You can find the other posts in our Baby Play series here:
Exploring the Kitchen: Part I
Exploring the Kitchen: Part II
Exploring Float
And our Baby-friendly Simple Sensory Play series here:
10+ Super Easy Sensory Plays
Exploring the Kitchen: Part I
Exploring the Kitchen: Part II
Exploring Float
And our Baby-friendly Simple Sensory Play series here:
10+ Super Easy Sensory Plays
Inspired by an image I saw on Pinterest from this post, I thought contact paper would be a cool sensory experience for little X. I wanted to be sure to discourage mouthing the contact paper because whatever it is that makes that stuff sticky cannot be good for little stomachs! I decided to flip our sensory bin (an underbed storage container I bought from Fred Meyer for $9) and cut a strip of contact paper that would fit in the middle. I also made sure to line the rectangular strip on all sides with packing tape so it wouldn't lift up easily.
I can't resist rainbows, and given the opportunity, must include them wherever I can! So I decided to go with several different textured items, all of which would stick fairly well and all of which we had in rainbow colors! X immediately noticed the stickiness. He touched it a few times before gravitating to the ball pit balls. He rolled the blue one around a bit, listening to the sound it made sticking and unsticking as he moved it around the contact paper.
Then he decided he needed to hold the ball, so off it came. Once he was in possession of the ball, he was interested in inspecting the other items on the table a bit more. He looked at the soft feathers first.
Then he just explored the plain contact paper.
Next he opted for two hand sticky exploration and let sis hold the ball.
Since X had moved on from exploring the objects to exploring just the contact paper, S decided to make a little rainbow sculpture with them.
And then, my favorite series of photos of the two of them, possibly ever, happened. After pondering for a minute, X launched himself onto the sticky table so that his belly was "stuck". And then he just hung out there. Sis, from the background chirped "Oh, that looks like fun!"
Ready?
Yep. They're awesome. They hung out like that for a minute or two while I died laughing.
X did let me tickle him with a feather while he, uh, explored the table with his stomach. :)
And after they were both done exploring sticky stomachs, sis had the idea to walk across the sticky table, which I thought was rather brilliant. It made a crazy noise as her hands and feet unstuck, so it managed to entertain both her and her brother.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
Contact paper
is definitely a staple around here (and a roll is only around $5!). You can see us using it to make Contact Paper Window Art and to help us decorate a Giant Egg as well as in some upcoming posts that I haven't gotten around to typing up yet.
is definitely a staple around here (and a roll is only around $5!). You can see us using it to make Contact Paper Window Art and to help us decorate a Giant Egg as well as in some upcoming posts that I haven't gotten around to typing up yet.
Follow along with Fun at Home with Kids on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest or Subscribe by Email or Bloglovin'!
All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child's parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child's pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.
Hahaha...I wasn't expecting them to stick themselves to the contact paper! That's awesome! This looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteRight??!! They are so funny. I also can't get over how they managed to have their hands, heads, and bodies in identical positions in the last picture. So glad I caught it on camera!!!!
DeleteAdorable! My friend was cleaning out her craft supplies and asked if I wanted any old rolls of contact paper... Yes please! Love the stuff and will have to try this!
ReplyDeleteYes! We keep finding new ways to use it. Sticky but clean? Can't beat it! :) Hope the girls love it!
Deleteoh my gosh how cute is that that he figured out to stick himself to the paper lol! So precious you captured it. Nice work :)
ReplyDeleteHe cracks me up! Thank goodness I had my camera, right? :)
DeleteThis might be one of my favorite blog posts of all time. How fun to watch how your baby investigated the stickiness and to imagine my own doing much the same thing. I'm excited to try this!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is a big compliment!!!! Thank you. :) It is definitely my current favorite series of the two of them. I die every time I see that last photo of them hanging out in identical postions. No doubt they are siblings there! Ha! I hope it inspires some crazy baby investigating at your house as well! :)
DeleteYes--feel free to post the link to our rendition as well. We loved this so much. Your little guy had such a great time, and I was so happy that mine loved it just as much! (Actually, I love a lot of your posts...I am currently eagerly awaiting the arrival of some TOOBs for our small world play next week!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alisha! He is just too cute!!! Awesome about the TOOBs. We are more than a little addicted to them... :)
DeleteLovely photos and a great idea, but what is contact paper and where can I get it?
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy! Thank you! I've included a link in the post to Amazon (in the last paragraph). It is also carried in most stores - people use it to line cupboards and cover books, so you can often find it at Target/Walmart/etc. You can also find it at craft stores like Michaels. I hope that helps! :)
DeleteHere in the UK, contact paper is called sticky backed plastic. Descriptive, eh?!
DeleteThat IS descriptive, Helena! A much better name than contact paper!!!
DeleteOh my goodness, what a great blog site you have and what amazing ideas for toddler and infant exploration. I take care of my 21 month old grand daughter and would love to find rainbow colored items for color sorting. Where did you find those great balls?
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for the awesome compliment, Nicole! These are actually balls from our enormous ball pit - which you can see here if you're interested:
Deletehttp://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/04/designing-playspaces-art-room-this-is.html
They are ball pit play balls - I bought most of them in big batches via Amazon (there's a link in the above post) - though I was able to find at least one batched on Craigslist. If your 21 month old is still mouthing things, I'd recommend spending the extra money to get the phthalate-free balls I've linked to. If she's not a taster, you can save a lot by getting "regular" play balls. Hope that helps! :)