Bugs in Muck Sensory Play

Sensory play is such a wonderful way to engage in hands-on, experiential learning with kids. By using all of the senses, as they will do in this bugs in muck activity, children are better able to remember and process information. This muck has a really fun texture. It looks super goopy and messy but comes off of little hands really easily. Playing with bugs in muck is a fun activity for kids as they explore parts of bugs, count legs, identify colors, and more!

Playing with Bugs in Muck

This muck is based on a basic oobleck recipe with an extra ingredient to make it nice and muddy.

What you need:

3 1/2 Cups of Cornstarch

1/2 Cup of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 Cups of Warm Water

 

What to do:

Mix both dry ingredients together in a bowl or on a tray and slowly add the warm water. Stir the mixture well, adding more water if necessary. If the mixture is too watery, add more cornstarch to thicken.

 

One of the fun aspects of this muck is that it looks very much like a liquid, but feels like a solid!

 

Pour the muck onto a tray and add some plastic bugs. From here, there are so many ways to play!

 

Kids can observe as the bugs slowly fall to the bottom of the muck. They can get handfuls of the muck and drip it onto the bugs, covering them completely. The muck will slowly slide off the bugs, uncovering them once again.

 

For kids who are hesitant to touch the goopy substance, some tools can help them get comfortable playing with the muck. Items like tweezers are excellent for developing fine motor skills and coordination, plus they require some patience and focus as well. Magnifying glasses are also fun tools for little explorers as they hunt for bugs that have been buried in the muck!

Enjoy this fun sensory experience of playing with bugs in muck!

Contributing Author: Katie Chiavarone writes at Views From a Step Stool about kids activities, the importance of play-based learning, and positive parenting techniques.  Currently a mom to 3 young children, with previous roles as a preschool teaching assistant, the director of an after-school program, and a behavior therapist for children with Autism, she has had more than 10 years of experience working with children. Additionally, she relies on her Masters in Educational Psychology from NYU when writing about children and education. She has co-authored the book The Undeniable Power of Play and can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.