The Playful Parent

With Memorial Day in late spring and the 4^th of July in summer, it’s the perfect time of year to create activities that use red, white and blue. Little ones are never too small to start learning about patriotism and the importance of paying tribute to those who have fought for our freedom. Not only are these activities patriotic and festive but they are great sensory activities that facilitate exploration and naturally encourage little ones in using scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore.

PATRIOTIC PLAYDOUGH

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 3 Cups – Water
• 3 Cups – All Purpose Flour
• 1 ½ Cups – Table Salt
• 2 Tbsp – Cream of tartar
• 3 Tbsp – Vegetable Oil
• Food Coloring (Blue & Red)

HOW TO MAKE PATRIOTIC PLAY-DOUGH:

1. Pour 3 Cups of flour into a bowl.
2. Add 1 ½ cups of salt.
3. Mix in 2 Tbsp Cream of Tartar.
4. Stir dry ingredients using a spoon until well incorporated.
5. Add 3 Tbsp of oil to the bowl and mix in.
6. Boil water on the stove. Next, pour in the water. Be EXTREMELY careful because this will make the dough very HOT!
7. Mix all the ingredients together slowly using a spoon at first. Once cooled down, use your hands to knead until smooth.
8. Place a few drops of food dye into the center of the dough and knead in the coloring until evenly blended. Add more dye until you get the color you want.
9. Let the dough set in a zip lock bag over night.

ALL AMERICAN SENSORY BIN

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 12 cups of rice
• Red and blue food dye
• (2) Gallon-size zip top bags
• Hand sanitizer
• Large plastic container
• Items to put in the bin (Patriotic cupcake liners, small American flags, measuring spoons and various red, white and blue toys, beads and pom poms.)

 HOW TO MAKE THE ALL AMERICAN SENSORY BIN:

1. The first step is to prepare the rice. Pour 4 cups of rice into the large zip top bag. Repeat this step a second time. This way you will be able to make both red and blue rice.
2. Add red food coloring in one bag and blue food coloring in the other bag. 5-8 drops should be plenty. Next, add a few pumps of hand-sanitizer to the bag; this will help dry the rice quicker and help the dye adhere to the rice better.
3. Close the ziplock bags and make sure it is secure. Then gently shake and knead the bag to help work the food coloring through the rice until all of the rice is coated.
4. Next, pour the rice into your container without the lid on so that it can air out and dry over night. Be sure to put away somewhere safe where little hands can’t get into it.
5. After the rice has dried it is ready for you to add all the fun patriotic toys and items that you have collected. It is than ready to be played with. I recommend playing with the sensory bin outside or in a room that is easy to sweep up. It can get a little messy sometimes.

 RED, WHITE & BLUE DISCOVERY BOTTLE

YOU WILL NEED:

• Water Bottle (Preferably 11oz VOSS)
• Clear Corn Syrup
• Baby Oil
• Tap Water
• Food Coloring
• Patriotic Beads & Pom Poms

HOW TO MAKE A RED, WHITE & BLUE DISCOVERY BOTTLE:

Baby Oil/Corn Starch Version

1. Pull labels off from the water bottle. Mine came off the VOSS bottle with easy!
2. Next, mix together 2/3 cup of corn syrup with a few drops of food dye until you get a desired color.
3. Using a funnel pour corn syrup into your bottle.
4. Drop in patriotic beads.
5. Then pour ¾ Cup of water into the bottle.
6. This final step is important…Be sure to seal the lid by using hot glue or super glue.

Baby Oil/Water Version

1. Pull labels off from the water bottle. Mine came off the VOSS bottle with ease!
2. Next, mix together 2/3 cup of water with a few drops of food dye until you get a desired color.
3. Using a funnel pour water into your bottle.
4. Drop in patriotic beads and pom poms.
5. Then pour ¾ Cup of baby oil into the bottle.
6. This final step is important…Be sure to seal the lid by using hot glue or super glue.

This post was written in honor of all those who have served our country… I especially would like to thank my dad who is retired Army. Here’s to wishing you, a happy red, white and blue!!!

-By: Kristy