We love oobleck!
Oobleck is one of those magical materials that never fails to capture children’s curiosity. Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? The answer is… both! This simple sensory base is easy to make at home and is packed full of learning opportunities, especially when it comes to developing early writing skills.
Our oobleck recipe!
You only need a couple of ingredients and a little time…
You will need:
– Cornflour
– Water
– Food colouring (optional)
Method:
1.Add cornflour to a bowl or tray.
2.Slowly pour in water, mixing as you go.
3.Keep adding water until the mixture feels solid when squeezed but turns runny when released.
4. Add food colouring for extra visual interest if you like.
That’s it! Simple, low-cost and endlessly engaging.
What Makes Oobleck So Special?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it behaves differently under pressure. When children squeeze, press or tap it, it becomes firm. When they relax their hands, it flows like a liquid. This unique property makes it incredibly exciting to explore and perfect for building early motor skills.
How Oobleck Supports Early Writing Skills:
Early writing doesn’t start with holding a pencil. It begins much earlier with sensory exploration, muscle development and hand control — all of which oobleck supports beautifully.
1. Strengthens Hand and Finger Muscles
Squeezing, pinching, scooping and moulding oobleck helps strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers. These muscles are essential for later pencil grip, control and stamina when writing.
2. Encourages Mark Making
Children love drawing lines, shapes and patterns in oobleck using their fingers or simple tools. These early marks are the foundations of letter formation and writing.
3. Develops Hand–Eye Coordination
As children watch their hands move through the oobleck, they begin to coordinate what they see with what their hands are doing — an important skill for controlling writing tools later on.
4. Builds Sensory Awareness
The changing texture of oobleck helps children become more aware of pressure and movement. This sensory feedback supports better control when holding crayons, pens and pencils.
5. Boosts Confidence and Curiosity
Oobleck is forgiving — there’s no right or wrong way to explore it. Children can experiment freely, make mistakes and try again, building confidence and a positive attitude towards mark making and writing.
Extending the Learning with oobleck!
You can easily extend oobleck play to support even more early writing skills:
– Add paintbrushes, sticks or spoons for different mark-making experiences
– Encourage swirling, zig-zag and circular movements
– Hide small objects for children to find, promoting fine motor control
– Use trays or shallow containers to allow big arm movements too
Why Messy Play Matters…
Messy play like oobleck allows children to learn through their senses, at their own pace and in a way that feels fun and pressure-free. These early experiences are crucial in laying strong foundations for writing, literacy and confidence later on.
At Little Learners, we use sensory bases like oobleck to carefully support early writing development while keeping learning exciting, playful and child-led.
Because when learning is fun, children are far more likely to engage, explore and thrive.
If you’d like to join us for a class, please pop over THIS page and find your nearest class! Or check out our franchise opportunity if you’d like to join the Little Learners UK network and run classes of your own.
Stay messy!
Krissi – Little Learners Fylde Coast
