l, ll - let it snow

Children in reception will be learning to:

My children love this activity and will happily make pretend snow even in the summer! This foam is also a really good addition to the mud café activity as it makes a great frothy coffee or hot chocolate.

Add a small amount of water and a squirt of washing up liquid to the milk carton. Make sure the lid is fastened tightly and let your child shake it up and down until it forms a foam. Pour the foam into the tray. We used the lid from our Phonics Box.

If you squeeze the air out of the washing up bottle then let go as you hold it under the water then it will suck the water back into the bottle which can be shook to make new foam. Using this trick kept the play going for even longer.

As you squeeze the bottle it create more 'snow', which is great for squeezing into the tray to make shapes, patterns and letters. They could make an l in the snow if they start at the top and move the bottle down as they squeeze it. Is singing jingles bells during the summer a step too far?

Make sure to pick some of the foam up using your fingers then blow it to make it snow. Benji thought this was hilarious.

Finger Strengthening – Squeezing the washing up liquid bottle develops the muscles needed to control a pencil when writing. Strong hands and fingers means it will be easier for your child to hold a pencil for longer periods of time before fatigue sets in. Learning how to squeeze things will also get your child’s hands ready to use tools like scissors.

If you have a go at this activity and share any photos on social media I would love to see them. Please tag @miniwritersclub and let me know how you get on.

Anna