This activity offered a range of learning opportunities including:

Fine motor skills development: You can see the children using the scoops, spoons, and funnels we had available to fill they sock with rice and beans. This is great for their coordination and muscle development. They also had to tie the sock with a rubber band, which requires hand-eye coordination and dexterity. While they all attempted this task, it was challenging and most needed support.

Sensory exploration: By filling the sock with rice and beans, they had the opportunity to explore different textures. This can help develop their tactile senses. We could observe how much they enjoyed scooping up the rice and beans with their hands.

Creative expression: You might be surprised to know that the original activity was to make bean bags to toss to each other at circle time. However, when decorating them, the children decided to use the materials to add ribbon-hair and a face. It was through their creativity and imagination that the Bean-Bag Babies were born!

Language development: As they played with their bean-bag baby, we used this as an opportunity to introduce or review body parts, describe their baby, and engage in conversation with them about what they were doing. We intentionally choose to use rice and beans for this as they are ingredients we see every day during lunch time.

Social and emotional development: The collaborative nature of the activity can promote social and emotional development, including sharing, taking turns, and empathy. This became clear when we could observe them caring for the babies and letting their friends hold and kiss them.