Recently, we discovered the wonder that is jelly stones- thanks to the fantastic TTS Education. I could spend a small fortune on that site and when I was teaching it was a firm favourite of all the staff too. Do take a look it you’re wanting to stock up on play materials for the little ones.
Alongisde our Tuff Spot mirror and magnetic marbles, I couldn’t resist getting some jelly stones too, and we’ve been using them in lots of activities since.Β Jelly stones are a lot like waterbeads (used in lots of play, including our space themed sensory play activity) in that they absorb water and grow in size. The wonderful thing about jelly stones is that they grow a lot quicker (around 4 hours) and they can be mixed together to create new colours too. They vary in size and can be dehydrated and stored away for future use.
Regular readers will know that we’ve also been playing with submersible lights and that in my bid to teach colours to the toddler, we combined these lights with the jelly stones for some wonderful sensory play. So here it is- Glowing jewels water play!
This is so simple to set up. Simply leave your jelly stones to soak, until they are the required size. Up to 4 hours should be fine. Fill your water table with warm water (always a lot nicer for little hands to play in when the weather is cool) and pop a towel underneath the table to catch spills and to stop the table from sliding. I popped a few water play bits into the tray also- pots, spoons, seives and mini fishing nets. Once it was ready, we turned on our submersible lights and dropped them into the water. The lights are colour changing and they look like little tea lights, which was a source of great amusement and curiosity for the children. The Toddler was convinced she could blow them out! They spent a fair while investigating them before moving on to the water.
When we poured the jellystones into the water, the children immediately became immersed in their play. The Toddler spent ages scooping and pouring, and transferring pots of jellystones from one cup to another. We popped a light into one of the pots and quickly saw that the jellystones took on a new identity- they were glowing jewels!
With the lights turned out, the play became really magical as The Preschooler proceeded to create stories of magical pirates and hidden treasure with secret powers! As The Preschooler chattered away, completely immersed in his play, I seized the opportunity to talk to The Toddler about the different colours. As the jelly stones absorbed more and more water, they began to lose their colours completely (by the end of the session, they were completely clear, and invisible in the water!) but the submersible lights meant that they were able to take on those colours instead. As the lights changed I named the colours and prompted The Toddler to copy me.
Glowing jewels water play is such a wonderful sensory play activity for children. The ingredients are few but the potentials are many! The children loved feeling the jelly stones in their fingers, and the ever changing lights were a source of constant amazement. The fact that the little pots helped the stones to glow added to the sensory element. I recommend this activity is done with the lights turned out and the blinds closed for maximum effect! And allow enough time too- mine played all afternoon with this one!


Isabel
March 22, 2014 at 11:29 am (4 years ago)Looks so cute it makes me want to be a kid again! I can imagine it to be very fun
Isabel recently posted..Levis Revel- The Perfect Fit?
ghostwritermummy
March 23, 2014 at 7:06 am (4 years ago)Haha this was really fun! Definitely one they ask to play with again and again!
x x
Steph @MisplacedBrit
March 23, 2014 at 11:19 am (4 years ago)Love this! Extra exciting for little ones to be able to play this one in quite a dark room π
Steph @MisplacedBrit recently posted..Weβre Going on a Snail Hunt
ghostwritermummy
March 24, 2014 at 7:38 am (4 years ago)Yes, they loved having the lights out! We also put them in the bath later that day which was very exciting!
x x
Michelle @ Bod for tea
March 24, 2014 at 6:53 am (4 years ago)I am SO going shopping!! The submersible lights are fab. Off to find them now. Thanks for posting this, given me some ideas for first water play activities with the littlest one x
Michelle @ Bod for tea recently posted..Silent Sunday
ghostwritermummy
March 24, 2014 at 7:35 am (4 years ago)Ah I’m so glad!! This was great fun- hope you manage to find a water table!
x x
Mummy to boyz
March 24, 2014 at 9:59 pm (4 years ago)I need to get some underwater lights in my boys life – he is obsessed with lights & water – thanks for sharing I’m off to check out that website!
Mummy to boyz recently posted..How to Catch a Star – Book review & giveaway
Mel
March 24, 2014 at 11:52 pm (4 years ago)Brilliant idea! I had never seen anything like this before. I am really glad you found my blog yesterday. I am now following yours! x Mel
Mel recently posted..Money, Money, Money
ghostwritermummy
March 25, 2014 at 8:18 am (4 years ago)Ah thank you! We had such great fun with this- I love it when they discover new ways to play!
x
Danielle Askins
March 25, 2014 at 3:14 pm (4 years ago)This looks so therapeutic as well as being fun x
Danielle Askins recently posted..Siblings in March
ghostwritermummy
March 25, 2014 at 8:51 pm (4 years ago)You know what, is really was therapeutic. And those lights are fab in the bath once the kids are in bed π
x x
Petit Mom
March 26, 2014 at 7:54 pm (4 years ago)Amazing! I think I may get some subversive lights π
Petit Mom recently posted..Sensory Play β Finding Stars for Matilda Mae
ghostwritermummy
March 27, 2014 at 11:50 am (4 years ago)I highly recommend them!
x
Jenny
March 26, 2014 at 10:13 pm (4 years ago)I am so glad you linking this post up to Share With Me thank you! I have been looking for something like this to buy for my two to use and learn with. I am horrible at letting them get wet and messy and I need to start branching out and doing activities like this with them now that they are getting a little older. Although MM might still eat a few of them. lol Thank you so much I am definitely going to check this product out and get some fun activities lined up. Photos look fantastic too! #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted..Share With Me ~ wk 8
Merlinda (@pixiedusk)
March 27, 2014 at 5:13 am (4 years ago)those are awesome! I think that they appeal not just to kids too but big kids and well adults (mostly me) cuz they look nice. I can see why kids would love to play this. Shiny, bright and colourful. I would have want some for my toddler =)
#sharewithme
Merlinda (@pixiedusk) recently posted..Green is the new black
ghostwritermummy
March 27, 2014 at 11:51 am (4 years ago)Oh yes, my eldest is 9 and she was just as engrossed when she got home from school π
x x
Michelle
March 27, 2014 at 5:39 pm (4 years ago)OMG! Love this idea definitely a must with my girls, thank you for sharing π Great photos x
ghostwritermummy
March 27, 2014 at 9:21 pm (4 years ago)We did have great fun- easy to set up too π
x
Helen at Casa Costello
March 28, 2014 at 12:34 am (4 years ago)I’ve got a feeling I’l be spending a lot of time on that website. That looks like so much fun – Tara would love it.In fact, she loves anything water related (apart from tooth brushing obv!)
Helen at Casa Costello recently posted..Sticky Gingercake β Bake of the Week
ghostwritermummy
March 28, 2014 at 6:31 am (4 years ago)Haha bless her! Bella is really into water play too and I like trying to find new ways to keep her interest.
x x
Sara (@mumturnedmom)
March 31, 2014 at 12:49 am (4 years ago)Absolutely love the look of this! I hadn’t heard of jelly stones, off to have a look for them now π #ShareWithMe
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted..The Prompt: Week 12
ghostwritermummy
April 1, 2014 at 6:16 am (4 years ago)Jelly stones are awesome! And they’re made in the US so I’m sure you’ll be able to get hold of them quite easily
x x
Honest Mum
April 2, 2014 at 9:44 am (4 years ago)Oh wow, so much funny, such a creative Mummy! Thanks for linking this up to #brillblogposts please do add my badge or link back x
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ghostwritermummy
April 2, 2014 at 4:20 pm (4 years ago)Hey lovely, the badge is on my sidebar at all times, is that ok? x