Mom Makes Edible Sand from Cheerios
Keeping kids entertained has always been a challenge. But it’s maybe more difficult than ever before with many families spending every day at home together. One mom inspired other parents when she made edible sand for her busy toddler. (1)
TikTok @ElleAnnaChristine was hailed as a genius when she posted a video of her trick on the app. She tossed some cheerios in a blender, ground them up, and poured the edible sand into a roasting pan. She placed some beach toys in the mini sandbox and let her daughter start playing! (1)
The ingenuity of making edible sand quickly became apparent when the video showed the little girl putting a beach toy in her mouth. Normally, parents would have to worry about their toddlers chomping on sand, but the Cheerio sand is worry-free! (1)
Benefits of Sensory Play
The mom tagged her TikTok video with “sensory play”, a phrase that is often thrown around on parenting blogs. But what exactly is sensory play and why is it important? (1)
According to the website Educational Playcare, “Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing.” In the same article, Educational Playcare explains that beyond the normal five senses, we should also include body awareness and balance as senses we consider in child development. (2)
There are a ton of benefits for children that come from engaging in sensory activities. It builds neural pathways in the brain, which allows children to do increasingly complex tasks. It also develops their memory. (2)
Additionally, sensory play bolsters cognitive growth, motor skills, language development, social interaction, and problem-solving skills. It can also be helpful for children who are anxious or frustrated. (2)
The edible sand stimulates many of the five senses, making it the perfect sensory activity for young children. Children can touch the sand, notice its texture, and feel it fall through their fingers. They’ll be able to hear the scratchy sound of the ground up Cheerios if they rub them between their fingers, as well as a whooshing sound as it falls through a sand sifter. And if some of the edible sand ends up in their mouth, they’ll be able to taste the blended Cheerios and maybe even notice that it tastes familiar. (2)
Genius Mom
The original video is overwhelmingly popular and has garnered more than 370,000 likes on TikTok. Other parents have declared that @ElleAnnaChristine is a genius, and others are even posting videos of their own about trying out her idea. (1, 3)
TikTok user @m.moon41593 commented on the video, saying “This has been shared in like every mom group ever now, and I’m so glad to see the original so I can tell you what a freaking genius you are!!” (3)
And @sandrabennett2013 commented, “No one said you were allowed to be this smart…” (3)
If you don’t have Cheerios on hand, you can blend up crackers or just substitute oatmeal. Be mindful of where you set up the sandbox because this activity will likely get messy. And clean up thoroughly right afterward so the edible sand doesn’t attract ants. Enjoy your trip to the “beach”! (1)
