Easy Shaving Cream Car Wash Activity for Kids

This super simple shaving cream car wash activity is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and you can throw it together in under 5 minutes using supplies you already have at home!

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We have been making this Muddy Farm Animal Sensory Bin for several years now, and our kids always go wild for it. I thought their interest would eventually wane, but even my five-year-old and my seven-year-old still ask for it pretty regularly.

That being said, it can get a little messy, and I usually end up having to refill the water a few times—which has been a little more challenging lately with a newborn at home.

So I wanted to come up with a similar activity that would be a little more hands-off for me, in case I happened to be busy with the new baby while our older kids were playing. And it occurred to me that I could make the same sort of sensory bin using shaving cream instead of mud!

This simple car washing station with shaving cream was a huge hit with my toddler and two preschoolers, and I loved the fact that there was no chocolate “mud” that could stain their clothing. The water also stayed clean for a lot longer since the shaving cream simply dissolved into it.

We’ll definitely be adding this shaving cream sensory play activity to our regular activity rotation!

Required Materials

Here’s what you’ll need to set up this easy car wash sensory bin at home:

• Containers or bins
• Shaving cream (we buy ours at Walmart for under $2—you can also use whipped cream if you want this activity to be taste-safe)
• Water
• Toy cars (I recommend using cars that are entirely made of plastic in order to prevent rust)
• Toothbrush (this activity is a good way to reuse old toothbrushes that can’t be used to brush teeth anymore)

Note: You can also add a bit of food colouring to the shaving cream if you like, but I chose not to in order to keep the cleanup to a minimum and prevent staining.

How to Set Up a Shaving Cream Car Wash Station (Step-by-Step)

1. Spray Shaving Cream into Large Bin

Start by spraying a generous amount of shaving cream into a large container or bin. If you have a sensory tray or table that you use for sensory activities, feel free to use that instead.

As stated in the ingredient list, you can replace the shaving cream with whipped cream if your toddler has a tendency to put everything in his or her mouth.

If you’ve chosen to add food colouring, you can stir it in now before you move on to the next step.

2. Add Water to Small Bin

Fill a smaller container with water. This will serve as the car washing station.

3. Add Toy Cars to Shaving Cream

When you have finished preparing both bins, grab some plastic toy cars and add them to the bin containing the shaving cream. Feel free to move them around a little to help cover them with shaving cream.

Then, give the sensory bin to your child and let them wash the cars using a toothbrush and water.

This simple car wash activity kept my two- and four-year-old busy for quite a while today. (They didn’t want to stop for lunch.) I loved how quick and easy it was to set up!

We did this activity in the kitchen, on a table covered with a thick plastic tablecloth, but you can absolutely set it up as an outdoor activity if you want to limit the mess.

This sensory car wash would make a great summer activity to do with your toddler or preschooler at home!

Related Sensory Bin Ideas

Looking for more easy sensory play ideas to do with your kids? Check out these articles:

• “Wash the Muddy Farm Animals” Sensory Bin
• Edible Chia Seed Sensory Bin
• Jell-O Toy Rescue Activity for Kids
• 5-Minute Soap Foam Sensory Bin

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