TASTE SAFE SQUISHY BLOCKS

I do not know how to better explain this taste safe DIY than by comparing them to water beads! How oddly satisfying is it to watch me squeeze one of these?

I love this taste safe alternative because it is a fun texture to introduce your little ones to and it is super simple to make! It is safe for baby sensory activities or for older toddlers too.

Even though it is taste safe, it does not taste good at all. And this is on purpose because we don’t want it to be edible jelly blocks! It tastes yucky so that it discourages your little one from eating it after tasting it. This is exactly why I prefer this version of blocks over the packs of JELLO that are so yummy! Plus, they are not as sticky as sugary jello cubes.

Get your hawk eyes out and supervise your little ones really closely with this activity. This sensory base can be a choking hazard for kids due to their thickness and slippery texture. You should always supervise your little ones doing any activity, but this one requires a little extra supervision.

An additional benefit of this sensory play, besides exposing them to new textures and colors, is our little ones experimenting with new hand movements by squeezing and manipulating the blocks which in turn help with fine motor skills.

MATERIALS:

1. Clear Gelatin Powder

2. Boiling Water

3. Food Coloring

4. Parchment or Wax Paper

5. Containers

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add the gelatin powder to a bowl.

2. Measure 3/4 of the indicated amount of water ratio and add a drop of food coloring.

3. Pour into the bowl and mix immediately or the gelatin will clump up. In the video you will see I added one cup of water first, mixed, and then another 1/2 cup. I did that so that I could mix before it clumped.

4. Line the container with parchment paper and pour mixture in.

5. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.

6. when the gelatin is firm, pull the wax paper out of the container and cut into large blocks.