So, the other day at Michael's I found these giant water beads, they were just like the small ones that I love so much, but they were huge and they were on clearance! So for $0.99 I picked up a couple packages. I opened them one morning, hoping to use them that afternoon, but I was sad to learn they take 48 to 72 hours to fill. So, I waited...three days.
In that time, I notice that these beads were not quite as awesome as the ones I'm used to. Many of the beads cracked and broke before they were even done filling up.They also ended up being double the size the package claimed they would be. When the beads were ready, they still broke at the slightest touch, which was disappointing.
Despite their flaws, I had to figure out a way to use them. A sensory bin {my original idea} wouldn't quite work since they weren't sturdy enough for play. So, I came up with a simple Montessori inspired scooping tray.
The idea was for Henry to scoop the big beads from one big bowl to the next. Its a great way to work on coordination,control, and fine motor skills. The beads themselves were very slippery so this proved to be quite a challenge for Henry. But the texture and their fun bounce kept him interested until every single bead broke open. See Henry in action in this Instagram video!
At that point, we purposefully squished them all and made a really fun gel. Then we had our sensory bin! Perfect for little feet, hands and the scoop.
Overall, these were really fun while they lasted. I wish they hadn't been so fragile. But they were a cool activity on a hot summer afternoon!
