Whether your child is into exploring the night sky, rocket ships, or even just “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” this activity is perfect to set up! Sticky walls are one of my favorite ways to play with toddlers and preschoolers. They take little time to set up, and you can use almost anything to stick and sometimes re-stick. So if you’re looking for a way to take a shower in peace, set up our stars in outer space sticky wall for your little one!
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Setting Up the Outer Space Sticky Wall
Sticky walls include 2 simple supplies:
- clear contact paper
- tape (painter’s tape works great!)
To set up this sticky wall, find an area on your wall to use. Cut the contact paper to the size that works for the area. Carefully peel the backing of the contact paper off — don’t let it stick to itself!
To put the sticky wall up on the wall, make sure that the sticky side is facing out away from the wall. Use the tape to frame the sticky side of the contact paper to the wall. Remember, the sticky side needs to face out.
Our night time sky sticky wall was actually taped to our art easel. I used the chalkboard side to make it feel like it was the dark night sky.
Now it’s time to play!
I gave my preschooler a bunch of glow in the dark stars to play with. I like to use craft foam (like on our shape sort sticky wall!) on our sticky walls in my preschool classroom because the craft foam can be stuck to the contact paper and taken off over and over again! The plastic glow in the dark stars worked the same way. My preschooler could stick and re-stick them easily.
After she realized that the stars could glow, we had to move the whole easel into our closet under our stairs. At first she didn’t quite understand how they worked, and insisted on sticking the stars in the dark. Like pitch black. I showed her how the light needed to be on to help the stars glow, so she agreed to play with the light on. She was more than excited to turn the lights off to see her creation glow!
The outer space sticky wall works little fingers and strengthens fine motor skills. It’s a great way for toddlers and preschooler to work on a vertical surface. This kind of activity helps little ones cross their mid-line, and use muscles that will be used in handwriting later.
Adding those sneaky skills into a super fun (and super simple!) activity is a great way to promote independent play at home while you get a few things done!
Check out other outer space themed activities from some of my favorite bloggers!
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Outer Space Bingo // Playdough to Plato
Rocket Name Puzzle// Teach Me Mommy
Space Theme Sensory Bin // Pre-K Pages
Space Counting Mats: Addition and Subtraction // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Solar System Scavenger Hunt // Mom Inspired Life
Space Themed Matching Cards // Powerful Mothering
Outer Space Pattern Block Mats // The STEM Laboratory
Google Drive Space Facts Activity // DIY Farm Wife
Stars in Space Sticky Wall // Modern Preschool
Space Theme Grid Games // Stay at Home Educator
Counting On Planet Puzzles // The Kindergarten Connection
Aliens in Underpants Save the World // Adventures of Adam
Play Dough Constellations // Play & Learn Everyday
Solar System Bracelet // Still Playing School
Space Sensory Bin // Sugar Spice and Glitter
Space Syllables // Fairy Poppins
Space Themed Number Writing Practice // Preschool Inspirations
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