If you’re even remotely connected to Pinterest or a fan of any of
my fave blogs, there’s a really good chance you already know about these spectacular little sensory
Water Beads.
If it hadn’t been for the magic of the internet I never would have
known these even existed, let alone tried them as a tool for exploration
and discovery. I found ours at JoAnn Fabrics, but if you can’t find
them near you, you can easily find them
on Amazon.
I set up our
DIY light table and then N filled the top with about
1/2″ of water.
I poured the tiny aqua gems into a
small container for her to add to the water.
She scooped them up and dropped them in. This step was as much a part of the fun as any of them.
As
she mixed them up, we marveled at how they
grew….slowly….growing….slowly…(good lesson in patience!). N played with
them while her sister napped and we set them aside for a couple hours.
After snacks and a romp outside, this is what they looked like. And it
turned out that 14 month old Baby Rainbow enjoyed them even more than
big sister. I was super cautious at first because little things that
look like food go in the mouth, but after a few watchful “not for
eating”comments, she was good to go.
I
tucked the light table under a kitchen cabinet and Baby R has gone back
to dig it out at least five times since. I think she’s fascinated by
the texture of the beads and can’t seem to get enough of them. I still
keep a close eye on her when she uses them, but it’s helpful to know
that the gems are non-toxic. In fact, she’s intently playing with them
as I type. So maybe this post is really about “how to entertain your
little one while you get things done.” One last thing, the beads look
really cool with light shining through them, but it’s not a deal breaker
if you don’t have a light table. A clear bowl on a sunny day or in a
well-lit room will work well too!
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