After some initial play with the beads we created an under water play scene.
In our tub went some green, clear and blue water beads, some real sea shells, fish and seaweed cut from craft foam and a little Playmobil diver figure!
They loved using the large shells to scoop and pour the slippery beads and C. made up all sorts of wonderful stories involving the fish and some imaginary mermaids! Wonderful imaginative play.
We have kept this out all week now and by placing the lid on the tub each evening it seems to keep the beads fresh overnight. Apparently they can be left to dry out and shrivel down again, and can later be restored with more water. I’ll let you know if that’s true!
I love how the girls later started to stick the foam shapes onto the sides of the plastic tub (using the moistness from the beads) as it made it appear like peering through a fish tank window!
There are SO many other creative ways to play and explore with these beads and I can’t wait! These are being added to my top 5 favourite play materials for this age group and more will be coming soon!
- science/ knowledge & understanding of the world: explore new materials using all of the senses, ask questions about who/why/where/when/what?, seek to find answers to questions through hands-on exploration, discuss how and why materials change shape and size through absorption
- literacy: use new and expanding vocabulary, describe new experiences with descriptive and imaginative language, tell stories through imaginative play, create characters and remain in role in play
- maths: explore filling and emptying, compare quantities, observe growth
You can buy these on Amazon for only 95p!
Cakie: 3 years 5 months
Pop: 22 months
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
Brilliant – our post goes out next Tuesday about them and it’s very different to yours and Nurturestores posts – it’s amazing to see what can be done with the same substance but different children leading the play.
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
I’m looking forward to seeing how you played with them Cerys! There are so many possibilities, like you say. Fantastic play substance!
Carine says
Hello! Where did you find your waterbeads? I found some but it was £10 for a pack, rather expensive.
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Hi carine! I have an Amazon link towards the end of the post- they were only 95p per packet! But you need a few to fill a tub
Anonymous says
Hi, I found them cheaper at http://www.gemjan-waterbeads4u.co.uk You can get 3 packs from there for £1.99 and there is free UK delivery as well!
maggy, red ted art says
Oooh so pretty and looks like so much fun! My kids have been FASCINATED by the water beads you gave us – thank you again so much!! I love how made yours into a aquarium scene. Beautiful!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
you’re welcome! you may need to get a few more then eh? Sorry I only gave you one packet!
Megan says
Love the sea theme! Perfect!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
those colours just screamed SEA! 🙂
Susanna says
oooooo now those look fantastic and not too messy- right up my street! Will wait until payday (or birthday amazon vouchers!!) and be on the case!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
awww I SO want to send you some for your birthday!!
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
Excellent post! Love how you made an ocean play box…..you are so unbelievably creative! Your kids are so lucky to have you! Glad you got some water beads an can’ t wait to see what else you do with them!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
thanks Melissa and thanks to you that I found out where to get them in the UK!
Anonymous says
I have been using these beads for three years now in scientific investigations and play. They were not well received at the start by adults, but it looks like people have finally got their heads around them. I now buy them by the kilo!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Wow, by the KILO! that’s wonderful!!
Rachel T says
Ooooh, I have been wanting to do something like this for ages! I keep hoping water beads are going to crop up in our local pound shop, but they resolutely are not there. So thanks particularly for the Amazon link. Did you buy several, or was one enough?
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
I bought SEVERAL!! (I just *needed* all the colours, you know?!) This tub took 3 packets, although we have also done a pink tub with 2 packs. Enjoy the slippery, squishy goodness!!
Growing a Jeweled Rose says
Glad to see you were able to find these amazing gems in the UK! Aren’t they just amazing? 🙂
TheBoyandMe says
Loving it, off to buy some water beads now!
rebekah @ justfordaisy says
Love this! I will have to try the water beads. We’ve been doing an Under The Sea theme and I’ve shared some activities on my blog! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this fun activity!
Laura says
Thanks for your blog – I love it and get so much inspiration from it. I discovered water beads a few months ago and my three year old loves them. I can assure you that they do shrink down to their original size if you leave them out to dry for a couple of weeks.
JDaniel4's Mom says
These look like such fun to play with. I love your bin!
Jaime says
Thanks for the tip on these! I’m in the USA, and I bought them at the local craft store that frequently has 50% off coupons in the mail. After using them as a pool for my daughter’s plastic people, I buried letter tiles in them and she had fun fishing them out and matching them to a paper that had our family’s names on them. She keeps asking to play with them!
Kim HB says
My kids are playing with these as I type- I’m online getting ideas for props to give them along with the beads. I found them at Michael’s in the “floral” section, pretty cheap, I think maybe $3 or so for a pack. I’ve only used less than 1/4 of the pack for today’s activity and that made more than enough for two creative girls. They are loving them, though. Great ideas!
Ms. Liz says
Picture perfect, and looks like so much fun! We linked back to you in today’s post about ways to have fun with water beads (we froze ours, and then melted them again).. plus, we are having an awesome water bead giveaway. Come check it out:
http://fitkidsclub.blogspot.com/2012/03/clubhouse-science-art-of-melting.html
..and thanks for always inspiring!
Natalie says
Where can I get water beads or something similar here in the States? Will be doing a “fish themed” sensory table.
Kathy says
I purchase them at Michaels here in the U.S.
Ms. Liz says
This sensory tub is still one of my favorites! We’re having a Water Beads linky party. This post would be great, join us!
http://fitkidsclub.blogspot.com/p/clubhouse-adventures-in-water-beads.html
Sarah Ridley says
I’ve just purchased some of these to use in the nursery i work at, my only concern is if the children put them in their mouths? are they harmful at all ? i feel this is the only concern my manager will have about using them. thanks for such wonderful ideas!
Anonymous says
I am really concerned about the use of water/jelly balls. Today (Sept 17) there is a report in Pediatrics about a 8 month baby who required surgery for lower bowel obstruction due to a swallowed ball which continued to expand. Another report available in APSP -Assoc Ped surgeons of Pakistan – where a 6 month baby died of septicaemia after surgery to remove swallowed balls.
We should limit them to much older children and then never let children play with them until fully absorbed (a pity – they’re a wonderful sensory feel).
Joan (MA Health Science)
Anna Ranson says
Please send me a link, I’d really like to read those reports, thanks!
Joan says
Do a google search on safety of Water balls or jelly balls
Pediatrics article is http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/09/12/peds.2011-3685. Volume 130, number 4, October 2012. Authors Zamora, Vu, Larimer & Olutoye
also http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3160050/?tool=pubmed
also asiaone (www.asiaone.com/print/Health/News/Story20110827-296463.html
also http://www.apspjcaserep.com.
Joan
Anonymous says
They are also sold at Dollar Tree!