OT Activity of the Day:
Water Beads!
Target Age Range: 2 and up (please note that these look like candy and your young child should be warned not to eat them and monitored while playing)
Water beads are one of my favorite things to play with. I bought these at Michael's in the flower filler section (technically they were made to keep flowers hydrated). They start out as tiny little beads and when water is added they grow.
This is a great activity for those sensory seeking children and can be very calming. You can add small manipulatives to the container like magnetic letters, animals, beads, or anything else you may have around the house. If your child is more likely to eat the beads you can always place the beads in a ziploc bag before giving it to your young child. They won't be able to feel the wet texture, however it will be a more calming visual experience.
Enjoy!