Foamy Bubbles! Water Table for Infants and Toddlers

Babies need to beat the heat too!

Sometimes working with infants and toddlers can be challenging,

as they have trouble reaching up and into most sensory tables.

You also have to be careful and monitor them for more safety issues,

where you definitely don't want the water to be too deep.

Here is our favorite, tried and true infant
(and toddler.... and preschool.... and school aged)

sponge water table to help beat the heat!

We use an under the washing machine tub,
I think we spent about $10 on ours at a local hardware store.
Then, we fill it with 1" thick craft foam.
Ours is in 4 pieces that are cut to fit perfectly in the tub.
(You do not need to have individual pieces,
we just happened to have this foam already in smaller pieces.
One large piece would work just as well).

Then.... all you need to do is add cold water
and a little bit of soap for bubbles (optional).
The children seem to like the bubbles a bit more
than just plain water, but either option will work!

The washer tub is large enough to allow multiple children

to explore all at once, but it is low enough that

the mobile infants can easily crawl right up to it

and reach over the edge to participate in exploration.

When you add the soap to the water,
pushing down on the sponge repeatedly creates bubbles!
Lots of foamy, fun bubbles!

We also discovered that when you push down
on the sponge foam- your hand-prints become visible!

(Check back for more explorations with these "prints" on Friday)

Have you ever made a foamy bubble sensory table?

What is your favorite way to cool off with infants and toddlers?

We would love to hear about it!

Comments

Our DIY Light Tables

There has been a lot of buzz about light tables over at Teach Preschool on Facebook . Deborah has collected some great ideas for light table play and has been experimenting with making her own table over on the Teach Preschool blog. I thought I would share with you our two light tables and how we made them. This first table is one that we put together with some scrap wood pieces, an old plexi-glass door from an entertainment center, and a couple of aquarium lights. Total Cost = $0. (We had everything on hand.) The table needs a little bit of tweaking. (It is on my to do list). Basically, we made a frame of wood around the plexi-glass and placed the lights under it. Our DIY skills in putting this together were far from expert, so the frame has a couple of gaps (and the reused wood is warped). We plan to try a new frame and use some caulk to seal any gaps. We also plan to attach the lights to the side of the frame instead of just placing them on the f...

A Few Ideas With Marker Caps (As Promised)

Yesterday, I hope I convinced you not to throw away your markers that "don't work." Today, I will share with you a few ideas for what to do with all of the caps. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here are a few of our recent creations: 1) A Leprechaun/Fairy Ladder/Rope Ladder: 2) #1 if not permanently secured can also double as a rope bridge: 3) #1/#2 can also be made into a train track for your homemade trains :). (No photo available) 4) You can use them as beads for a necklace: 5) You could make them into a wind chime. (No photo available). 6. You can use them as small manipulatives to count, sort, and make patterns with. (No photo available). 7) You could use them as playing pieces in your own homemade board game. (No photo available). 8) You could put them on a wire and glue them in place to make a twirling whirly-gig. 9) You could top them with a lid from a milk jug to make tiny tables or toadstools. 10) You could make them...

Yes, WE CLIMB UP THE SLIDE!

Yes, we do climb up the slide. We climb up the slide here at Child Central Station in the backyard... We climb up the slides when we are at the park..... and here are a few reasons why we think you could reconsider climbing up and allowing the children in your care to climb up the slide too! 1. Climbing up the Slide uses MUSCLE! Young children need to be active and climbing up the slide requires a lot of muscle and coordination. It is not an easy feat- and requires strength, concentration, determination, and will power. 2. Climbing up the Slide is RISKY! Yes- climbing up the slide is potentially risky, but so is sliding down! Your job as a caregiver is to carefully observe and monitor the situation, to be close by- but not to interfere unless necessary. Part of a child's learning process must include managing risks- climbing up the slide is a perfect way to practice this skill. 3. Climbing up the Slide involves potential CONFLICT! It ...

Ms. Amy's Blog @Child Central Station

Search This Blog