Continuing our fun with polymers, I thought I would introduce the little ones to a very different type of polymer – the water bead. These are basically polymers which when in their dried state will absorb copious amounts of water and swell from the size of a tiny bead to the size of a marble. I ordered mine off Amazon for 99p.
As usual I organised a tray each for the girls, ensuring they could do everything independently. I popped the desiccated water beads into a beaker and filled the conical flask full of water. I had some more water on stand by just in case we needed it:
We needed to leave the balls over night, and when they came down the next morning they were enormous! I let them play with them for as long as they wanted:
After they were all played out we used them to create a pond sensory box for this week’s BFIAR book ‘Play with Me’:
Hours of fun had by all!
It looks like you guys had great fun doing that. Can’t believe how big they got. Amazing.
We love you Daddy!
Thanks for introducing me to that particular product. I had never heard of it. Looks like the girls had a blast!
Myra, from water-logged Winnipeg, Canada
They really did. Such a simple product (and very inexpensive!)
I hadn’t realised how inexpensive they were! I’m definitely going to get some. My kids would love these!
They are still going strong, and the older ones love them too!
Aren’t the water beads just great? I only knew about them a few weeks ago and I think they’re absolutely fun to play with.
And they dehydrate again and then rehydrate I’ve heard. They could go on and on!!
They do, but word of warning don’t leave them out and then let your husband pour it down the drain……. I was picking those out of our garbage disposal for a while trying to make sure it didn’t clog our pipes……..
Ooopsydaisy!!
I recently ordered these after seeing them on someone’s science post. I was delighted they were so cheap! It looks like your children are having lots of fun with them 🙂
We were going to attempt to make our own, but the youtube video showing you how turned out to be a hoax!