I’ve been searching the web for a fun and age-appropriate activity my almost 2 year-old toddler can partake in, especially as St. Patrick’s Day draws nearer. Although there are so many cute and crafty activities out there for kids, many of them require a bit more skill that comes with age.
That’s why I was so happy to find some inspiration in a St. Patrick’s Day sensory activity that didn’t involve glue, scissors or paints…just Jello and some creativity! I thought jello would be the perfect substance to work with considering it was edible and easy to clean up. I decided to put my own little holiday spin on it to make it more fun for my son.
Here’s what we used:
- Lime/Green Jello
- Container (to serve as the “Pot of Gold”)
- Gold/Treasure (we used plastic dinosaurs and assorted candy)
- Mini Marshmallows
- Kool-Aid (to dye the marshmallows)
- Tools for the “Treasure Dig” (mini shovel, spoon, cookie cutters)
Here’s what we did:
First, I decided to gather all the little items around the house that my son would consider “treasure”. He loves dinosaurs, so I decided to grab a handful of the little plastic ones and set them in a clear “pot of gold” container I bought at Party City. You can use any kid-friendly object or toys your children prefer.
Note: Although I decided to add some candy, I would steer clear of this as it can get super mushy and lose flavor (live and learn!).
I then poured the Jello mixture into the container and set in the fridge over night.
Once the Jello was settled and ready, I decided to top it off with rainbow marshmallows to complete the look. I used Kool-Aid packets in four colors (red, orange, yellow and green) to dye the marshmallows. Note: This ended up taking a bit longer than I anticipated so would recommend you simply buy colored marshmallows in the future!
Then I gathered some tools for the treasure dig and let my little guy go at it.
Not only did I get to introduce him to a new holiday, but he also had a great time digging around for treasure and exploring all the different objects.
I would definitely recommend this as an easy and educational St. Patrick’s Day alternative activity for toddlers!
Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.
Such a cute idea! I have teens, but you just gave me the idea to hide their car keys in a big jello mold. Maybe for April Fools day! lol! Visiting from #SITSblogging and the Spring Fling
That looks like so much fun! My 16 month old would love this! Also, I love that he was wearing a dinosaur shirt while digging for dinosaurs. 🙂
This is the most adorable idea I have seen! It’s fun and holiday inspired. I miss the toddler years when I see stuff like this. 🙂
I love these! I think the only issue I would have is making sure my sons don’t eat everything as we’re making it! LOL
We’ve done jello sensory play, but I love the pot of gold spin on it for St. Patrick’s Day! So fun!
I love sensory activities, and this looks like a fun one. I’m loving the rainbow detail too. =0)