At OMO, we believe that every stain represents an important experience - mud stains are the stamp of adventure, grass stains are the sign of exploration and fruit stains are the aftermath of discovery. Encourage your kids to get messy with our fun activities for happy, healthy, confident kids. We'll be there to sort out the dirty clothes afterwards.
Crazy Car Wash
Getting toy cars dirty and then clean again practices lots of fine motor skills while having tons of fun.
What you’ll need:
What to do:
Fill one tub with mud and the other with water and dish liquid. Whip up the foamy dish liquid to make plenty of bubbles. Use the stiff card to make a bridge between the two tubs and tape it down at each end. Show your child how to drive their toy cars through the mud, over the bridge and into the ‘car wash’. They’ll love the different sensations of the mud and soapy bubbles. While they are ‘driving’ and washing their cars, talk about the different forms of transport and discuss the kinds of transport they might have been in.
Alternative Materials:
Change it up:
Make it easy: Make the bridge low and short so it’s easy to ‘drive’ the toy cars across it.
Make it a challenge: Make a track between the tubs for the toy cars to follow, with turns and ramps.
Play with friends: This activity can be played by one or many children in the same way. You may need larger tubs and more bridges if there are lots of children.
Indoor play: Make a smaller ‘indoor-friendly’ version of this activity by using just a small tub of mud and building the bridge directly to your kitchen or bathroom sink.
Developmental areas:
Fine motor skills
Visual perception
Values:
Self-confidence; communication; teamwork.