Orange Scented Play

(Open ended play)

It’s citrus season and with the holidays coming up family’s favourite homemade beverage is on the menu.

Now, what to do with orange peel leftover?

Orange scented water is perfect for summer sensory play. The fresh smell of orange is so invigorating that you might need to make some orange juice too. Orange scented water is quick and easy to make. Enjoy great sensory play with orange scented water.

Materials:

-water

-orange peel

-orange food coloring

-a bin to play

-glass jars

-tools to play, here we used ladle, toy knife and toy orange

Instructions:

-add desired amount of food coloring into the water

-slice the orange peel and add to the colored water

-present all materials in front of your kiddo

-let your kiddo play freely

There was tons of smelling with orange scented water sensory bin.

She began by making sure the food coloring has been mixed evenly with water in the jar,

And pretend transferring the colored water from jar to fruit.

Time to pour some water. Red colored water first,

And then yellow colored water. We were observing how the color of the mixture gradually changed from red to orange. Lots of conversation about color here between me and Y.

She sprinkled those sliced orange peel bit by bit before finally grabbed a handful of them and threw them into the bin.

Next, it was time for oranges to ’swim’ in the bin. She repeatedly said “swimming” and ”splish splash splosh” here.

I couldn’t help but to get in on it too. We took turns lifting handfuls of sliced orange peel to our noses. We talked about the smells, the color and what orange taste like. She said “yummy” “orange” “tasty” so much. I let her bite the orange peel, she made a face due to its bitterness. I told her even though orange flesh and juice are sweet and tasty, the peel is quite bitter. She just roll out her tongue in disgust, and to make a facial expression similar to a roaring dragon trying to breathe fire. Only quick then she moved on. Back at play.