Buckle up because this one is going to get messy!!

Going into this busy bin I knew my daughter wasn’t going to spend much time with this sensory bin. She hates messes and getting things on her hands. I know to a lot of people that sounds great, but to me that means wiping her hands off after every chip she eats.

I have found that exposing her to messy things and new, slimy textures helps with this a little!

Yes, the first time around she’s wiping little chia seeds on her shirt, the blanket, or me, but each time we do this activity it is less and less of a problem. She slowly starts to acknowledge that this is just a messy activity and that’s okay! It’s not an overnight fix, (or even a one-month fix), but it’s progress! With parenting, we’re in it for the long haul people!

Sometimes you have to push your kids to do something they don’t like. That’s just a fact of life. If kids only did what they liked they would never try anything new. Pushing their comfort levels a little bit here and there helps them grow as a person and be more open to new experiences.

The chia seed slime does require some prep a few hours before, but it’s worth it!

Play Options:

Depending on how you set up the activity this can be a great opportunity for new pretend play or even fine motor skill practice! If you have a kid that loves messy, slimey things, then go the pretend play route! It’s an easier setup and will encourage independent play. Throw some of their favorite toys in there and let them at it! For some kids, the different textures will add a whole new aspect to the game.

If you want to go another route, you can add bowls and spoons like we did! This was a great scooping activity for my daughter. The thicker consistency was something she had to consider when moving the chia seed slime from one bowl to the next. It was also something she had to think about when most of the chia seeds ended up sticking to the spoon or measuring cup she used. The adorable looks of disgust on her face as she scraped the chia seed slime off the measuring cup was hilarious and the highlight of my day!

Benefits:

Scooping skills is a basic life skill you should practice with your preschooler or toddler. Mastering basic life skills like this not only encourages independence in your kid, but also increases their self esteem! Every parent knows how much toddlers love doing things for themselves.

Prep Work:

Like I mentioned before, the making of the chia seed slime will require some prep work. You will want to mix ¼ cup of chia seeds with 2 cups of water. If you want, you can add food coloring for some extra fun. I would recommend a bright color like green or yellow. I used purple with ours and you can barely tell it’s there.

Once the chia seeds are mixed you will want to put them in the fridge for a few hours. I would either prep this the night before, or first thing in the morning with a plan to use it later in the afternoon. You will want to leave it in there for at least 2 – 3 hours.

With all of my busy bins or sensory bins I recommend laying down a blanket. Blankets protect your carpet from getting dirty and making clean up as simple as shaking out the blanket or tossing it in the washer.

Supplies:

• ¼ cup of chia seeds
• 2 cups of water
• Big plastic bowl or Tupperware
• Small bowls
• Spoons and measuring cups
• Toys
• Towels for clean up

What do you think? Did your kid love this activity? Was there something that you added to make this extra fun for your kid?