Watermelon Shapes

Watermelon is the most popular fruit at morning tea time, sometimes my toddlers can go through 1/2 a watermelon in one sitting!

It is super healthy and great frozen especially if your child is teething, it's a natural way to soothe their gums and it works like a charm. I have served it frozen as ice-cream for years and the children love it!

This watermelon shape activity came from the children’s interest in shapes. To continue to build on their interest I introduced different shaped cookie cutters to the children and they picked the shapes they wanted.

We named the shapes and the children used the cookie cutters to create a shape from the watermelon slices I provided them with. They were so chuffed when they were able to see the shape they created and were super excited to turn them into ice-cream. The children were also given a variety of coloured ice-cream sticks to choose from. We named the colours of the sticks and each child chose which colour they wanted for their watermelon shape. The children then inserted the ice cream stick into their watermelon shape before putting them in the freezer. This activity led us to talk about shapes, textures, colours and flavour. This is a great sensory activity for babies and toddlers and a great way to introduce a variety of fruits to children. We have cut out many fruits but watermelon is by far the favourite.

Emily is ready for some watermelon ice-cream!

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Learning outcomes:

• Learn to recognise and name a variety of shapes

• Engage in sensory play

• Enhance hand and eye co-ordination

• An opportunity to introduce new fruits

• Improve listening skills

• Feel empowered

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Ingredients

1. Watermelon cut into wedges

2. Cookie cutters

3. Coloured ice cream sticks

4. A tray lined with baking paper

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Method

1. Provide the children with the cookie cutters and demonstrate how to hold the cutter - sharp end pointing downward. Show them how to apply pressure so that the cookie-cutter will reach the tray.

Toddler using cookie-cutter to cut shapes from watermelon

Toddler using cookie-cutter to cut shapes from watermelon

Toddler using cookie-cutter to cut shapes from watermelon

2. Together insert the stick into the watermelon shape and place it on the tray. Once you have cut out all the shapes you want, put them in the freezer for a couple of hours.

toddler placing cut watermelon on a stick

toddler placing cut watermelon on a stick

Love,

Nava.

PS - I love hearing from you! Let me know how it went and feel free to spread the word/passion/love, the more the merrier!

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