In this BLOG post I will teach you how to make this two-in-one sensory experience!
Whether it is cold and snowy or sunny and warm this SNOW recipe never disappoints! You only need TWO ingredients to make this sensory bin, and it comes together in minutes!
SNOW sensory play is the best. It is soft and squishy. You can build with it, mold it, smoosh it and push it around.
You can add scoops and bowls, trucks and diggers, dinos or barbies. The possibilities for learning and play are ENDLESS!
This play can get messy, but it does sweep/clean up easily and there are ways to minimize the mess!
Our snow recipe is also cost effective: you can purchase all of the ingredients from the Dollar Store!
The BEST part, this is a two-for-one activity!! Once you are done playing, you can turn it into a second fun and fizzy experiment!
Here are our best messy play tips!
Clean up-tips:
For easy clean up: keep wipes nearby, along with a plastic bag or trash bin to discard.
Wear old clothes or a bathing suit, and plan to head to the tub after this fun sensory play!
Take it outdoors! Wash it off with a hose when you're done.
Use an old beach towel or sheet under the bins to catch any spills.
Pick a "sensory spot" in your home. Each time you participate in sensory play, go to your designated spot. Pick this spot based on an area that is easy to clean, away from new or easily stained surfaces and central to you so that you can keep an eye on them!
How to encourage messy play?
Start small. Put a tiny amount in a bowl and explore with it to see how it feels!
Play with them! Roll up your sleeves and get messy with them.
Let them know that getting messy is OK.
Have a clean-up strategy so that they can wipe their hands quickly if it becomes too much. Maybe have a towel in their lap or wipes right next to them.
Encourage starting with just one finger. "Poke the Snow with your pointer finger. How does it feel?"
Materials:
(3) cups Baking Soda
3-4 tablespoons of water
White vinegar
Food coloring (optional)
Pipette or medicine dropper
Sensory bin or bowls
Spoon
Scoops, bowls, trinkets etc
Step 1: Pour baking soda and water in a tub or tray and mix well.
Step 2: Add in your favorite scoops or bowls and PLAY!!
Make observations as you play:
How does it feel?
What happens when you squeeze it?
Does it feel similar to real snow?
Once of the fun of the snow starts to wear off (it may not wear off because snow is so fun!!!), here is the BEST way to keep the play going!
In a cup, mix half white vinegar and half water with a few drops of food coloring. Here I did one cup red and one cup green.
Add in a pipette or medicine dropper. Squeeze and squirt the mixture over the snow and watch the magic happen!!
It will bubble and fizz. The colors will mix. The snowman will "melt." It is so engaging!!
Using a dropper is INCREDIBLE for strengthening fine motor skills. The more they make the squeezing motion with their thumb and pointer finger, the stronger they will get! The stronger they get, the easier tasks such as feeding yourself, buttoning your coat and tying your shoes becomes!
BIG time BONUS: those same movements are necessary for holding a pencil and writing your name!! You can work on SO many skills, all through play!
There are so many amazing learning opportunities happening as they play. You can ask questions such as:
What happens when the vinegar interacts with the baking soda snow mixture?
What happens when the red mixes with the green?
What does it sound like?
Have you ever smelled vinegar before? What else can we use this for?
Why do you think the bubbles last longer on this side of the tray?
What will happen when all of the baking soda is gone?
Are you looking for more wintery fun?
Check out our FOUR different SNOW recipes HERE.
Check out our WINTER chickpea sensory bin HERE.
Check out our WINTER play dough recipes HERE.
You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home. Always monitor young children.
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