Summer boredom buster for kids: Dried beans

by Emily

I am not kidding when I tell you this: when my kids get bored and I suggest we get out the dried beans to play with? THEY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND SCREAM. In excitement.

Now granted, dried beans can seem... daunting to clean up. But really, I promise you, whether you have carpet or hardwood or tile, it isn't horrible. Yes, it takes longer than cleaning up a box of crayons or a dress up bin, but remember that part where my kids jump up and down and scream? It means that A) it keeps them occupied (WORTH IT) and B) that I don't do it all that often anyway (so I can handle cleaning up dried beans once every month or so).

I keep about four pounds of beans on hand at all times, in a big Ziploc bag, and all I do is dump them out on the living room rug and let the kids play. I think six bags would be even more exciting, honestly. They love to drive trucks, trains and cars through big piles of beans; they also love sorting them into cups and spoons. They love pretending to cook with them using a few pots and pans from their play kitchen, or stirring them in my big pots with wooden spoons. The beans can easily eat up 90 minutes of play time. Ninety minutes, you guys! GET SOME BEANS.

Even better (this tip courtesy of genius blogger Jen), if you have a plastic kiddie pool on hand, drag that into your living room and dump the beans into that. Much easier cleanup, and there are no rogue beans rolling under the couch or behind the media center, only to be discovered six months later, covered with cobwebs. NOT THAT IT HAPPENED TO ME.

{Photo credit: dollartree.com}

Comments

[Jamie]

I do this as a therapeutic activity all the time (I'm an SLP), and if you throw a flat sheet down before you let them go wild with the beans it makes clean up SO much easier. Just pick up the sheet and dump the beans back in to a container. Now I'm wondering if a fitted sheet would work even better at catching any strays....

[true religion outlet]

It really does feel like some kind of alternate universe where you get to play with the Beatles or whatever other band you have in mind. You can still hear the drums, vocals and bass pretty clearly and although I don't really show it in the video, it's a cool feeling.

[Mandorama]

This is an excellent idea! Can't wait to try it when my 1-year-old is past her "everything in the mouth/ear/nose" phase.