Age
⚙ 1.5 years and up
Time and Place
⚙ Any time of day
⚙ Any time of year
⚙ Indoors or outdoors (if weather permits)
Materials
⚙ Shaving cream
⚙ Building blocks (e.g., wood, foam)
Optional Materials
⚙ Tablecloth or shower curtain to protect surfaces
⚙ Cafeteria tray to keep building materials contained
Safety
⚙ Supervise children at all times
⚙ Use sensitive skin and/or fragrance free shaving cream
Instructions
When children are building with blocks, offer them shaving cream as an additional building material. Adults should provide dollops of shaving cream. If children are not playing on a washable surface, use a tablecloth or shower curtain.
Questions You May Ask
⚙ How can you use shaving cream to build?
⚙ What does the shaving cream do to your building?
⚙ How [tall, wide] is your building?
⚙ Is it better to build with or without shaving cream? Why?
Related Children's Books
⚙ Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson
⚙When I Build with Blocks by Niki Alling
Play-based Context
A preschool educator noticed the children's interest in building. She remembered how much they had enjoyed an art learning experience with shaving cream. She decided to combine both interests and offered the children shaving cream while they were building.
