Mirrors, Eucalyptus Cloud Dough & Smurf Pretend Play

 

Play ideas using mirrors have been popping up every where

 Paint on the ceiling - Learning about symmetry  

 An everyday Story - loose parts & mirrors 

 One Perfect Day - Exploring Loose Parts on Mirrors  and I fell in love.  

 

It gives play such an interesting visual, brightens the surface, gives the objects another dimension and reflect the child and what they're doing. I thought to myself, if I think this looks cool and interesting as an adult imagine how intrigued a child must be. 

 

This was Dimples first play using a mirrored surface.

I mixed up some green eucalyptus cloud dough, Dimples is still fighting off one of winters last flu's so it was nice to take it outdoors in the sun and breathe in the fresh smell.

I crushed some green chalk, mixed it with a few cups of flour and added a few splashes of oil & a dash or eucalyptus oil, until it was the right consistency of cloud dough. It smelt nice and felt smooth & on the mirror it looked inviting. 

 

Even the smallest of specks were reflected.

It looked very visually inviting.

Using some silicon moulds and jelly cups Dimples build some 'stands' or pedestals for each of the smurfs and he noticed how it doubled, making a symmetrical image reflecting underneath. 

He was focused on seeing the reflections of his hands also, and what he was doing with his fingers.

 

Interesting stuff, Dimples moulded and shaped smurf huts, and made a tunnel. He buried some smurfs and explored the concept of the mirror, peeking peering and moving everything and himself around as he played.

The dog and miss cherub found it all very interesting aswell. 

 

Little Miss Cherub observing everything from my lap, was keen to put her fingers into the cloud dough, she mainly swiped it from one side to the other and inspected her hands in the reflection. Dimples allowed her one cup cake mould only and one handful of dough (which got swished around and off the side in less than one minute) however it was a nice act of kindness on his behalf. 

The cloud dough can be shaped, moulded, flattened and crumbled in

Many ways. It works great compacted into small jelly cups in particular. 

Remember that you can store it by putting it in a zip lock bag and saving it for another day. 

I think there are endless ways to play with mirrors and it gives such an interesting dimension to the objects.

 

Learning concepts;

Mixing and moulding

Sensory Play

Symmetry & reflections

Observation & visual attention

Creativity & Imagination

 

Ideas for Extension;

Cloud dough tunnels and Lights

Pretend Play - Ice cream Dough

Loose Parts on Mirrors

 

Happy Adventures