So I saw all over Pinterest this summer these things called water beads. It looked weird and strange and like yeah right, I'm not doing that. Its all in the "sensory" play experience whatever that I think is a different way to say having fun touching things. When you're probably supposed to be doing something else. But I'm always on the lookout for activities that help the preschoolers work on their fine motor skills and keep them occupied/playing in a calm manner, i.e. legos. What a wonder the legos are for these guys.
So end of summer I'm shopping in Dollar Tree and I see a "magical" vase with "magical" beads - water beads for a dollar. Ok, I will get it and try it. They could be neat. If not, I only wasted a dollar. I got the multi-pack with 3 different colors including clear. They start out tiny and you add water to them and they grow to their full size in 6 to 8 hours. They end up being about marble size. There was apparently some other product that started marble size and grew to be like small ball size which was dangerous because little kids eat them and then they expand in their stomachs and block off essentials organs. They have been recalled. Good thing!
So these things ended up being awesome!!! They feel so cool, and its just some sort of I don't know, it feels like gel but not sticky like gel. Its just water left on your hands. The best color is the clear ones because they disappear in the water. I've heard of other preschools using them for play and the kids have to search for them in the water with their hands. I love showing these beads off to everyone and they all love them! Some high school girls were playing for a few minutes and I had to kick them out so they wouldn't miss class.
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| water beads! |
So here is my problem with them. I've had the beads hydrated for about 3 weeks now and the kids play with them almost everyday. Guess what happened? Yup, they got gross. I think its mold growing on them. I took a test batch and soaked some in rubbing alcohol (they dissolved) and the other in hand sanitizer (they are still intact but the mold seems to be too. I have taken my whole batch and am washing it with soap and water and will lay it out to dry on towels over the weekend. I'm hoping this will stop the molding. I might try a test batch with bleach, see what that does. I researched online and found that most people smash them after a few weeks, or freeze them which is awesome but then they break apart. I really don't want to waste all my money by destroying them, but I will if thats my only option. I also read that if you let them dry out they won't mold, maybe that's a regular drying out??
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| look closely, see the brown moldy spots? |
So I will let you know what happens with my beads. I highly recommend these things, the kids LOVE them and so do adults and there are so many science, math, and other applications for them in your classroom. Yay for Sensory!!!
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| my collection..about $3 worth |
Update 10/27: I have sad news. All those beautiful beads you saw there (above) grew moldy and gross. Like actual fuzzy mold. Ick. So they were tossed in the garbage when the preschoolers wouldn't see. (sad face). I did some more research and found that, yes, you need to let them dry regularly so they won't mold. I had a new batch of pink ones that I let dry and they didn't get as bad. They were also from Dollar General and there were a lot more, but they did not get as big.
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| "them are like princesses... because them are so beautiful!" |
Lesson learned - make sure to let them dry and don't buy a bunch all at once because you will run out of room and containers to dry them and they will get moldy. Also I don't recommend dumping the leftover broken ones in your sink, the bits will stick together and clog it up. I have been flushing the bits down the toilet or in the garbage. Just keep in mind if they dry they will shrink and then if they are exposed to moisture again they will expand, which could be bad in some locations.
WATER BEADS!
