Sometimes when we ask questions while our kids are busy at play, we unintentionally insert our own ideas and the magic of independent play doesn't fully come to life. Here’s what you can do instead!
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Animal Washing Station… We used our favorite animals, but you should use anything your children are interested in. Truck washing, baby-doll washing, dish washing, it all works the same.
We used soap, sponges, an old toothbrush and dishwashing tool, some little cups and pitchers, and of course… WATER! We also set this activity up in our IKEA sensory table, but any old bins and buckets on the floor work just as well.
You can use things you already have
It is basically free
Your child will likely play for a long time even though the activity takes less than five minutes to set up.
There very little mess to clean up. It is probably the cleanest mess your child will ever make.
Your child will probably get soap and water all over themselves so you can count it as a bath
Your child will be exploring washing, which is a something they’ve been experiencing their whole lives. Having the opportunity to master their own life experiences by repeating them on a smaller scale helps them process and make sense of their world.
They are playing with concepts like empty and full, cause and reaction, wet and dry. They are using their developing muscles to work up a lather and fine motor skills to fill and pour.
They will inevitably spill and be given the opportunity to wipe up after themselves in a no-pressure situation. Sometimes a big spill during dinner-time can feel overwhelming and upsetting. Letting them clean up these smaller spills allows for the opportunity to practice and master the skill of mopping up on their own terms.
Private Speech: When you child is engaged in this washing station, you will likely hear them chatting away with themselves. Why does this matter? Private speech is an indicator of cognitive development. It is so important for language development, self-regulation and problem solving. (Plus, it is so darn sweet to listen to.)
Give them space. Don’t ask a million questions, do not direct the play or micro manage spillage. It’s just water after all. Do not worry about regulating the amount of soap or water. That is not the point here. The goal is to allow them to engage in self-directed play. Give yourself permission to let your child use as much as they want. A little trick? Save old soap bottles and just fill them with about an inch of soap and the rest water. That way they can still make lots of soapy bubbles and you do not need to worry about wasting.
Do stay nearby, but be engaged in your own work. When they try to draw you in and ask you to play, simply say, “I am dong my work while you do yours.” Be nice, but boring. When they ask you questions and try to chat with you, act very interested in whatever you are doing.
I am providing a materials list for this project, but PLEASE do not feel that you need to buy anything. Be creative and use what you have around the house. Bins, buckets or the bathtub work!
If there is one thing you should buy if you don’t already have one, it is this water dispenser.
Why? It helps children be independent, and you don’t need to continually get up and retrieve more water. Using a self-serve jug encourages self-regulation. Children learn more and faster about how much soap and water they need when they can do it themselves.
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I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-Lizzie
Have you ever wondered which tiles are worth it? Do they work together? Which ones should you buy?
QUIET TIME AND INDEPENDENT PLAY EBOOK
This downloadable ebook is your personal guide to Quiet Time and Independent Play. This ebook will teach you the basic steps to implementing a Quiet Time and Independent Play strategy that works. The guide teaches you my proven 5 step method for implementing a daily break without using screens. (Guide includes 5 bonus invitations to play.)
THE PLAY PLAN
The Play Plan is an ebook containing play invitations that are easy to set up, inexpensive, and apply children of all ages. The 25 play prompts are divided into five categories and use items that you most likely already have at home. These play prompts consider children of all ages, all developmental stages, and all learning capabilities. Each prompt can be tailored to fit your unique child’s needs. Play is meant to be simple.
An activity that won’t cost a dime and will entertain a very young child equally as well as a grade schooler.
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Soap foam. I love it. It is simple to make with ingredients you already have on hand and a snap to clean up. It feels and smells amazing. Children of all ages love to sink their hands into it. This is a great activity to put in your back pocket this winter.
Stuck inside on a freezing day? Soap foam in the kitchen sink.
Need an extra long bathtime to kill an afternoon? Give them a big bucket of soap foam.
Looking for an independent play idea? Soap foam plus favorite cars, dinos, or baby dolls.
Read on to find out more….
Yup, it’s really that simple. You can use dish soap, bath soap, bubble bath or anything you have around the house. If you are making this for small children, make sure it’s tear-free soap.
You can set this up in the sink or a big bin. The thing I love most about this sensory material is its versatility. Babies can play with a small amount on the high chair. Toddlers can explore it with a few scoopers. Preschoolers love to use it to with sponges, whisks, or any old kitchen tool.
When your child is ready, you can set this up like I did below for my (then) six year old. She washed her cars and then made up a road trip game about driving to a hotel. She set up her roads and made a hotel out of magnetic tiles.
On another day, she washed a dried her animals after they ‘swam in the ocean’.
On yet another day I set this up with rocks and animals. This one turned into a ‘river in the woods’ trip for her animals. Her game sounded just like the trip we had just taken to the woods the week before.
Soap foam is a simple way to ease yourself into non-messy sensory play for your child. You truly do not need to even add color. If you are looking for a way to get your little one busy playing and learning this summer, do yourself a favor and whip up a batch of soap foam. The five minutes you invest making it will set you up for a loooong play session.
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I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-Lizzie
If you want to create a home that is filled with play and creativity, the key is to let your child know how much you value the time and effort they spent playing.