Jello Dig: Messy Sensory Excavating

A toddler Jello dig. What could be better?

Hiding things in Jello is just about the most fun you can have with a toddler. There. I’ve said it. Let me break down my reasoning:

1. It’s Jello.
2. It’s a toddler trying to work with Jello.
3. It’s a toddler finding hidden objects IN JELLO. 

This just has everything in it that I am looking for in a toddler activity and it was a snap to set up.

Creating a Jello Dig is a super simple to do.

Materials:
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• Jello
• Small toys
• Shower curtain liner

This activity does need to be prepped the night before to let the Jello set so it does somewhat break my cardinal rule of “on the fly” activities, but there’s always room for exceptions and Jello. I think that’s how the slogan goes.

The night before we did this activity, I made the Jello and laid in some of my toddler’s favorite plastic toys before the whole “in the fridge to chill” step in the Jello directions. No rocket science or alternative directions. Jello + Plastic toys.

I originally wanted this to be in somewhat of a Jello mold type fashion but that is just beyond my Jello expertise so I stuck with the 9×13 pan and that was a good call for me. If you are Jello gifted and can make this into a mold, I think you are amazing and please send me a picture.

My unphotogenic set-up. Seriously, the ugliest photo I’ve ever taken / posted.

Since Jello is messy and sticky and stain-y, I decided to do this activity on our trusty Toddler Activities Tarp, which is my fancy way of saying ” a $5 shower curtain that saves my bacon all the time”. Seriously, having an extra shower curtain liner is the best. It can wipe right off or go in the washing machine. It’s THE BEST.

I set up the Jello with some excavating tools, a bowl of warm water for rinsing, and a towel for drying. I figured this would cover a lot of possible emergency/sinking ship type situations.

Everything went as planned and my toddler had a dandy time playing Jello Dig, finding his toys and then rinsing them clean. I never really intended for this to be a cleaning activity but that’s just who my Sam is so that’s the path this naturally took. He’s such a [tidy] gem.

There was also lots of taste testing that went on during this project which makes sense. Jello is delicious.

This was a great semi-messy activity for my hates-to-be-messy-boy. Kind of like “Intro to Messes: Jello 101” and he did really well with this baby step. Overall, I’d say it was the perfect way to spend a toddler morning.

Do you think your toddler would love a Jello Dig?