Quick Summary: The DIY Ooshie Jelly Rescue is a low-cost, taste-safe sensory activity for kids using unflavoured gelatine and plastic toys like Ooshies or Kinder Surprise figures. It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and helps toddlers and preschoolers develop fine motor skills through messy outdoor play. Great for a Kiwi or Aussie outdoor Summer activity!
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The Woolworths Ooshie promo has come and gone, leaving many households with a surplus of small plastic collectibles. Creating an Ooshie Jelly Rescue offers a practical way to repurpose these figures—or leftover Kinder Surprise toys—into an engaging sensory activity.
This low-cost, taste-safe project takes under 10 minutes to prepare and provides an extended period of outdoor play for young children. Perfect for busy parents who need to smash out a few chores around the house!
Why You’ll Love This Activity
- Simple Supplies: Requires only a few basic ingredients and low-cost household items you likely already have on hand.
- Minimal Prep: Kids can get involved right away by gathering up the Ooshies or Kinder Surprise toys around the house.
- Fine Motor Development: Digging toys out using jumbo tweezers or teaspoons helps strengthen hand muscles and refine dexterity.
- Safe for Toddlers: Using unflavoured gelatine keeps the activity taste-safe (but not too delicious!) for younger children who are still prone to putting items in their mouths.
- Uses leftover Kinder Surprise toys, Ooshies, or mini figurines!
What You’ll Need
- Ooshies or Kinder Surprise Toys
- Gelatine Powder: Unflavoured gelatine powder is ideal because it sets clear—making the toys visible—and is taste-safe without encouraging kids to eat it like sweetened jelly mix.
- Water: Tap water for the cold portion, plus boiled water from the jug.
- Whisk: Essential for thoroughly dissolving the gelatine powder without clumping.
- Shallow Dish: A square baking dish, container, or shallow plastic tray works best for easy digging.
- Tweezers or a teaspoon for digging (can also just use hands!)
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
Recipe yields approximately 500ml of jelly (can easily be doubled or tripled for larger containers).
- Dissolve the Gelatine: Pour 125ml of boiling water into a bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of unflavoured gelatine powder and whisk thoroughly until completely dissolved.
- Add Remaining Water: Stir in an additional 375ml of water. Tip: Using cold water for this step speeds up the cooling process!
- Fill the Dish: Pour the liquid mixture into your shallow play dish or tray.
- Add the Toys: Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then submerge and arrange your Ooshies or Kinder Surprise toys throughout the dish.
- Set in the Fridge: Place the dish in the fridge until the gelatine sets completely.
- Time to Play: Serve outdoors with jumbo tweezers, teaspoons, or just bare hands!
Play Styles Across Ages
Different age groups will naturally adapt their play style to this setup (well, my 4-year-old and 2-year-old did anyway!):
- Toddlers (around 2 years old): Love the tactile, sensory side of the activity—squishing, squeezing, and digging through the jelly with their hands.
- Preschoolers & Older Kids (around 4 years old): Enjoy a more calculated “rescue mission,” using spoons or tweezers to carefully dig out each toy one by one.
Shop this sensory set up:
