Let’s face it, who could really resist not smooshing their hand into a pile of shaving cream? The sprinkles on top just add to the temptation.
When I asked my mum if we could use her glass table I just accidentally (on purpose) forgot to mention we were going to get my niece and nephew to smear it with shaving cream. They do think I’m slightly crazy but I’m learning to take that as a compliment. LOL
It wasn’t long before my niece and nephew began exploring the wonderful texture and spreading the shaving cream over the glass table. Of course this could also be done on a glass window!
This shaving cream only cost me $2.20 at the supermarket.
Cheap fun that can be educational!!!
Possum (17 months) wasn’t really convinced of this activity and chose to poke at the shaving cream before wanting her hands wiped clean immediately after.
Some children can find such sensory experiences difficult, although I do believe it’s important to provide them with the opportunity but not force them to partake.
- letter formation
- revising spelling words
- name practise
- storytelling through pictures and words
- fill in the missing letters etc
My niece and nephew had done such a great job and they no doubt had fun whilst learning at the same time. This is a great activity to try because it can always end with a game of noughts and crosses.
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I do this at the end of the school year. The kids love the fun, my room smells good and the tables get clean!! Lynn
Very nice idea, we’d try this also but we have no glass table. Maybe we’ll try it on the tiles on the floor … or better on the windows ?? We’ve already done painting in the bath with shaving cream but the kids we’ll be happy to try something new!
You can do this on any smooth surface, even a wooden table and then you get the added sensory of the wood grain. I love it because it removes crayon markings! Just be careful if using menthol shaving cream because it gets warm when mixed with water.
You may like to think seriously about the use of shaving cream with children. I happened to look on the back of the can of shaving cream a student was using in an activity – it said harmful to children with possible fatal results! Needless to say it became a talking point in the office. I just looked up Woolworths Home Brand MSDS on their website and it does talk about it being toxic and not good for eyes, ingestion and inhalation!!! Just thought I would bring this to your attention it cause great discussion on my page The Early Childhood Educators Place when I mentioned it there sometime ago
Love shaving cream play and they look like they are having so much fun!(Not sure if your Mum loved it hehe) As long as it is used with close supervision and with children of an appropriate age range i have never had a problem using it although i am sure it could cause issues if swallowed or rubbed into eyes….but then then again so can a lot of play materials…better to let them experience while you are there to guide rather than not let them play with it at all i think….but caution is of course always advised when playing with sensory materials. My girls loved using a window wiper the other day on some perspex…lots of fun x
This does look fun! The comment above about the dangers of shaving cream does make me wonder whey a product designed to go on the face would be so harmful to play with on ones fingers. I think with proper supervision it should be fine. Putting it on the glass table is a great idea 🙂 Haanah @ Paint on the ceiling
Shaving cream does take a little bit to get used to. When I first introduced it to Cam, her reaction was similar to Possum’s. Now we go through cans and cans of it.
You’re right though- so affordable.
Love these photos- so much joy!
I noticed this by accident…I put shaving cream in the sensory table and the children played in it for two days. We lost track of time and before we knew it, it was time to go home for the weekend. To ease cleaning once we returned I poured just enough water in the table to cover the bottom and then added a squirt of hand soap. When we returned to school and I opened the table to clean it, we noticed a pearl effect to the water. I added a few drops of blue food coloring and the children had two more days of sensory fun! Clean up was a breeze then! (just make sure you use the soap that looks pearly. Clear soap doesn’t work.)