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Farm tuff spot (complex version)
This is one of of the most popular tuff spot ideas out there. I have a number of variations, but this is my best. What you need: Straw; Dyed chickpeas; Artificial grass patch; Pasta; Farm animals; Farm stables; Easter sheep (Poundland); Train tracks; Artificial flowers; Tractors and farmers; Weetabix biscuit; Stones and wooden chips; Loosefill…
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Dinosaurs tuff spot
Here is a messy, but great dinosaurs tuff spot. What you need: Plastic dinosaurs; Fish tank plastic plants; Rocks and pebbles; Water, flour and food colouring for the goo (or liquid watercolours); Pasta, lentils, semolina for different textures. To make the goo just mix water, flour and colours to get a pancake batter consistency.
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Recycling tuff spot play
I’ve been saving lids, caps, and all sorts of recycling materials to do a sorting activity. Of course my little one helps out with the recycling in our house, but she still learns what everything is and where they go. Metal seems to be the hardest to get it, but she’ll get there. What you…
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PVA glue play
This was such a good play idea. You need a bottle of PVA glue, liquid colours and some glitter. Put them on a mixing tray and write letters, numbers or draw things on it. It’s sticky and messy. Once you’re done let it dry for a day. Taking out is just as fun. It becomes…
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Edible muddy puddles play
Easy messy play idea and totally edible. Muddy bin with cars, animals or Peppa figurines. What you need: yogurt and cacao for mud; construction cars (or chunky cars if the bin is for a toddler); farm animals or other plastic figurines. Mix some yogurt for with cacao to make the mud and add all the…
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Sand & shaving cream play
This activity is better for the summer, but you can do it indoor too if you wish. Gather a bucket of sand next time you’re going to the seaside. Mix it with shaving cream. With a set of pots and spoons this becomes great play material.
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North Pole tuff spot (snow version 3)
I have a few snow tuff spot articles presenting different ways to make pretend snow. This uses shaving cream and jelly baff. What you need: aluminium foil for lake; blue jelly baff made with ice cold water (link below); a tube of shaving cream; arctic animals; reusable ice cubes (cold from the freezer); cotton wool…
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Dying rice with fizz effect
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North pole tuff spot (snow version 2)
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How to dye chickpeas, rice or beans
Here’s how you dye dry food like pasta, rice, beans, chickpeas to be used in tuff spots play and imaginative small world play. What you need: food to dye; colours (I used watercolours, but you can use food coloring too); a plastic bottle or a freezer bag; vinegard if you’re using food colouring. Put the…