An activity you can start today
Shaving Cream Play
A mountain of foam on the high chair tray: the messiest-looking activity with the easiest cleanup.
Know before you start
At a glance
- Setup
- 2 min
- Cleanup
- 3 min
- Mess
- high
- Energy
- calm
- Adult help
- nearby
Before you start
- Smock on, sleeves up, and spray the foam yourself — the can is the adult's tool.
- Start with a fist-sized dollop; you can always add a second mountain.
- Keep a damp cloth within reach in case the child wants clean hands immediately.
Step by step
Let’s play
- Prep the zone. Smock on the child, child in the high chair, cloth within your reach.
- Spray the mountain. One fist-sized dollop in the middle of the tray.
- Let hands explore. Squish, spread, pile — no goal, no instructions for the first minutes.
- Add one idea. A finger road, a buried car, a drop of color, a letter to draw.
- Wipe-away finale. Warm wet cloth over hands and tray — the whole scene dissolves in under a minute.
See it in action
Watch this activity
Video: “Fun & Easy Activities for 18-24 Months” by Pocketful of Parenting on YouTube — cued to the moment this activity is shown.
The child’s-eye view
Why kids love it
Foam holds soft peaks, spreads with very little pressure, and changes with every swipe. Children can explore it with hands, a spatula, or a toy car depending on what feels comfortable.
Built into the fun
What they’re learning
Foam offers a light, slippery texture. Children who do not want it on their hands can begin with a spatula or toy instead.
From age 3, drawing lines, circles and letters in foam with a fingertip is handwriting practice with a built-in eraser: one palm swipe and the page is blank.
Children can notice how foam holds a line briefly, piles into peaks, and becomes thinner as it is spread.
Make it fit your child
Ways to change the game
Color marbling
Add two drops of different food coloring and swirl with one finger — instant marble patterns (may lightly tint hands).
Car wash
Bury toy cars in foam and set a bowl of water beside for washing them clean — a two-part game with a satisfying ending.
Letter practice
For preschoolers, call out letters or shapes to draw in the foam. Wrong attempt? Swipe, erase, retry — no paper wasted, no mistakes recorded.
Real-life fixes
If it’s not going to plan
The child refuses to touch it
Do not push their hand into the foam. Offer a spatula or toy car, and let the child decide whether to touch the texture directly.
Foam starts flying off the tray
That's the signal the exploring phase is over. Move to directed play (draw a road, wash a car) or wind down to the warm-cloth cleanup, which is itself a pleasant sensory finish.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What age is shaving cream play safe?
Wait until your child is past frequent hand-to-mouth play, and supervise the whole activity. For a younger child, choose a taste-safe sensory activity made from a food they already eat safely instead.
Does shaving cream stain clothes or tables?
Plain foam usually wipes from washable surfaces, but ingredients and finishes vary. Test a small area first, protect porous surfaces, and remember that added food coloring can stain fabric and grout.
Kidtivity Lab activity guide · Last updated
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