What did we get up to yesterday?
We were at the grocery store passing by the jello section and Ella Grace asked if we could make "jellyfish" to play so of course #kacaumama said YES! 😂🎉
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SENSORY MATERIALS
- Konnyaku jelly fish/stars/blob
- Basil seeds (selasih)
- Warm or ice water
- Chopstick tongs and spoons
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KONNYAKU JELLY
We made the "fish" and "stars" out of Konnyaku jelly without the sugar, just water w a few drops of food coloring.
We like Konnyaku jelly because it's extra rubbery. You can also use agar-agar, jello, or pudding. If your little is still mouthing, I would supervise closely as this texture while edible, can be a choking hazard. 😅
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SENSORY SPACE
While it set, Ella Grace took a nap and when she got up, it was nice and cool out on our patio so we decided to do our sensory outside! 😍
Her "sensory table" is really just a tub on a bench. You can also do it on the floor w a shower curtain or towels underneath. Bringing it up higher just makes it more comfortable.
Teach your little to keep the material within the tub. Consistently reinforcing this will really help. Be patient and redirect that we "keep the water in the tub" "fishes stay in the box" etc. Ella Grace could follow these instructions as young as under-1 so trust your little.
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BASIL SEEDS
Basil seeds or 'selasih' like they are locally known is an awesome sensory table addition. They start out as seeds then expand and become little squishy tadpole looking things.
Super fun to watch the littles play w it. You can also use a little fishing net for them to scoop them up and smush it!
Biodegradable, natural, easily available and cheap too!
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WARM/ICE WATER
For an extra sensory experience, you can add either warm water or ice water into the tub just to add another dimension. Ella Grace chose warm yesterday and it felt really good in the cool rainy evening breeze!
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PLAY
The only rules Ella Grace has at her sensory table is that her sensory materials stay in her box. Other than that, she has the freedom to explore, pour, squish, smush, experiment. There is no right or wrong and we allow space for her imagination to go wild!
Learning through play is a beautiful thing, she learns to make connections and discovers the world around through her senses and it fosters independence, resourcefulness, curioustiy and creativity!
Just step back, make space, and enjoy!
Xx
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