Having Fun for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Prepare the water beads. Measure out 2 teaspoons of beads into a bowl or dish. Add 1 quart of water. Let stand for approximately 6 to 8 hours to hydrate completely. Get ready to have a fun, messy experience!
Make a sensory bin. Take a plastic bin and add hydrated beads. Let the kids enjoy picking up and squeezing beads. Add cups, buckets, and other containers for the kids to use with the beads.
Have fun with beads on a light table. You can purchase a light table from a hobby store, or make an easy, inexpensive table like the one suggested by Tinker Lab: Take a clear plastic under-the-bed style storage box (approximately 35 quarts is sufficient) with a lid. Line the lid with white tissue paper and tape in place. Spread a string of Christmas lights around the bottom of the container. Let the light cord dangle outside the box to plug in. You should be able to close the lid on the box. Place water beads and other colorful translucent objects on the top of the box. Invent ways to play. The only limit is your imagination!
Playing With Crushed Water Beads
Hammer water beads. Using a wooden hammer from a kid's tool set, smash water beads to a jelly-like texture for a unique sensory experience. Make sure this activity takes place where making a mess is not a problem.
Make water bead sculptures with crushed water beads. Using a kit available for purchase online, or at an arts and crafts store, you can crush water beads and decorate the molds provided.
Making a Water Bead Lava Lamp
Gather your materials. You will need these items: Water with food coloring added. A clear container such as a mason jar. Oil. Baby oil is recommended, but vegetable oil also works well. Water beads. A fast dissolving tablet such as Alka Seltzer.
Pour liquid in container so it is roughly two-thirds water to one-third oil.
Break up the tablets into pieces and gradually add to the container.
Add about twenty water beads to the container. Watch as the beads gradually rise to the top of the jar.
Making Gummy Candy Beads
Buy your favorite gummy treats and cut them up into small pieces. Now you have a fun toy and a tasty snack.
Make healthy gummy snacks. Concerned about the sugar and artificial ingredients in gummy snacks? Make these popular homemade snacks. You will need these ingredients: 3 1/4-oz packets unflavored gelatin 4 (3 ounces) boxes flavored gelatin (any flavor) 4 cups boiling water Put the flavored and unflavored gelatin in a bowl. Add the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Pour into a 9 X 13 inch pan. Cool in refrigerator for four to five hours or until firm. Cut into squares of the desired size. Enjoy having a toy to play with and a squishy treat!
Having Fun for Older Children
Make Water Bead Slime. You will need these ingredients: Two Five-Ounce containers of Clear School Glue Liquid starch Water Beads Hydrate the water beads according to directions. Pour the two containers of school glue into a bowl. Gradually add the starch until the mixture begins to stick together. Keep adding starch until the mixture no longer sticks to your fingers. Add the fully hydrated water beads to the slime. Have fun stretching and squeezing the slime!
Freeze the water beads. Put the hydrated water beads in clear plastic cups and cover with water. Place in the freezer until completely frozen. Use your imagination playing games with the cold toys.
Hydrate water beads with tonic water to make black-light beads. Using a black-light flashlight or lamp, you can create a fun science lesson or just let your kids play.
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