I seem to be doing a lot of sensory crafts and recipes at the moment on the blog. It could be because I’m coming up with all these ideas all of a sudden, but I also think it’s partly because I’ve decided that I need to relax a bit more. Of late my life has become all about how to manage the kids around the business, constantly struggling with feelings of guilt over how bored they must be and frustration at the fact that I really can’t “do it all”. I’m not that awesome.
Anyway, the decision has been made that, fuck it, I’m going to start enjoying my kids and my life a little bit more. I started this blog to share with you all the things that I love, all the things that I do and find with the kids, but I’d let it become something about numbers. Do I have a high enough rating? Is this ok? Is that ok? Yeah. I don’t want that. So, Monday is fun day in our house from now on, we’re going to try doing something once a week, which will probably make its way on to the blog, if not on Instagram for sure (anyone else reeeeeally feeling Instagram at the mo? Seriously loving it!)
I shared my post about making slime but I wanted to do something that I felt I could leave Edie to get along with while I took a step back and didn’t have to keep diving in the stop her from taking a bite. I scoured Pinterest for ages, then had a little gander in the cupboard, eventually deciding on jelly. Good ole jelly. I only had red jelly but it would do!
The thing with babies and sensory play is that it always gets messy…
There’s always one that has to get naked….
So I made a platter of jelly in a baking pan instead of a jelly mould, and then I mixed up a couple of dinosaurs in amongst the jelly. I set it down in front of the little ones and let them go crazy. They had so much fun! We will try again with jelly, maybe green for a swamp or blue for an ocean.
Here are a few other other ideas for edible sensory play:
- Porridge – dry oats in a bowl with a tray of water for them to mix it in.
- Cous cous – try making it and letting it cool, then burying animals, grapes or small toys.
- Spaghetti – love this idea! Cook it then let them play away. You could add food colouring to the water to colour the pasta.
- Angel delight – draw letters in it, just like you would with shaving foam, but edible!
- Edible finger paints – I wrote about the years ago, and it’s still great fun, though very sticky!!
- Edible water beads – I’ve seen a great recipe for this on Growing a Jewelled Rose, and I can’t wait to give it a go!!
What other edible sensory play ideas could we have? Is it something that you do or something that you steer clear of?
H x
These are lovely ideas. I also adore the photos. Messy play is so much fun.
It seems to be for them Jodie! H x
These are great ideas! I’m funny about sensory though, have a huge fear of jelly because of how it feels so not sure I cpuld bring myself to mother enough to let J have something similar!! x
Oh no Ally!! It’s weird what freaks us out right? H x
Love these ideas! I’m useless at crafty stuff (even though I studied art & design and then fashion) so i love getting new tops and ideas. Lamb isn’t really bothered about getting messy which is probably why I’ve never thought to do anything like this! Xx
Thanks lovely!
Ahhh I love jelly! Though you’re brave doing sensory play, I must admit I steer clear of it and leave it for doing at nursery! X
I tend to steer clear of messy play except for at messy play groups so that way my house stays clean haha! I did venture into making cloud dough the other day with flour and vegetable oil, knowing that Jude would eat it. I am going to try to do more messy play at home though as the weather is perking up so we can do it outside. Win win! xx
Aw I love this, all of them are great ideas. Clem hates the feeling of jelly so doesn’t like doing anything with it but I love the idea of putting the dinosaurs in it. She loved playing with noodles.
I love your photos!
I feel exactly the same and I’m going to be doing something at least once a week with Lily as well, I was thinking about it the other day and reading blog posts/scouring the cupboards 🙂
Thanks for another spark of inspiration when it comes to what to try!
X X
I love these ideas. Little Miss H adores edible play. One of her favourites is when I put lots of different things in bowls, such as flour, water, porridge oats and cupcake decorations. I then give her some silicon cupcake cases and she has great fun ‘making’ cakes. Fab ideas lovely. Hugs Lucy xxxx
So messy but it looks like they had a great time xx
Dream topping is a brilliant one as well as sqirty cream
Defo going to have to try that, my husband and boys adore dream topping too 🙂