Dried instant mashed potato makes a wonderful taste-safe sensory base, and it costs next to nothing to set up. Tip a packet of the dry flakes or powder into a large shallow tray, add a few scoops and containers, and you have an activity that changes completely once water is added.
Start with the powder dry. It is soft and powdery to run through little fingers, and it puffs up in clouds when it is scooped and poured. Because it is just dried potato, it is a safe choice for younger children who still like to taste everything they touch.
A simple set of tools turns the tray into hours of play. A funnel, a colander, a few bowls, and some small scoops are all you need. Spooning the powder into a funnel and watching it fall through is great for early hand control, and pushing it through the holes of a colander gives a different effect again.
The best part comes when you add a bowl of warm water. Children can use the small scoops to transfer water into the powder, and as it mixes it changes from a dry, dusty texture into a soft, malleable dough. It can be squashed, rolled, and pressed into fingers, and the dough can be carried from one container to another, which is a small but satisfying job for busy hands.
What you need
- A large shallow tray or builder’s tray
- A packet of dried instant mashed potato
- A funnel, a colander, bowls, and small scoops
- A bowl of warm water to add partway through
This works well for toddlers and preschoolers, roughly ages 1 to 4, and the dry-then-wet change keeps it interesting for a good while. For another quick taste-safe tray to try, take a look at this cornflake sensory tray, or this taste-safe rainbow sensory play.