Ghost Goo Oobleck: A Spooky Sensory Science Adventure

 We invited the children to dive into some spooky, squishy fun with a classic sensory favorite — oobleck! Using scoops, baskets, @openplaytoys cones, and measuring cups, the children explored the fascinating world of this gooey mixture by scooping, squeezing, and squishing it through their fingers.

What made this experience truly magical was watching their eyes light up as they noticed how oobleck behaves — sometimes like a solid, sometimes like a liquid. When they squeezed it tightly, it felt firm in their hands, but when they relaxed their grip, it slipped and flowed like water. That’s because oobleck isn’t your ordinary substance — it’s a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t follow the usual rules of solids and liquids. This hands-on activity not only sparked laughter and curiosity but also offered a playful introduction to scientific concepts like states of matter and suspension.

Children who engage in a variety of sensory-rich experiences learn to use and strengthen their senses in new and meaningful ways. The benefits of sensory play in early childhood are profound — it helps build neural connections in the brain, fostering curiosity and a natural drive to take on more complex learning tasks.

Beyond the fun, sensory exploration supports:

• Cognitive growth and problem-solving skills

• Language development through descriptive play

• Fine motor coordination and physical development

• Social interaction and cooperative play

• Memory and concentration

Sensory play and open-ended, hands-on experiences truly are a gift to a child’s developing mind — and some of the most powerful ways to learn in the early years. As the beloved play advocate Bev Boss once said, “If it hasn’t been in the hand and the body… it can’t be in the brain.”