I am writing a short series of posts entitled "Super Easy Sensory Play". Activities included in the series all contain two or fewer ingredients and are items that are generally found in any house, so no need to run to the store for specialty items. I hope that you will give them all a try! You can read the other posts in the series here:
Super Easy Sensory Play: Cornstarch and Water
Super Easy Sensory Play: Wet Cotton Balls
Super Easy Sensory Play: Dirt and Worms
Super Easy Sensory Play: Wet Cotton Balls
Super Easy Sensory Play: Dirt and Worms
Here's another super easy sensory play using items you probably already have on hand in your house. This one uses soap, and if you are playing with an infant who is still prone to "tasting" things, I'd strongly recommend using a baby-safe non-toxic soap. We used Babyganics soap,
another product I love, since I knew X was likely to try sneaking at least one taste and I am very comfortable with the ingredients in Babyganics soaps. As with all activities, do only what you are comfortable with, and please closely monitor your infant/child.
another product I love, since I knew X was likely to try sneaking at least one taste and I am very comfortable with the ingredients in Babyganics soaps. As with all activities, do only what you are comfortable with, and please closely monitor your infant/child.
To make super awesome foam, you'll need a mixer (unless you have some serious biceps - in which case I guess you could probably just do this part by hand!). We poured a few tablespoons of water and about 1/4 cup of our Babyganics soap. This particular soap has a foaming pump, so we unscrewed the top to pour the soap in.
Once it was ready, we poured it into our glass baking pan and brought it out to show X.
He was cracking us up with his expressions yet again!
He just couldn't get over the texture of the foam.
S loved playing with it as well. So did I. Some things are just universally appealing, I guess!
S getting big globs of foam on her hands.
X is still like - what is this?
No, but seriously guys - what is this???
Hahahaha - this is my absolute favorite photo. He kept bringing his hands realllllly close, as though maybe it would all make sense if it was closer to his face.
After X was done exploring, the dinos dove right in.
Girlie toes and a pile of dinos. Things don't get much better!
The soapy foam was super easy to make (I think it took the mixer about 2 minutes to whip) and since there wasn't much water to speak of, the towel underneath was more than ample to catch any stray foam. I just rinsed the kids' hands when they were done, rinsed the dish, and threw the towel in the laundry.
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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.
Hi there
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog and adore it! I run a website in New Zealand called www.babybites.co.nz and would love to feature you and your ideas on there!
Please could you email me at tam@babybites.co.nz
I look forward to hearing from you!
Tam
Hi Tam!
DeleteWhat a cute website you have! I sent you an email.
Thanks!
How old is X I was curious what a good age to start this at is?
DeleteHi Perry's! That's a great question. In fact, I wrote a post on it here to answer that question because it's a common one!
Deletehttp://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/02/first-sensory-experiences-what-age-is.html
I love your little one's expressions! They are HILARIOUS!
ReplyDeleteHe is such a crack-up, I agree! He'll look up and flash me a smile and then go back to his intense studies of whatever we're playing with. I think he must be a little scientist in the making with such serious observations!!!
DeleteJust wanted to let you know that this post inspired me to make some soap foam bath paints: http://andnextcomesl.blogspot.ca/2013/03/soap-foam-bath-paints.html
ReplyDeleteThank you!
So fun, Mama D! We do bathtub paints with shaving cream (I'll post after our Easter series) - I love the colors you got with the soap foam paint! Always fun to paint the bathtub - and clean up can't get any easier!!! :)
DeleteI've just found your website from Pinterest and I just have to say I think it's amazing! I and totally copying all of your ideas for my LO (10 mos) - I can't wait to show her all of these fun games and activities. THANK YOU for sharing with us all :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for saying so Traveling Cupcake! I love hearing that. X is also 10 months. :) I hope that your LO has fun and makes some awesome faces for you while playing. ;)
DeleteI'm a fellow poster from Tuesday Tots! Our blogs are similar and you're little one's faces were really cracking me up in this post. Adding you to my follow list!
ReplyDeleteKrissy
www.kzandme.blogspot.com
Hi Krissy! Your blog is awesome, too! I just hopped over there. Still cracking up from the Baby Sushi costume. Love it!!!!
DeleteLove your blog!! It's awesome to see sensory play for infants! My son is 13 months, so hes not an infant-but he still loves to taste everything and with sensory play that's not always a good idea, lol. I can't wait to try these out with him. We are gonna have so much fun!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Aeoliana! Oh, thank you! I'm so glad you found us and so excited for the fun you two are going to have! Hope these are a hit! :)
Deleteso i tried this with my twins (they were about 7.5 months at the time), not sure if i tried it too early with them. they both were excited to touch the foam, but then Z started to rub his eyes so it ended rather quickly with us trying to flush out his eyes. might try this again with tear-free shampoo!
ReplyDeleteOh no Sannashine! Yes, unfortunately babies are rather clumsy with those sorts of things. I needed to be right by X for all of these because he was just as likely to rub his eyes with hands full of cornstarch or birdseed or...well you get the picture. I love the idea of using tear-free shampoo! I bet that would do the trick. X rubs his eyes all the time while he's in the bath and is never bothered - so I bet that tear-free shampoo would be a great fix!!!!
DeleteOh my goodness. so cute!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessica! :)
DeleteI never thought a soap foam could looks so wonderful.. Thanks for sharing those lovely pictures... :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Evie!!! :)
DeleteThis post calls for 2tbs of water and 1/4 cup soap, but your rainbow foam is the exact opposite with 2tbs soap and 1/4 cup water.... Are both correct... I'm confused?
ReplyDeleteOh how funny! I'd never noticed that they are exact opposites!!! They are both correct - the Babyganics soap we use here is all-natural, so it takes a LOT to make it foam. The other uses Dawn which is chemically engineered to foam like crazy. So it doesn't need very much at all. Sorry for the confusion! :)
Deletedo you have twitter so i can follow you ? i dont use any of the other wedsites lol .
ReplyDeletei love you ideas r=they are amazing
Thank you! I do have Twitter, but I always forget to post there. :/ twitter.com/FunatHomeKids
DeleteThese reactions your son makes are so worth the try!!!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha right Janelle? I'm so glad I got photos of all his crazy faces when he was little. They still crack us up!!!
DeleteAbout how long does the foam last for after you've whipped it up?
ReplyDelete20-45 minutes -- it depends on how humid the air is, how much it's handled, etc, etc. If you want to keep play going for a long time, I recommend adding a fresh batch every 20 or so minutes. :)
Delete