Oats and Water

This is a really easy water play activity. Although it can be a little messy. So, if at all possible, head outside. F has sensitive skin and had had a particularly bad flare up. She absolutely loves water play so I wanted to create a water play activity that soothes her skin whilst she played. The fact that it was messy and meant the girls could use their imagination was just a huge bonus for them. This can be easily adapted for babies too. Use a shallow tray on a towel and you can be the one to pour the oats in if they need help. Give them a spoon to mix and splash away.

Set Up

A great investment for sensory play activities with toddlers is either an under bed storage box like this one or a tuff spot. All you need for this is some oats, water and whatever bowls, spoons and containers you have and you think your little ones will love. F loves anything that comes with a lid. So, I added some tupperware boxes and some scoops that I have in a kitchen drawer. I did this activity outside and was pleased that I did, as oats and water are an unsurprisingly messy combination.

F straight away signed “Mummy open” for me to open the tupperware. She grabbed a scoop and started sprinkling and scattering the oats into the water. M went down a different route and added the oats and water into a bowl and started making porridge for her baby. Of course F had to then do the same. The girls imagination was incredible, not only were they feeding their babies the porridge and adjusting the consistency: “more water”, “more oats”. But they also turned a tree into a microwave to cook their porridge in. Then all of a sudden it went up a notch and they were taking orders for porridge. Different toppings and flavours were available too!

It wasn’t just their imaginations that were getting a work out. Their language skills were developing too as they acted out what was going on. And of course their motor skills; pouring, scooping, sprinkling, scattering, mixing and mashing were all happening. M also made the observation that the water became “cloudier/milkier,” as they added more and more oats to it and mixed. When Daddy got home M even told him that she had made oat milk today! They both really enjoyed it and as oats are beneficial to aggravated skin this is a fun toddler activity that we will do at home again.

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