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Sponge Boat Craft
Did you know that homemade toys can help boost your child’s creativity and imagination? Today we will be using supplies from the kitchen to make a boat to sail away in. This activity will support your child's imaginative play while exploring the sensory materials provided.
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- Scrubbing sponge
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- Paper
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- Toothpicks or straws
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- Glue or tape
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- Scissors
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- Hole puncher
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- Markers
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- Bowl, tub, or container
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- Optional: Toy people, rubber ducks, and leaves
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1. Cut off two corners of the sponge to make it look like an arrow.
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2. Punch a small hole in the middle of the sponge.
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3. Place the straw or toothpick in the hole
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4. Cut out a paper triangle. Punch one hole in the top corner and one in the bottom center.
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5. Insert the stir stick the bottom and top holes.
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6. Pinch the paper sail a bit so it looks full of wind.
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7. Place the boat(s) in a big bowl of water.
This open-ended, sensory activity allows your child to engage in pretend play. Pretend play teaches children how to communicate using language, non-verbal communication such as gestures and to use objects as symbols for people, plots or themes.
Invite your child by asking them if they would like to create a boat together. If your child is very young, create the boat and have the activity set up and ready to go. Allow your child to lead this play by asking them open-ended questions such as “Where will your boat sail to?” or “What is your boat doing?”. Your child may splish-splash in the water or engage in complex pretend play, either way, support their play by being present and engaging them at their level.
PLASP Child Care Services