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Christmas water beads play

3 Comments Preschool, Kindergarten

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I have been wanting to try an activity with water beads for a very long time. I have heard so much about the wonderful sensory play experience they provide, so I was thrilled to finally have a chance to try them out for some Christmas water bead play.

To prepare the activity, I had purchased a 1 pound bag of clear water beads. Following the directions, I put 1 tablespoon of water beads into a plastic bin along with 10 cups of water. The next day I looked inside and I couldn’t see a thing! They were so clear in color that they completely blended in with the water, and I literally thought the water beads had melted away! Wondering what had happened, I stuck my hand into the water. Then I felt them, and the movement of the water also made them visible. It was such a cool sensation and a treat for both my visual and tactile systems.  I knew the kids would love it!

I decided to toss some beads shaped like colored Christmas lights into the bin and present it to the kids. And thus was born our Christmas water beads play activity.

Note: You can find more Christmas activity ideas on my Christmas activities for kids page.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

* Please note that water beads are not safe for kids who put things in their mouths, as water beads should not be swallowed. Kids should be supervised at all times when playing with water beads.

Because this activity clearly had the potential of getting wet and messy, I laid a dollar store shower curtain on our living room rug, then put two towels over it to soak up as much of the spillage as possible. I put the bin down and invited the kids over. I asked them what they saw, to which they responded “water” and “Christmas lights.”

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

Then I invited them to reach inside to “collect the Christmas lights.” Immediately, they noticed the water beads and were enthralled.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

They scooped them up by the handful and felt how squishy they were.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

I gave them some small bowls to help them scoop and store their water beads.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

Eventually, they decided to scoop up the Christmas lights as well.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

We noticed how the water beads appeared to be colorful when placed over the Christmas lights.

Christmas water beads: Holiday sensory play with water beads and miniature Christmas lights. If you haven't tried water beads you are definitely missing out on the super cool experience they provide! || Gift of Curiosity

This was so much fun. I can’t wait to find other ways to use water beads for sensory play.

More Christmas resources

More Christmas posts from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Grow a Christmas tree sponge
  • Christmas Montessori activities
  • Q-tip painted Christmas tree
  • Paper plate reindeer craft
  • Christmas sensory bin
  • Cinnamon Christmas ornaments
  • Candy cane experiment
  • Christmas game: What’s in the bag?
  • Christmas Printables Pack
  • Christmas Bingo
  • Christmas do-a-dot printables
  • Christmas gingerbread man templates


For more Christmas activities your kids will love, see my Christmas Activities for Kids page and my Christmas Activities for Kids Pinterest board. 

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Christmas Activities for Kids on Pinterest.

Products used in this post:

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Preschool, Christmas, Kindergarten, Sensory Tagged With: water beads

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Reader Interactions

3 Comments

  1. Coombemill

    December 15, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    I have never heard of water beads but they look fab!

    Reply to this comment
  2. Kendall

    December 20, 2012 at 8:21 am

    This is totally unique and looks like a BLAST! I featured this post for the weekly kid’s co-op on my blog.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Carrie

    December 21, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Oh,how fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    Reply to this comment

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I help parents who are transitioning into homeschooling shed old mindsets and embrace their homeschooling superpowers so they can create a homeschool they love where their children will thrive.

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