Inside: water bead sensory play for your preschooler.
Elevate your sensory play overnight!
Have you tried water beads?!
I know you have seen them. Water Beads are EVERYWHERE!
It wasn’t until I had a small (actually huge) nudge from a friend that I added them to my Amazon Cart.
I mean, I knew about them but didn’t know why I (I mean why WE) needed them.
And now? I GET IT. Water beads for sensory play are pretty awesome.
As always, supervise your child when using water beads.
All activities to be done under adult supervision © 2020 by Days with Grey LLC
Water beads are not safe to eat.
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How long do the water beads last?
Water beads in the package are tiny little balls the size of a pinhead.
When you add water, they begin to grow. The directions state to give them a full eight hours to expand.
Now, 8 hours may seem like a lifetime to a four-year-old.
Pro tips to make waiting for the sensory play zip by:
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Add water to the water beads before dinner. Then watch them grow some before bedtime.
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Send your preschooler off to bed, saying, “Tomorrow, when you wake up, I bet your water beads will be even larger! You better get to bed so we can see them in the morning.” (wink, wink)
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Once the water beads have expanded, they are ready for your preschooler to dive in.
Dried out water beads can be used again.
After playing with the water beads, lay them on a towel to dry out.
Once they are back to their original size, store them in a ziplock. You can add water again when you are ready to reuse the water beads!
Be on the lookout for the used water beads to get moldy. If you notice mold on your water beads, do not reuse them and dispose of them.
RELATED: Looking for water games to cool off your summer fun? You will love this list of 35+ Winning Water Games for Kids.
Let’s set up our sensory bin!
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Are water beads safe to eat?
No.
Do not leave your toddler or preschooler unattended with water beads. They are not edible, and you do not want them putting the water beads anywhere near their mouth.
My three-year-old and four-year-old approached these water beads very differently.
My four-year-old scooped, transferred, and funneled each water bead into different containers testing out just “how many” fit.
My three-year-old wanted to grasp each water bead (good for fine-motor strength) and squeeeeeeze as hard as he could until they broke — another great way to strengthen those little fingers.
Again, this is why you are staying close, along with placing a shower liner underneath the bin. – it makes for a much smoother clean up.
We typically bring out sensory play once our 14-month-old takes a nap.
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Why are water beads so great for sensory play?
These water beads are stimulating the senses and offering a way for siblings to work together.
Sensory play will also encourage:
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Conversation skills
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Inquiry-based learning
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Problem Solving
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Calming down
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Practice self-control
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Fine motor development
How will you play with water beads?
Will you add water, or freeze them as Busy Toddler did?
Want even more water play? Find 35+ Water Play Ideas HERE all in one place.
