5 Ways to Use Shaving Foam to Build Language
Tucked away in the back corner of many bathroom cupboards there can be found a can of shaving foam. Whether it was from a one-time craft project with the kids, or something the adults got for themselves, shaving foam is a cheap, valuable commodity in the world of building language. Added bonus, it can be a great play activity for those sensory seekers out there (and the mess is relatively easy to clean once it’s done!). Time to dig out that old can, get your child and prepare for some messy fun!
It’s on my….
Spray some shaving foam onto the table or area you have set up to play with your child. Place a small amount on your finger, and start the sentence “It’s on my…”. Pause and wait, seeing if your child will fill in the sentence. If they do, dab the shaving foam on the area. If they don’t, dab it on an area of your choice (the nose is a great one to also work on joint attention), pause for a few more seconds and then finish the sentence. This can help familiarise your child with different body parts and is a great way to also target building joint attention!
Splat!
Be warned - this activity is not for those parents who like neat, tidy activities, but it is a lot of fun! Grab a fly swat and your shaving foam. Spray the shaving foam and hold the fly swat in your child’s line of sight above the foam. Wait for them to tell you to ‘go’ or ‘splat’ - add in a ‘ready, set'…’ lead in to encourage that language. When they say the word, hit the shaving foam with the fly swat. Bonus word: once the shaving foam flies everywhere, there will be plenty of chances to use the word ‘messy!’.
Drawing
Spray some shaving foam on the table and draw shapes in the foam. Encourage your child to join in or to copy your drawing. You can use words like ‘draw’, ‘more’ (if the shaving foam is looking a little sparse!’ and ‘I like that!’.
Spray and wipe
Sometimes, you don’t need anything extra. Spray the shaving foam on the table and let your child interact with it. Encourage them to touch it, draw in it, whatever they feel like! After a little while, grab some paper towels and wipe it off. Pause and wait for your child to request ‘more’ before spraying more onto the table. We recommend spraying a small amount at a time so you don’t end up using a whole pack of paper towels in one sitting!
Shaving foam sensory box
Grab an empty container and some plastic toys. Spray as much shaving foam as you would like into the container and push the different toys into the foam. Play with your child, swirling your fingers in the foam to pull out different objects. You can even put the box outside on the grass and make shaving foam footprints! Use words like ‘step’, ‘messy’, ‘more’ and ‘mix’ while playing with the foam.
