This last week has been a mixed bag here in terms of unseasonal weather which prevented us from venturing out and about as usual and also caused Rowan’s meithrin to close for a day due to having no heating and hot water. This didn’t go down very well with him, so instead I decided we would do a sensory/messy play activity.
I found two tubes of magic snow that I had bought the Christmas before last and not used. As snow was making an appearance in some places throughout the UK and we had been watching the pictures on the news I thought both he and my child minded child would love this. I dug out a old plastic party tablecloth and spread it out on the toy room floor. The boys took their shoes and socks off while I fetched a large plastic mixing bowl, wooden spoon and a jug of cold tap water. The boys then took it in turn mixing the magic snow and water together. Both boys were amazed at how the magic snow quickly more than doubled in size.
Once I had mixed both tubes of magic snow with water I emptied the bowl onto the tablecloth on the floor. Rowan went to fetch some Lego duplo figures, animals and cars to play with in the snow. Both he and the other child took it in turns standing in the magic snow and making foot and hand prints. We talked about how cold and wet the magic snow felt, just like real snow. Rowan tried to make a snow ball but it wouldn’t quite stick together. So I added the Lego duplo bits Rowan had got out. Both boys spent around an hour playing together in the magic snow, they had duplo dinosaurs and other animals in it as well. We chatted about the fact dinosaurs wouldn’t have been used to seeing snow and about animals that lived all year round in snowy places. The only thing I would have done differently is to have had more magic snow because the area we were using meant it was spread out quite a lot. I could also have used a tray or container instead of the tablecloth but the boys loved the freedom of being able to stand in the snow and really get to grips with it.
Once the boys started showing signs of having had enough I filled the kitchen sink up with soapy water and we took all the duplo into the kitchen for them to play with in the sink. Again we talked about animals that lived in water while they were playing in the bubbles. By the end of the session both boys were stripped down to pants and vests and had throughly enjoyed playing with both the magic snow and the water. It was a lovely way to spend the morning couped up indoors and helped the boys work up an appetite for lunch.
This looks fab honeyi may try this one x
it was 🙂 the boys loved it. will be posting more sensory/messy play ideas as I do alot with the children 🙂 x
Great idea, I used to love showing children Magic snow when I worked in a toy shop. Think I will have to wait a few years before showing M as he is likely to eat it.
Looks like they had great fun, anything that keeps them entertained for a while is a winner for me! X
Oh what a great idea! I love that magic snow stuff 🙂
xx
Have not seen magic snow before, what a great idea for little children for whom real outdoor snowy play gets too cold too quickly. Great post, thank you so much for linking up x
Lovely warm indoors fun with snow – love it :))