Sensory play is so important to young children’s development. It allows them to explore their world in a hands-on way. Even the youngest toddlers and babies can join in with some taste-safe sensory play material such as this quick and easy chickpea foam.
The best part is that there are so many ways to incorporate aquafaba into your child’s play! Use food coloring to make an ocean theme, garden theme, and much more.
Playing with aquafaba will let children use their sense of touch to explore the texture, and you don’t have to worry about little hands in mouths, as this is completely toddler friendly.
Don’t forget to check out my Sensory Play For 1 Year Old’s Ideas + Activities for even more sensory play fun. These pair great with this taste safe foam!
If taste-safe and toddler friendly sensory activities are what you are looking for, we have a whole post specifically for one year old children. You will find over sixty fun and safe ideas to complement this chickpea foam play: Sensory Play for One Year Olds.
Want to learn a little more about the benefits of sensory play? We highlight several important ones in our post linked above and Why is Sensory Play Important? includes more.
So let’s learn more about aquafaba and how to make it to provide your little one with a fun open-ended play activity.
Video of how to make Aquafaba
What is aquafaba?
Aquafaba is a whipped cream-like foam made when the drained liquid in a can of chickpeas is whipped. This is an edible foam, it is completely taste safe so it is perfect for the youngest children to explore with.
Fun fact, you can also use aquafaba as a vegan alternative to egg whites in cooking!
Making, Using & Storing Aquafaba
There are different aquafaba recipes. The following recipe we’ve used will yield a fun and fluffy material.
You will need:
- 1-2 cans of chickpeas (depending on how much foam you want)
- ¼ tsp of cream of tartar
- Food coloring (optional)
- We also added foam letters.
How to make this Baby Chickpea Foam Activity
Step 2: Use a hand mixer or standing mixer to whip up the liquid until it is thick and fluffy. This should take about 4 to 6 minutes.
Step 3: Add ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar
Step 1: Drain the chickpea liquid from the chickpeas into a mixing bowl. You will need the chickpea water, not the beans themselves.
Step 4: Adding your favorite food coloring (or choosing a color based on a play theme) is an optional third step. Without color, it will look like aquafaba whipped cream and will be just as fun!
Step 5: Whip it up until it is a nice foamy consistency.
Here we made three colors: blue, yellow, and red.
If your child needs a little motivation to get in there, add in some play things. Or if you are teaching the alphabet add in some foam letters.
So, you have your aquafava, now what? Here are some play ideas!
- Hide some toys and encourage your child to find them.
- Put in some animals or people figures and give them a bath in clean water.
- Add some cars and wash them off in a clean bucket car wash.
- Scoop it into plastic cups or silicone cupcake liners.
- Practice drawing shapes, letters or numbers with a finger.
What do you do after the play is over? Well, don’t worry, this fun sensory bin filler can be saved and stored for more play! With little ones, it’s always great to find fun activities that can be used again and again.
Aquafaba can be stored in the refrigerator and can even be frozen. Just be careful, because as the substance cools it will expand, so keep that in mind when choosing a storage container!
If you choose not to store it, it will slowly begin to turn back into its liquid form. Once liquified, it is easy to clean up–just rinse your bin in the sink. Make sure children wash their hands when they are done playing. That can be another play activity in itself!
Encouraging Messy Sensory Play
Some children may hesitate when presented with a messy play activity–especially if it is the first time. It’s easy to prepare for this possibility.
Get a reluctant child to participate by:
- Provide clean water for washing off hands
- Keep a towel close by
- Model play with the material
- Play with them and have fun!
Do what you can to encourage them to play with this taste-safe sensory play material.
Modeling play with a messy activity is one of the best ways to get your child comfortable. They will be able to see you playing, having fun, and know that the activity is safe and fun! It also helps children to see different ways they can play with a sensory activity. Soon they will be making up their own games and playing on their own.
Children benefit greatly from exploring messy sensory materials. However, that doesn’t mean that this activity needs to end up all over the living room! Head on over to this post full of tips and tricks to minimize the mess during sensory play activities → Minimizing Mess with Sensory Play.
And when your child is ready to move on to sensory play options that are non-taste safe, why not try shaving cream? There’s tons of fun to be had with just a can of shaving cream! Introduce it in an open-ended way through process art or make some shaving cream art with older children
Do you plan on trying to whip up some aquafaba? It is such a unique sensory bin filler that children will love feeling and exploring. The fact that you can do so much with it really makes it a win-win for everyone!
FAQS
Can you freeze Aquafaba?
Yes, you can! You can easily freeze it in a freezer-safe container or bag or freeze it in different compartments to spread it out and make it last longer.
How long will aquafaba last?
The lifespan is about 5 days long, and that’s if you store it properly from the start. Having it in an airtight container is key.
How to store aquafaba
You need to store it in a container with a lid or in a sealable bag. Keeping it out of the elements and air is key to helping it last as long as possible.
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