One of my very favorite things to do when I had some downtime is to go to the beach and search for sea glass. It’s such a calm and focused activity. My daughter really wants to help but doesn’t have the patience to search for very long. So when I was asked to check out the new Mod Podge Mod Melts for a sponsored post I knew just how I could create something for her while trying out this new product. This sea glass sensory tub was a huge hit. My daughter has (finally) moved past the mouthing stage and so these little shapes are fun and great for her fine motor development too . If your child is still putting things in their mouth try larger items like big seashells and try this out when they are ready.
- Gather your materials. You will need some play sand , a tray or container, Mod Podge Mod Melts and mold , a high temp glue gun, paint and a jar.
- Start by creating your “sea glass” the melts are easy to use . all you need to do is place the melt sticks in your glue gun like you would a glue stick. Fill the mold and wait. Our heart n=mold was small so I only waited about 5 minutes and them popped it out.
Make many.
- Paint! We used acrylic paint in green and blue . I painted 1/3 blue, 1/3 green and left the rest plain. I am not sure how well my camera captured it but it really looks like sea glass! The paint dries quickly if you use a sponge to apply it.
- Pour your sand into the tray or container.
- Add your “sea glass” I hid some under the sand and put some above .
- Invite your beach comber to come and search. My daughter immediately dove in.
- Pop them into the jar .
- After you have found them all scatter them and count. Next she hid them all and repeated every step. This is a pretty intuitive activity I wasn’t having to hover or instruct. I think I showed her the jar without any clear instructions and the rest she figured out and explored with me clicking pictures and enjoying how intent she was.
- She even gave me a heart for my sea glass collection .
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This post as mentioned above is part of a paid campaign for Mod Podge Melts with The Blueprint Social.
amy @ one artsy mama says
Great idea! My son is 4 and he still loves activities like that…there’s something about searching through sand to find a “treasure”! I may do this for his pirate birthday party in August!
Faigie says
I wonder if you can make a hole in the “glass” before it hardens so they can be strung afterwards?
Tonya Staab says
Such a great way to use the mod melts. This reminds me of those fun spy bags for kids.
Allison McDonald says
That was the other idea I had brainstormed , hilarious! I love your headbands , so sweet!
Allison McDonald says
That was the other idea I had brainstormed , hilarious! I love your headbands , so sweet!
Marnie says
I totally just bought these materials last week. I can’t wait to try them out!! So excited to see your inspiring post. ~ Marnie
Hani says
I love the sensory board idea.. Great for kids. (Y)
Amy Anderson says
What a fun idea! Kids will love playing with this.
Martianne says
Thank you! I shared a link to all your wonderful sensory ideas with some folks I did a swap with, and, now with whoever reads about the swap at http://traininghappyhearts.blogspot.com/2013/08/organize-and-host-sensory-bin-swap.html. You are inspirational.
Allison McDonald says
Thank you so much!