Loving Tree Child Care

This afternoon in our messy outdoor sensory class, we enjoyed a refreshing and imaginative summer setup—a pretend strawberry lemonade stand. Using play lemons, strawberries, pitchers, scoops, and cups, the children joyfully explored measuring, pouring, mixing, and stirring as they created their own lemonade “recipes.”

The pretend ingredients sparked rich dramatic play, with children taking orders, running their own stands, and sharing their creations with one another. These moments were filled with cooperation, creativity, and confidence-building through playful, hands-on experiences.

Pop tubes added an extra layer of fun and discovery. The children used them in creative ways—twisting them into circles and shapes, using them as funnels, or inventing new tools for their play. It was beautiful to see how a simple material could be reimagined again and again.

We also offered calming water play, which brought a soothing rhythm to the afternoon. Children scooped, poured, and transferred with focus and joy, finding peaceful moments amidst the excitement.

Another favorite was our shimmering oobleck—a gooey mix of cornstarch, water, and food coloring that shifted between liquid and solid. We talked about how oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it behaves differently than water or juice—it’s runny when relaxed and firm when squeezed. The children were fascinated as they experimented with it, laughing and wondering aloud about what it was doing and why.

Throughout the afternoon, the children naturally explored ideas like more and less while filling cups, comparing amounts, and adjusting their pretend recipes.

The Invisible Strings of Love