Calming Waterbead Sensory Bin

We play a lot with water beads.  These blue water beads were part of a 3 pack I found at Walmart.  I wanted to try a calming sensory bin for a while, and the blue water bead pack was perfect!
 
…with three crazy kids, mom needs a little calming activity every now and then :)…

Calming Colors.

Blue is peaceful and relaxing, and produces calming chemicals in the body.  Purple is a color that promotes imagination and is associated with relaxing and calm colors.  It’s said that lighter shades of purple are calming, while deeper shades are stimulating as they pull in more red tones.
 
There is a lot of research out there telling us about how color affects mood and behavior.  Blue and Greens release neurotransmitters that relax and calm the body.  They lower body temperature, decrease perspiration, and suppress appetite.  Reds and Yellows encourage creativity.  (So, pull out those bright and stimulating color strips when you’re getting ready to paint the dramatic play/art/block area!) 





 

Calming Scents.

The sense of smell sends information directly to the brain.  Certain scents can increase our ability to learn, create, think  and attend. Peppermint, basil, lemon, and cinnamon are linked to mental alertness.  Lavender, chamomile, orange, and rose are linked to relaxation and calmness. 

Calming Sensory Bin.

I used our blue water beads and added purple food coloring to the water.  Just a few drops were needed, and the water turned a nice calming shade of purple.  I added a few drops of lavender extract for a nice relaxing scent.  
 
This really was a calming activity for the kids.  They played with the water beads and let them fall between their fingers.  They did go into the kitchen and grab my spatula and whisk.  
 
((They do this every time we pull out the water beads!))
 
Baby Girl played for a long time with this.  She loved it!
Have you done any calming sensory bins?  
 
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