Muddy Oobleck Sensory Bin (2024)

(2) cups Cornstarch

(1/2) cup Cocoa Powder

(1) cup Water

Two sensory bins or bowls

Spoon

Farm animals

Sponge

Water

Mix corn starch, water, and cocoa powder (if using) in a tub or tray and have fun experimenting!

Fill the second bin with water and add in a sponge. If you are not worried about keeping the recipe taste-safe, add a splash of dish soap to make it soapy!

Add in plastic animals, trucks, cars or scoops. PLAY!

Make observations as you play. How does it smell? How does it feel? What happens when you add more water to the Oobleck bin? What does it look like as it dries?

If you let Oobleck completely dry out and harden, you can store it in an airtight container. The next time you want to use it, simply add water to reactivate!

Fine & Gross Motor Skills: As the child squishes and squeezes, they are developing their finger and hand muscles. Those same finger and hand muscles are responsible for self-help skills such as: feeding yourself, zippering your coat and holding a pencil during writing! Messy play can also help support spatial awareness, balance & coordination.

Hand-Eye Coordination: Hand-eye coordination is simultaneously using your hands & your eyes for a task. Strong hand-eye coordination helps you with tasks such as feeding yourself, coloring in the lines & pouring a drink in a cup.

Bilateral coordination: Using both sides of the body to complete a task.

Cognitive development refers to how a child acquires and understands information; how they think, learn and problem solve. There are many opportunities to develop cognitive development during messy play through problem solving and understanding cause/effect.

Language Development: Messy play is SO good for supporting language development. There are opportunities to learn new words and practice phrases.

Social Skills: Messy play can help to establish and strengthen social skills. Children will practice using their manners, sharing, turn-taking and having patience.

For easy clean up: keep wipes nearby, along with a plastic bag or trash bin to discard.

Wear old clothes or a bathing suit, and plan to head to the tub after this fun sensory play!

Take it outdoors! Wash it off with a hose when you're done.

Use an old beach towel or sheet under the bins to catch any spills.

Start small. Put a tiny amount in a bowl and explore with it to see how it feels!

Play with them! Roll up your sleeves and get messy with them.

Let them know that getting messy is OK.

Have a clean-up strategy so that they can wipe their hands quickly if it becomes too much. Maybe have a towel in their lap or wipes right next to them.

Encourage starting with just one finger. "Poke to Oobleck with your pointer finger. How does it feel?"

Rocks, sticks or flowers (any nature treasures are FUN!)

Trucks, cars or diggers

Plastic animals

Scoops or shoves

A kitchen strainer

Gems or jewels

Plastic Easter eggs

Glitter

Legos

Plastic letters or numbers