Making Colored Beans

I'm always using what I've learned as a kindergarten teacher to help me enrich Claire's environment at home.  In the Fall I turned her water/sand table into a corn table by simply adding field corn and bringing it inside.  She never gets tired of playing with it!  Today I decided to color a bag of northern beans I had in the cabinet to create a new sensory tub for Claire to play with.  Not only is this fun, but also super educational.  It's a very inexpensive way to foster vocabulary, motor skills, problem solving, & social development :)  And along with everything else; a hands on way to create memories while encouraging learning. 

Claire and her animals helping gather supplies.

Place beans in a zip lock baggie (double bag) add a tiny splash of rubbing alcohol and about 4-5 drops of food coloring depending on how dark a color you want.  Seal bags and let your toddler shake, squeeze, and toss around the bag until all beans are colored.  Happens quick!

Lay flat to dry on paper towel to absorb extra alcohol.  I turn on the vent above the stove b/c it does smell a bit like alcohol. 

After drying, this batch took about an hour.  I put it in a tupperware container and Claire started scooping with her plastic spoon to fill her tea cups.

An after thought was adding the table cloth to put it all on.  Here she is feeding all her baby animals at her zoo.  The color does slightly come off on hands so keep it off carpet or fabrics.  A super easy and fun way to get it off hands is to simply wash your hands with shaving cream :)  Works like a charm!  If any rubs off on hard toys a baby wipe easily wipes it off. 

Hiding objects in a sensory tub is another excellent way to encourage learning.  Some examples are: Letters, Numbers, Colored Tiles, Money, Animals, Shapes, ect.