9 Best Edible Art Projects for Blind Kids
This post may contain affiliate links; please see our terms of use for details.
It’s not unusual for kids who are blind to explore objects orally. The sensory input they receive through their mouth can give them more information about the object they are holding (its texture, temperature, taste, etc.) while also relieving stress and allowing them to self-soothe.
And while oral fixation can become problematic, sometimes all our kids really need is the opportunity to develop their oral motor skills in a safe and independent environment. Surprisingly, arts and crafts can be a great way to work on those oral skills!
If your child can’t help but put everything in their mouth, maybe it’s time to lean into it! Crafts can easily be adapted to use edible materials so that tasting is both okay and encouraged. The craft ideas below use food items that are fun to touch and safe to eat, allowing for both fine and oral motor development!
1. Edible Necklace
You’ve probably seen crafts that loop Cheerios, Fruit Loops, or other cereals on a string, but have you ever considered using edible string so the entire necklace is a yummy treat? This edible necklace activity uses string licorice instead of yarn and encourages the use of different types of tastes and textures, like bumpy salty pretzels next to squishy sweet gummy Lifesavers.
2. Pudding Cup Finger Paint
With just two ingredients, you can create these easy pudding cup finger paints. Finger painting is a great sensory activity that is both messy and creative, but it might be an off-limits project for kids who lick their fingers. These pudding cup paints mix vanilla pudding with bright food coloring and are vibrant and safe to eat!
3. Edible Finger Paints
Not a fan of pudding? It can be thick and sticky. If your child doesn’t like the feel of pudding, you can check out this edible finger paint recipe that uses whipped cream instead. Have them use their paints on a dark cookie sheet instead of paper. This will contain the mess a bit better and also provides a nice dark background for the light-colored paints, which can be helpful for kids with limited vision.
4. Ice Cream Flowerpots
Using chocolate ice cream and crushed Oreo cookies, you can fill a plastic cup with “dirt” for these ice cream flowerpots. The flower stems are made of green straws, and the flowers are gumdrops and fruit gems held together with toothpicks! Crushing the Oreo cookies can be a fine motor activity, too. Just place the cookies in a plastic bag and give your child a kitchen mallet or rolling pin to turn them into dust.
5. Gum Drop Trees
Got extra gum drops left over from your ice cream flowerpots? Why not make a gum drop tree? We usually save this activity for Christmas and create a red and green tree that we place on our table as a decoration, but you can make a gum drop tree any time of year! You will need to purchase a gum drop tree stand, but once you have one, you can reuse it year after year. Just place a gum drop on each branch and have fun taste-testing the gum drops while you work!
6. Edible Kinetic Sand
Kinetic sand is another one of those playtime things that kids will inevitably try to eat. Most easy kinetic sand recipes use dish soap and glue, but this recipe for edible kinetic sand uses flour, oil, and hot cocoa powder. Not only is it safe to eat, it might even be tasty!
7. Twizzler Bead Art
You’ve probably seen Perler Bead craft projects, but did you know there is an edible version of this activity? You can use the same Perler Bead boards and templates but just use cut Twizzler pieces instead of beads to make Twizzler bead art. You can even iron and melt the Twizzler beads just like you do with Perler Beads to create a lovely piece of art… that you can take a bite out of!
8. Twizzler Candy Bracelets
Cut Twizzler beads can also be used to make Twizzler candy bracelets and necklaces! The fun thing about Twizzler beads is that you can cut them to any size, they come in multiple colors, and they don’t melt when held close to the skin.
9. Marshmallow Paint
This marshmallow paint recipe is great for painting on paper but even better to use on bread or sugar cookies! With just marshmallows, corn syrup, and food coloring, you can create bright, edible colors. You could even host a cookie painting party!
Related Posts
Tactile Arts and Crafts
6 Tips to Make Art Projects Accessible For Blind Kids
Art is considered a visual activity, but by using varied textures and focusing on three-dimensional projects, touch can become the primary focus of the art.
Tactile Arts and Crafts
11 Surprising Benefits of Art for Blind Children
Tactile art is the perfect way to introduce your blind child to artistic expression, and there are multiple surprising benefits as well!
Cooking and Kitchen Play, Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Easter Resurrection Snack
This Easter Resurrection Snack will delight your little ones. With these healthy ingredients, you can teach your child the true meaning of Easter.