The Juice Box Experiment: How a Big Mess Turned into a Magical Moment
Yesterday, my two-year-old made a massive mess. I gave her a juice box for the first time (first and possibly last). I looked away for second and when I turned back she was squirting it all other the table. I asked her to stop repeatedly, but she continued with determination. By the time I intervened and took the box off of her, I was very annoyed.
But then I stopped and actually thought about what I’d seen her doing…
She was trying to aim the juice through the straw into a tin teacup that was sitting on the table by squeezing the box over and over, readjusting the angle, changing her squeeze, testing what would happen. She was experimenting…
Yeah, she missed. A lot. But she was deeply engaged in a moment of learning. She was trying to figure out:
• How hard do I need to squeeze?
• How far will the juice go?
• How do I aim better next time?
That’s physics. That’s problem-solving. That’s STEM learning packed into a juice box!
I asked her if this was what she was trying to do as I squirt the juice in the cup. She lit up saying “You did it, mummy! Good job!” It was so sweet and wholesome, I couldn’t help but smile and remind myself this is what it’s all about.
I accepted there would be a bigger mess, asked her if she wanted to try again, and handed the juice box back to her. She proceeded to spray that sticky juice everywhere, until she finally hit the mark.
We clapped and celebrated and then I dealt with the mess that managed to seep into every crack and crevice imaginable and who knows if that table will ever fully recover.
But if I had simply taken away the juice box and ended it, I would have taken away an opportunity for her to learn.
That’s the magic we’re building at Sweet Sensory Play. We are creating playful ways to learn without all the stress it causes parents.
Here, they are free to experiment, to make mistakes, and yes, to make messes. It’s in those moments - sticky, chaotic, surprising - that their brains build connections. Exploring cause and effect, adjusting their actions, and testing out new ideas - they’re not just playing. They’re becoming thinkers, scientists, engineers!
Our playgroup is a space designed for this kind of discovery. A safe, supportive environment where children are encouraged to experiment in the world around them (even if it means a little more cleanup for us).
If a juice box can spark that much learning, imagine what can happen when we invite the mess and welcome the curiosity with every station we create. Find us doing exactly that, every Friday in Shelly Park at 9:30AM!
