As O had a space themed birthday party last week (more about that here) I thought I would continue the theme through the week and set up a space small world on the Tuff Spot.
We have several little astronaut figures from the Safari toob set I bought for O’s birthday party (mainly because I wanted an astronaut for his birthday cake!) and some bigger astronauts, moon buggy’s and rocket that we bought him when he was younger. These were perfect additions to the space small world.
I set the figures out in rice that I had coloured with black food colouring (and dried for a few minutes in the oven) to represent the moon.
Then I added the space rocks I had painted for the birthday party and a few glow in the dark planets and stars. The painted rocks were just painted with blue or silver paint. Then I used some glitter paint as a top coat.
The space small world must have looked inviting as they couldn’t wait to jump in and start playing! They had a lot of digging up the ‘moon’ and dumping it around the tuff spot. Littlest particularly loves playing with small people, so he enjoyed moving them around the vehicles.
Have you set up any small worlds for your kids recently?
crummy mummy says
This looks such fun! They have rice at BB’s school – I’d never thought of it before! #whatevertheweather
Matt says
I am very impressed with your creativity. Big tantrum is 2.5 and I am having a great time seeing his imaginative play develop at the moment. Plates are steering wheels and we skid all over the house racing cars. Space is another great imaginative play to practice ‘blasting off’ 🙂
#WhateverTheWeather
Sarah says
This is so cool – I’d love to play in it! Thanks for having us on #WhatevertheWeather
Lisa Ruggles says
I had not thought to use rice, I normally use lentils. Rice looks so much more moon like, what a fab idea. Thank you!
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
That’s such a lovely idea – my daughter loves imaginative play at the moment, mostly with animals, but this seems quite a simple but exciting one to add in. #whatevertheweather
Let kids be kids says
What a fun sensory small world play. The space theme is great. Love the black rice.
Coombe Mill says
A genius use of your tray, a perfect way to enjoy some garden play.
Sarah says
Ha ha, that’s ingenious! My boy would LOVE this!
morna says
I’m feeling more and more tuff spot envy! I think my girls are too old for one now but yours seems so versatile – I’m sure I’ve seen it in about three posts now! Looks like a lot of fun.
Nia says
This is such a good idea – you’re so creative! I’m terrible at thinking of fun creative activities for the girls so thank goodness for blogs like this. I might have a go at making a mini dragon and fairy world as they’re really into that, and maybe a mini garden as they’re very much into fruit at the moment, and I seem to remember making one in school! Great post, thanks for hosting #whatevertheweather xx
Baby Isabella says
What a great idea!! Love they way you use your Tuff Spot! A space theme sounds fab! #Whatevertheweather
Mae @ OutdoorsMom says
Very fun. I haven’t tried letting my kids play with rice but I have seen it a lot. I would try a car theme, my son’s favorite.
Sara | mumturnedmom says
Brilliant! I haven’t done anything like this for my youngest for ages… Great fun 🙂
Erin @Yorkshiretots says
That looks like so much fun! I’ve never set up a small world *mummy guilt* but it looks like fun!
Melody says
What a great idea. I never have thought of using the rice, we used moon dough instead using flour and baby oil. I will definitely try the coloured rice too. Thank you for sharing. xx
Sabrina (The Mummy Stylist) says
What a cool idea! I would have wanted to dive in too haha! Love the photo with the little astronaut, so cute 🙂 Sabrina xx #whatevertheweather
Claire says
RIGHT!! I am off to amazon to order myself a tuff spot!! Every time I see your posts I kick myself that I havn’t orgered yet!! This looks fab as always! #whatevertheweather
Lisa (Travel Loving Family) says
This looks like great fun! My youngest son would love this! Thanks for sharing #whatevertheweather
Leandra says
Love this! Such a great idea for a small world! I expect they had a fabulous time. #whatevertheweather
Christine says
That looks amazing. I wasn’t aware of Tuff spot trays when my kids were younger but they use them at the school I work in and they’re great. Love the rice idea – if only my kids were small again! #whatevertheweather
A Cornish Mum says
What a brilliant idea! I wish they’d had Tuff spots around when the boys were small, they look so handy!
Stevie x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Stevie, it’s definitely handy! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
They are really fab for doing messy play, my boys can’t keep it in the tray, so we often use it outside! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Leandra, they really loved it, A especially liked driving things in the rice. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks, let me know if you try it! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! Hope to see lots of Tuff spot inspired posts coming soon then! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
The rice is so much fun to play with! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Moon dough is great fun too, I tried that inside though and the boys managed to cover the entire kitchen in ‘crumbs’! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
No need for mummy guilt, I’m sure they’ve been happy with other things to play with anyway! if you do want to set one up it’s really easy, honest! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
It’s so easy, you should definitely try it! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Cars are great fun too, anything to move through the rice seems to occupy them for a while. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oooh a mini garden or fairy garden would be so cute! I used to love making fairy gardens and little clothes and hats when I was little. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Probably more than 3 posts now! Trying to get more use out of it this year, as last year I forgot about it too much! If you ever have another child I totally recommend it! 😉 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you Fiona! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Karen, the boys loved it and I was surprised that the food colouring stuck so well so quickly to the rice. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
You could easily make up a small play with rice (green for grass?) and animals, a few stones or sticks for fences? 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks Lisa, it does look quite cool, I should try lentils for a Mars planet Tuff spot! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
I think it’s quite tactile, most adults love this play too! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh yes, he must be getting quite into imaginative play at that age, I love watching their imaginations develop! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
It’s loads of fun and if it’s outside it’s not too difficult to clean up! 🙂 x
Mudpie Fridays says
This looks great 🙂 love the little tubes didnt know they did a space one! I really need to get to get our tuff spot out again – its been a while!! Thank you for hosting #whatevertheweather xx
Jenny Eaves says
They have loads, I quite like the world landmarks one too, with the tiny Eiffel tower and things! 🙂 x
Chloe says
This is so cool! I really need a tuff spot tray. They look brilliant for messy play. I don’t know why we haven’t got one before. Space play with rice is such a creative idea! I love the rocket too x
Su says
Wow! Those looks so cool! This would be a hit for Ethan &Evelyn too! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
It was so much fun! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thanks! Tuff spots are great, you can use it indoors too. Great in the winter for containing messy play! 🙂 x
A Moment with Franca says
This looks like so much fun!! Wow amazing all the things that you could do just with a little bit of imagination!! Who would’ve thought that you can have so much fun with just rice!! LOL Thanks for hosting and so sorry for commenting so late! x
#whatevertheweather