Baby Play: Sensory Baked Bean Squish & Snack

Age: approx. 6 months to 2 years (see bottom for tips)

Materials: Baked beans (half cold and half luke warm)

Place 2 piles of baked beans in front of baby. One cold and one warm 

(not hot, we don't want to burn baby!)

Let baby feel and experience the sensory aspects of the beans.

Use this activity at snack time. 

Babies will always put things in their mouths (food or not!) so ensure your baby is fine to eat baked beans.

Look at the swirls and patterns you can make, baby.

Baby is Learning:

- Fine motor skills
- Pincher grasp (picking up small objects with thumb and finger)

- Hand and eye coordination

- Cause and effect (ie. applying pressure to the beans will cause them to squish)

- About temperature. The difference between warm and cold.
- Taste and textures

- Emotions. Enjoyment & excitement.

- What to do with this material

- Sensory. Feel of the beans and slimy sauce (texture, temperature etc) as well as the smell, taste and appearance.

Handy Tips:

- For younger babies that should not be eating things like baked beans, substitute them with a rice cereal or pureed fruit/veg.

- Extend this activity for older babies by talking about the difference in temperatures and finding other items that they could handle that feel both warm and cold.

- Mix it up by trying a variety of different foods that are suitable for your baby. Try with items of different consistencies, textures, tastes, temperatures etc.

- Repeat this activity as often as you like as babies (and children) need repetition in order to consolidate their learning and understanding. It's handy because babies need to eat so you can try something different each snack time.

- Talk to your baby about what they are doing. This will help them begin to understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as helping develop their vocabulary. "That feels so squishy!" "Swirling round and round. Look at the patterns" 

- Play with baby. Once they have explored on their own you can show them how to draw and swirl patterns and draw little pictures in the sauce. 

- Supervise. Babies need constant supervision.

- ***Allergies. Please consult your family pediatrician, doctor, nurse, midwife etc if you have any concerns about what your baby should be ingesting and when is the right time for them. It is up to you to determine if this activity would be suitable for your baby or not.***

Click here for MORE BABY PLAY IDEAS

Happy playing,
Debs :)

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