A mum has revealed a simple sensory activity that’s perfect for keeping babies and toddlers entertained, costing just 28p. The struggle to keep little ones busy, particularly during unfavourable weather conditions, is all too familiar for parents, as children often tire quickly of their regular toys.
To ward off boredom and encourage an engaging playtime, DIY sensory activities are a hit. Nonetheless, these can tend to be messy or require both costly and time-intensive prep work.
Fortunately, one savvy parent has come up with an affordable and straightforward alternative using a grocery item you’re likely to have on hand at home, reports Bristol Live. In a post on TikTok, Jodie, known as @fablesinfocus, showcased her baby enjoying some cooked spaghetti in a colander, captioning the clip: “This is your sign to let your baby play with a bowl of spaghetti.”
“I mean, how could you not? So much fun.”
Jodie’s frugal parenting tip was met with enthusiasm, spurring other parents to share their stories. In the comments section, Kelsey mentioned: “One of my favorite things I’ve ever done with all my kiddos and they absolutely love spaghetti still!”
Meanwhile, Maria said: “I know what I’ll be doing with my baby tomorrow,” and Courtney commented: “Why have I never thought of this genius!!”
Meanwhile, some voiced concerns over the spaghetti posing a choking risk, to which the clip’s original creator and others reassured that they closely monitored their kids during play.
Ella’s Kitchen, a prominent brand in organic baby and toddler foods, endorses messy eating activities like “sea spaghetti” for babies starting from six months, as a method to enhance confidence during meal times. Developmental psychologist Helen Coulthard expressed on their website, “Little ones discover a love of food through more than just their taste buds,” she penned.
“Engaging all their senses through foodie games will really help to develop good habits during mealtimes.”
To prepare sea spaghetti, they recommend boiling and cooling spaghetti, then mixing in generous amounts of oil to achieve an extra-slippery texture, followed by adding blue food colouring (choose the non-staining type) while stirring until the spaghetti is thoroughly coated.
For the finishing touch, place some marine-themed bath toys into the bowl and let your youngsters dive into the slippery sea with their hands to scoop up the hidden gems.
Spaghetti is available at any supermarket, with prices as low as 75p from Asda or just 28p from Tesco and Sainsbury’s.