• SHOP PRODUCTS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Shaving Cream Fun

May 27, 2013 by Kate 8 Comments

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 

His face says it all! 
 

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. 

Squishing the cream between fingers was lots of fun. 
 
But…how can we learn from such an activity?
 
Once the shaving cream was spread out across the table I provided them with some free time. This is really important because it boosts creativity and develops sensory awareness.
 
MATHEMATICS
Depending on the age of the child you can use shaving cream to help develop many skills needed in number, spacial awareness, measurement and lots, lots more.  For smaller children it is also great for developing greater formation of the written number. 
 
 
Here my niece chose to draw me a wonderful cube! 
 
Questions I followed with were –
“Describe to me the features of a cube”
“How many faces does your cube have?”
“How many points does it have?”
“If I put a cube on the ground and stood above it, what shape would I see?”
“Where might I find a cube in our environment?”
“Can you draw your cube another way?”
 
 

 
Here I asked my nephew to tell me a number that was over 30. He initially chose 33. 
 
Questions I asked him – 
“What is 10 more than the number you chose? Can you draw it?” (see picture)
“How many bundles of 10 would I need to make the number you have drawn?”
“How many less than 50 is that?”
 
LITERACY
 
 
There are many, many ways that using shaving cream can also develop literacy skills. It’s great because any mistakes can be simply wiped away. If the cream begins to stiffen then you just add more! 
 
Some simple ways shaving cream can help literacy skills – 
 
  • letter formation
  • revising spelling words
  • name practise
  • storytelling through pictures and words
  • fill in the missing letters etc
MORE FUN WITH SHAVING CREAM
 
 
We have all seen people adding food colouring. It felt a little overdone to me so I chose to add glitter! To be honest, the glitter didn’t really look that noticable once it was blended into the cream, however, I liked that it would add a slightly grainy texture to the cream and heighten the sensory awareness of the activities. 
 

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.

I hope you and your children enjoy this activity. 
Of course be guided by them and be sure to keep learning fun. 
 
Kate x
______________________________
 
I’d love to hear any comments you might have. 
 
Click here for another sensory related activity. 
Edible Finger Paint – Laughing Kids Learn
Cloud Jars – Learn with Play at Home 
Dragon Eggs – Adventures at Home with Mum

Also, be sure to follow ‘Laughing Kids Learn’ other ways. 

Icon Icon Icon Icon Follow Me on Pinterest

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Lynn says

    May 27, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    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

    Reply
  2. Angela Scaueru says

    May 27, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      September 13, 2013 at 11:02 am

      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.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    May 28, 2013 at 4:03 am

    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

    Reply
  4. Jodie Clarke says

    May 28, 2013 at 4:46 am

    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

    Reply
  5. Hannah says

    May 28, 2013 at 7:16 am

    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

    Reply
  6. Jackie@My Little Bookcase says

    May 31, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    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!

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    September 13, 2013 at 11:10 am

    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.)

    Reply

Please Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

facebookpinteresttwitterinstagramgoogle plusyoutube

Search

Find More Great Ideas Here:

sesnory play
art and craft
nummeracy
literacy
Science
recipes
videos

Join the Tribe!

Subscribe



Find Activities by Age

  • 0 – 12 months
  • 1 – 3 years
  • 3 – 5 years
  • 5 – 10 years

Find Activities by Celebration

  • Christmas
  • SHOP PRODUCTS

Privacy Policy

  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Find posts by month

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in