Sensory Tub: Ocean FAIL

It all began when I sat down with Bobo and showed him Crystal's fun sensory baths. I didn't expect him to want to have a play bath (as we are calling them) right away. I wanted to take advantage of his enthusiasm, and (let's face it) willingness to get into the bath. I also didn't anticipate how these play baths would be VERY different with MY boy.

I planned to paint some waves on around the bath with a shaving cream and food color mix. Bobo wanted to help.

"We need ocean creatures." I hunted, but couldn't find the extra box of bath toys with the shark. We settled for an octopus, hippo and elephant.

I probably should have figured out how to dye cooked pasta before this tub. Maybe explained better? I definitely shouldn't have put Bobo's favorite food (noodles) into the tub without expecting him to eat it. "Mama, these noonles taste funny." Could it be the shaving cream on your face?

Let's have a pasta throwing contest, instead.

When all else fails, bring out the big guns (or big bubbles as the case may be).

Since this auspicious beginning, we've had a few successful sensory tubs. The hot weather lends itself nicely to water play, so we'll keep trying. It's not always pretty, but always messy and fun.

Sensory Tub: Blue Skies

Bobo made the blue water by squirting his ketchup bottles of blue food coloring diluted with warm water into the bubble bath. He made clouds with shaving cream. You can't really tell by the photo, but the water is a beautiful turquoise.

A great book to go along with this simple sensory tub is It Looked Like Spilt Milk. I love sharing this story with a big group of children, because you gets lots of different answers as to what each picture looks like. Share this story with your little one, then ask what shapes your shaving cream clouds look like. You may be surprised by his/her creativity!