June 8th is World Ocean Day and as you know if you follow my blog I am a former Marine Biologist so it’s an important day to celebrate for me. I decided today to set up some small world play for J and T using our sea life creatures (which you can now get on the Rainy Day Mum Store) but as T would be playing with it I decided to use edible sensory ingredients to make it even more fun and safe for her to play with as well.
What you need to set up some Ocean small world play
Lime Jelly
Blue Food Colouring
Water
Porridge Oats
Homemade Chocolate Play Dough
Shell Pasta Shapes
Selection of different sea creatures
How to set up some Ocean Small World Play
Yesterday I set up the first part of the small world play by making some ocean jelly to use. I decided to use Jelly over anything else as it would be a great sensory experience for T (smell, sight and touch) and would be safer to use than other materials as although we are starting to come out of the other side of putting everything in our mouths we still have to explore new things in them first. We can’t get blue jelly (jello) in the UK so I had a packet of lime jelly which I made up and added blue food colouring to the mix which produced a great turquoise jelly.
To set up the ocean/beach I used one of our storage tubs to contain it all. Then I added some of our homemade chocolate playdough (yes it’s still going strong! from the winter) in one corner. Used porridge oats for the shore line and then mushed up the jelly poured it in and added more water to the jelly side of it so that it was more liquid in consistency. On the beach I added some pasta shells and then J helped me add the sea creatures, sea weed and rocks to set up our sea shore.
I knew this could turn messy for T so I set it up on the floor in the kitchen on a messy mat. Took off T’s clothes and thought it would be OK to leave J in his (well he’s almost 3 – but I was very silly).
They both got stuck in. J was very into getting the fish to swim and the crabs to crawl up the shore. T loved the feel of the different textures in the box. I used dried pasta as I thought it would give a more realistic shell texture than cooked pasta shapes and it was great she kept putting them into the “sea” and taking them out again.
Of course we couldn’t have an ocean without doing a little paddling – I think this is the first time that J has wanted to explore textures with his feet but it was interesting his reaction – he didn’t like it – partly I guess cause I had had the jello in the fridge which meant that the ocean was very cold!
Of course I didn’t think the ocean would stay like I set it up – and here is how it was by the end of the morning. You can see the “Jelly mud” all over J, his hair, hands, legs and then he decided to use the potty so it was then all over the kitchen, toilet and everywhere in between.
An impromptu bath, kitchen clean and floor mopped and you would never know that we have had some incredible messy edible Ocean Small World Play all morning.
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I love this idea! I am new to sensory tubs or small world play but I can’t wait to begin with my one year old. The messy mat is a great idea! The things I have done in the past, she always would pick up and eat of the floor which I didn’t like too much.
Brittany recently posted..Edible finger paint
We love our messy mat – a vinyl table cloth works as well. Just wash it afterwards. This is great everything in it is non toxic so if it goes in their mouths then it’s fine.
Oh, we just made an ocean scene with blue jello too! Very different than this one though. (we did it in the bath tub of course) lol I LOVE these photos Cerys!
I chickened out of the bath – we just had one afterwards. It’s not actually blue Jello – we can’t get that in the UK, I made it from Lime Green Jelly and blue food dye as it was the nearest I could get to blue!
Totally gorgeous small world set up! I would have called this “edible small world” lol! WONDERFUL good fun and beautiful to boot
Anna @ The Imagination Tree recently posted..Baby Play Ideas and Activities: 6-18 Months
Thank you – you saying that means a lot. It’s my first ever proper small world set up and you’re right it’s completly edible (although I think the playdough may be a little salty – just to add to the flavour LOL!)
How lovely! They clearly had a fantastic time!!!
maryanne @ mama smiles recently posted..Story Land!
It was wonderful to watch the two of them playing together very differently but together at the same tub
Wow! That looks fun!! And love how you got the colour of the water so “right”, esp since we don’t have blue jelly in the UK!
maggy, red ted art recently posted..Red Ted Art, The Book
The wonders of food dye – some sugar flair paste and we can have any colour we want – it was a lot of fun
I love how he was all in! My guy would have been too. The sensory bin is really amazing!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Read.Explore.Learn.- Gilbert the Goldfish Wants a Pet
The paddling had to be done – I was surprised T didn’t join in as well – she normally does!!!
OOoh that water looks so realistic. Wondered how you would do it without blue jelly – very inventive!
Rebecca recently posted..Teddy bear cake pops – easy recipe
It smelled very summery as well – I guess using lime jelly and colouring it added to the sensory experience – now to think what we can do next
I love everything about this, Cerys! The shells, the oats for sand, the chocolate play dough for rocks, the color of your jello for the ocean water – simply wonderful!
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories recently posted..World Oceans Day 2012
Trisha – that means a lot. It was so much fun to set up and J had a wonderful time bringing his turtle on the beach to lay her eggs and then swimming around in the sea as well.
How very fun and very messy! Was chuckling to myself at the progression of J’s clothes through the pictures!
You are a great mum, rainy day or sunny day!
Jane @ Mama Pea Pod recently posted..{Outdoor Play Party: DIY Watering Can}
Thank you Jane – the clothes are in the wash. T’s diper that was pink is now pink with blue spots but I wouldn’t change it – it was a wonderful fun morning
I love your ideas for this small world! How fun to include jelly and oats to the mix! I would have never thought of that. We’ll have to try an ocean like this next time. Thanks for sharing.
Gina recently posted..Out of the Ocean ~ Story and Small World
Ohh it was fun and edible – which with T is really important. You’ve got to give it a go (but very messy)
[...] Last week you will have seen some of our batch of Chocolate play dough being used as Rocks in the Small World Oceans Play it was great the colour was perfect for play.Today we’re taking the play dough pledge and [...]
This is such a cool bin – I want to play!!! Thanks for linking to the Sunday Showcase. This is being featured on this week’s linky.
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas recently posted..Summer Fun: Homemade Puffy Paint Microwaved Art
This is wonderful. My kids would love it, that jelly mud looks like so much fun.
Ali recently posted..A fairy craft
It was – and when T put it in her mouth no problems
This is one of the best sensory tubs I’ve scene. My 13 month old is a major mouther, so I’m always looking for edible play – how creative yet pretty simple. Thank you!
*seen I really can spell!
I mentioned this activity today on a post. I had thought the right way to do things was to link it back to you and only use one photo, I have done this but just wanted to male sure I’ve done the right thing? Please email me if I shoul have do e differently and I will rectify it. I’m still a bit new to the blogging world x
Sorry, my typing went out the window there. I won’t change it : ) brain freeze, literally we braved the park earlier and I don’t think I’ve warmed up yet x
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