Squish-Squish! (Sensory play with Crystal Jelly beads)
Date: June 20, 2022
Time: Sensory Time
Facilitators: Jasmine, Simran J, Raveena
PROPS USED
Coloured crystal jelly beads (water absorbing polymers), Plastic trays, Small spoons and mini wooden containers were used as props to encourage sensory play in toddlers.
What was the activity?
In this activity the arthlings play around with crystal jelly beads placed in the tray, either by directly crushing the beads with one’s fingers and palms or by using mini spoons and containers to scoop and transfer beads from one tray/container to another.
Why did we plan this activity?
Water beads employ multiple senses simultaneously and thus a lot of our arthlings are fond of this activity.
Sensory skills: The jelly beads are slippery, rubbery, and bouncy which stimulates the senses of toddlers.
Fine motor skills: This sensory play can improve on a lot of fine motor skills since it involves holding a spoon and scooping the beads. Also, gross motor skills get enhanced since kids have to hold their arms steadily while transferring the beads from one container to another.
Color Recognition: The arthlings got a chance to identify different colors amongst the multiple colored beads presented to them.
Social skills were directly inculcated in the toddlers since it involved arthlings to share and wait for their turns to get spoons and mini containers. Also, they learnt not to throw the beads onto their friends and into the trays only. It also involved them communicating with each other regarding what they see and what they want while playing. kids’ conversational skills may improve since the arthlings also got a chance to acknowledge various textures, sights, sounds and smells.
The Series of Steps engaged in?
The tray was set up with water beads and utensils before the children arrived. It involved setting up the tray, in which multiple coloured beads were spread out. The trays were placed on the floor, where the kids sat and started playing with the beads. Three educators set-up three bean trays each and around 5-6 kids sat with each one of them. This activity was followed by clean-up time where kids helped in picking up the spoons and containers from the floor and placing them inside the tray.
How did it go? (Finally!)
Today was the first day for kids after their summer break and mostly all of them came to play with the water beads. They identified different colors, texture and weight of the beads and seemed eager to crush the water beads with their hands. Aayansh, Ratujit and Jasvi mostly scooped and transferred the beads from one container/spoon to the other. Aayansh, Atharv Gupta and Radhya recognised colors and tried searching and picking up the announced color from the tray. Aaradhya and Atharv Gupta put the crushed beads on the floor and tried splashing them right-left on the floor itself. Saanvi engaged both hands and crushed water beads with each. Radhya enjoyed crushing the beads with spoons. Prisha tried playing with the beads but mostly kept sensing the beads with her fingers. Kaira and Neyansh were taught not to eat the water beads while playing with them.
On hearing the announcement for clean-up time, educators prompted the toddlers to help in cleaning up the beads, but mostly all the kids rushed towards washing their own hands. Overall, this activity witnessed great participation by the kids and their focus was also quite centered towards crushing the beads all throughout.
