because it was hard for everyone to share.

Perfect play for the warm afternoon’s we’ve been having lately.

Messy Play

Today Master C wanted to “make something” (more specifically a rocket ship), Master E wanted to play board games and I didn’t really fancy either. Messy play was the answer. Messy play and can change the mood in seconds. Today we used water beads, shaving foam and lots of scoops, spoons and bowls.

Starting out it was all very civilised, no one wanted to touch the foam…Master E didn’t even want any in his bowl and started out just with water beads. They soon got stuck in and after watching the other two for 10 mins Master E requested foam.

The water beads with the foam make a very slippery sensation and they loved “cooking” with them. They made pies and cakes with the water beads as decorations as well as lots of squishing between fingers listening for the squelching noise. The activity eventually turns into a big mess of foam but cleanup is so easy because the foam is designed to wash off. A garden hose for the table and a strainer in the sink to catch the water beads while washing out the containers and you can reuse the water beads that aren’t broken.

 

BroomeTime afternoons

The school day in Broome begins at 8am and finishes at 2pm. It’s fantastic once you get the other little people sleeping in just a way that fits into pick up time. 2pm pick up can also be curse. Some days when Master C comes home from school tired and not in a mood to accomadate his little sister it’s on for one and all. This afternoon was headed down that path. I’d been keeping WaterBeads up my sleeve and this was the perfect time to pull them out.

 

We had clear and blue waer beads. At first I gave them a container each of mixed up colours. They discovered that they bounced and were slippery and squishy.

 

We added in a little water and they couldn’t help but scoop and pour them into all sorts of different containers.

 

 

Mater C was intrigued when the clear beads completely disappeared into the water. It was as if they weren’t there at all.

 

 

These water beads, with a little water and a few containers and scoops entertained my kids for an hour! almost a record around here. We were able to collect most of the beads up for use another day and the ones that were broken they enjoyed squishing them into the garden.