Construction play is an activity that all kids love! It gives them the chance to get creative, test out ideas and learn through play. I find that this type of play is a brilliant way to explore STEM concepts, it adds so much fun to learning. In this post, we’re sharing three simple open-ended construction sensory bases, they will keep little hands busy and help them develop problem-solving, imagination and fine motor skills.

1. Construction Oobleck

In case you're new to oobleck it’s a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it is neither a liquid nor a solid. It may appear to be a solid or a liquid at times, but it behaves differently from a typical solid or liquid. Making oobleck is an excellent science activity for kids to demonstrate how pressure may alter the properties of certain materials.   

To test the difference pressure makes to oobleck apply some pressure with a spoon to the oobleck you make. This will press the cornflour particles more closely together and increase its viscosity and you should be able to mould the oobleck into a ball with your hands. If you release the pressure or dip your spoon slowly into the mixture, it will behave more like water as the particles have more time to move out of the way.

Ingredients

• Cornflour (also known as Cornstarch
• Water 
• Food colouring (this is optional - for our ‘concrete’ oobleck we added black food colouring)
  

Method

1. Add 2 or 3 cups of cornflour to a tray. 
   
2. Add the same amount of water, coloured with a few drops of black food colouring or add the food colouring straight to the tray. 
3. Mix it altogether - this takes a little bit of effort at first but as it mixes it becomes easier!

Another variation of this recipe that we absolutely love is swapping out the food colouring for coffee grounds. Not only does this give the mixture a whole new texture, but it also creates a brilliant speckled effect that looks just like concrete! It’s such a simple switch, but it completely transforms the sensory experience and invites another element of imaginative play.

Oobleck is great fun but it can get quite messy so be prepared, either with a sheet under your tray or take it outside. Once you've finished playing pop the lid on the PlayTRAY if you would like to extend the life of oobleck for a bit longer. Without the lid on oobleck will dry out after a day or two. Don't throw it away though as it's great fun to then give the kids spoons to break it into pieces! Then you can store these pieces for another day, the magic of oobleck is that it can be brought back to life by just adding water. This makes it not only a brilliant sensory activity but also a practical one, as you can keep reusing the same batch without fuss.

2. Construction mortar/cement

Sand play dough and sand foam are such brilliant sensory bases for little builders! Both have a wonderful texture that gives the impression of the real building supplies, while still being soft and easy for little hands to mould and shape. One of the things we love most about them is how they act a bit like mortar/cement, making them perfect for pairing with our mini bricks and blocks. Press the bricks into the dough or foam and discover how they stick together, allowing them to build walls, towers, and all sorts of imaginative structures.

Here's how to make them:

Sand Play Dough

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (180g) of plain (all purpose) flour
• 1/2 cup (135g) of salt 
  
• 2 tbsp of cream of tartar  
• 2 tbsp of coconut oil (or vegetable oil)  
• 1 1/2 cups (360ml) of boiling water  
• 1 1/2 cups (500g) of dry play sand  
• Mini bricks and mini blocks 

Method 

1. Mix the dry ingredients, including the play sand, together in a bowl.  
2. Add the coconut oil and boiling water. 
3. Start with one cup (240ml) and gradually add a little more water if needed. 
4. The amount you need will vary depending on how much moisture is in the play sand. 
5. Mix it until it comes together as a dough. 
6. Once it has cooled a little, take it out of the bowl and knead on a clean surface.

Sand Foam

Who would have thought sand and shaving foam made such brilliant mortar/cement! There’s no measurements here- just combine the two until you have a good consistency. It adds such a fun extra dimension to construction play and works so well to stick the bricks together!

3. Construction Cereal

An edible construction site is a dream for any digger fans! Cereal comes in all sorts of interesting shapes and sizes, which makes it fun to transport and build with. It can also be blended to make realistic sand! Encourage them to transport the cereal around the tray, this is a great opportunity to develop language and storyteller skills. 

​Our Inspire My Play Bricks and Blocks are a great addition to any of the construction PlayTRAYs we looked at in this blog, they add another visual interest and texture.

There are so many wonderful benefits to this type of sensory play, but one of the biggest is that it’s completely edible! Because it’s all made from cereal, it means even the youngest little builders can get involved without a worry. This makes it a fantastic activity for siblings to enjoy together. Older children can get stuck into the building and creating, while toddlers or babies happily explore the textures and sounds. Everyone can be involved at their own level!