Jello Dig Activity

This jello dig activity has been a staple sensory activity in our house for years! From the time my firstborn was a few months old and beginning to explore his sense of taste and touch, to now, as I add this activity to his homeschool unit study about the 5 senses. It’s been a gift that keeps on giving.

Update: This post was updated on 11/12/2020. The pictures of the baby are also of my son, so don’t be confused if you’re here from an old pin.

Well, as you can see, we’ve been enjoying this sensory activity for years! From a few months old, to 4 years old, my son has been enjoying this messy play activity.

We now have a little sister that plays along with my son, and another baby on the way that will one day enjoy this jello dig activity.

Jello Dig Activity – for our 5 Senses Unit Study

WHILE YOU’RE PLANNING YOUR 5 SENSES THEME:

• Check out my 5 Senses Unit here. (Use code SENSES25 for 25% off) If you join my Preschool Program Membership, you’ll get a major discount on all past Unit Studies, and 2 brand new units included each month!
• Here are 19 Activities & Crafts for your Preschooler’s 5 Senses theme!
• Here’s a list of Books for your 5 Senses Unit Study.
• Check out this Fun 5 Senses Song for Preschoolers

5 Senses Activities & Crafts We’ve Done at the Moore Homestead:

• Sensory Spice Painting
• Texture Collage 5 Senses Process Art Activity
• Salt & Sugar Test Five Senses Activity
• 5 Senses Printable Puppets
• Taste Test Survey Printable & Activity
• Scratch and Sniff Jello Name Activity
• 5 Senses Sorting Game Printable
• Jello Playdough 
• Pickle Science Study
• Rainbow Sensory Noodles
• Pop Rocks Science Study
• Sound Jars Five Senses Activity
• 5 Senses Scavenger Hunt
• 5 Senses Body Parts Match Activity
• Easy Sensory Bottles
• Optometrist Dramatic Play for Kids

You can check out my tagged photos on Instagram to see other families following my unit studies, including my fabulous 5 Senses unit!

For tips on planning your homeschool preschool year, check out this article. 

Join the Homeschooling Preschoolers Facebook Page! There are free resources available, and it’s the perfect way to connect with other families!

How to Make a Jello Dig Activity

Simply make your Jello according to the directions on the package, and add some toys while it cools. As you can see, this specific batch didn’t come out of the pan very well, so it’s a bit messy. It really doesn’t matter though! 

Either way, your child will dig through the Jello to get to the toys.

I’ve used unflavored gelatin, and regular ol’ Jello. These days I’m not too worried about a little sweet treat as my youngest is a toddler. During the baby stage I like to avoid the extra sugar.

I’ve done this activity indoors and outdoors. It’s totally your call. Either way you’ll have a mess to clean up, so do it at your own discretion.

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This jello dig activity is suitable for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Jello sensory play is fun for kids of all ages!

I’m always searching for fun activities to do with my son, and every month that goes by there are more things we can do together.

I first found this idea on Pinterest and I’ve been excited to try it out for months. Jello is ridiculously cheap so I stocked up on them so we always have a backup plan if he’s fussy and bored.

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Different bloggers recommend buying a box of plain gelatin instead of the flavored jello and adding your own food coloring so it’s not as sticky.

I found that this wasn’t true at all. After just a few minutes of playing, there was green goop stuck to him and the only fix was a bath. 

I’m still glad I bought the plain gelatin though, because my son was super interested in putting it in his mouth. I can only imagine how much he would have eaten if it was sugary and sweet. 

This activity is fairly self-explanatory: You buy some gelatin, make it as instructed on the package and add some toys in before refrigerating.

I used Knox brand gelatin, and the Sassy Ring O’ Links teething ring set.

The teething rings kept floating to the top, so I tried presenting it to him upside down so he’d have to dig to the bottom for the toys.

He’s too young and impatient for that though, so I ended up flipping it back over. He had so much fun with this activity! He played for over 30 minutes, and probably would have kept going if I didn’t take it away to feed him lunch.

He successfully dug each toy out on his own and was so proud every time! I only had to step in a time or two to keep him from putting a huge chunk of jello in his mouth. Obviously you should monitor your baby during this activity, but for the most part, they have fun with it on their own.

This is a great activity for babies 6 months and up, and I highly recommend it! I will keep playing around with different brands of gelatin and if I find a brand that isn’t as sticky, I’ll update this post. I hope your little ones have as much fun with this as we did!

Related: DIY Edible Finger Paint

If you try this jello dig activity, I’d love to see! Tag me on Instagram or leave a comment below to let me know how it went!

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