Use this recipe to make taste-safe foam for toddlers and preschoolers. It is so easy to make and is truly the perfect sensory base for young kids who put everything in their mouth! 

If you want to do sensory-based activities with your little one, but worry that he or she puts everything in their mouth, then this recipe is for you! I had the same worry! Making foam out of dish soap or shaving cream simply isn’t safe, but everything changed when I discovered that you could make a foam using bean water (you read that right!)!

The Magic of Aquafaba  

What is aquafaba? It’s a fluffy foam created from whipped up bean water. The translation is literally, “bean water.” People who are allergic to eggs use this as an egg replacement in food recipes. 

Aquafaba is also used to replace shaving cream and dish soap in sensory bins so that toddlers can dig right in without any worries of toxicity. 

Watch the Video to See the Foam in Action

Once I made the foam (see the how-to below!), I added it to one bin, and then added water to the other bin. My little girl enjoyed playing with it – scooping, splashing, and squeezing. Having the water nearby allowed her to wash her hands if they felt too icky! 

Watch the video and you’ll see how much this foam looks like soap foam or shaving cream! Best part, of course, is she can stick her fingers in her mouth without me worrying!.

How to Make Your Own Taste-Safe Foam

This is going to be something you use for lots of other sensory-based activities, so bookmark it! 

All you need to make this foam is a can of beans. If you only have dried beans, then soak 1 cup of dried beans in 2.5 cups of water overnight and use the liquid the beans soaked in.  I have found the can of water works best though.

One thing I love about this foam is how safe it is for the environment. I don’t feel bad dumping it out in the yard or letting it go down the drain – it’s just water from beans.

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. 

• All Natural Food Coloring
• Optional: Cream of Tartar

• Water from 1 can of beans, I’ve found chickpeas work best!
• Electric Mixer
• All Natural Food Coloring
• Optional: Cream of Tartar

Step 4

If you want a firmer texture, add a dash of cream of tartar.

Step 5

Color the foam with food coloring for some vibrancy!

Step 1

Place the water from the can of beans in a bowl. 

Step 2

Whip up the water with an electric mixer. 

Step 3

Keep whipping for 3-6 minutes or until stiff peaks form in the water. 

Step 4

If you want a firmer texture, add a dash of cream of tarter.

Step 5

Color the foam with food coloring for some vibrancy!

It is also the very first steps of scientific curiosity. They begin to wonder, “what is this” and explore it. Toddlers use all 5 senses to understand what it is. That’s why it’s so important to give them a safe way to explore when they play.  

Educational Benefits of Sensory Play

What I love about this taste-safe foam is that it allows my toddler to engage safely in sensory play, while learning that sensory materials aren’t to put in her mouth. In other words, adults do not have to worry if a child does put the foam in their mouth, but they should use this as an opportunity to teach the child that sensory materials aren’t for the mouth.

Sensory play is so educational for toddlers. When they feel different textures, they are actively interacting with their environment. This causes their mind to create new connections and grow. Anytime you wan to set up sensory play for your little one, don’t forget about the power of bean water! 

It is also the very first steps of scientific curiosity. They begin to wonder, “what is this” and explore it. Toddlers use all 5 senses to understand what it is. That’s why it’s so important to give them a safe way to explore when they play.  

This spaghetti sensory play activity uses rainbow coloured spaghetti to strengthen toddler fine motor skills. Bonus points for being taste-safe! 

This is the perfect activity for really young toddlers who are just starting to develop an understanding of cause and effect. Since it uses spaghetti they are free to put it in their mouths and experience it that way too. 

Strengthen their Fingers with this Toddler Fine Motor Activity

This fun activity will strengthen your toddler’s fingers muscles and help them develop their pincer grasp.

Selecting and pulling out those colorful strands is tricky for little hands, but such great exercise! A commonly seen toddler activity is to remove pipe cleaners from colanders. I personally find the pointy metal ends of pipe cleaners not safe for young toddler play. Spaghetti is much safer (and delicious!).

Plus, older kids can enjoy the challenge of threading the pasta through the holes themselves!

Watch the Video to See the Spaghetti Sensory Play Activity in Action

Here’s a quick video of my toddler pulling the spaghetti out of the colander. As you can see, she loves pulling the spaghetti and handing them to me.

The texture of the spaghetti makes this a fun sensory activity for older babies and toddlers too!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make Your Own Toddler Fine Motor Skills Pasta Activity

This is another super-fun educational activity for toddlers. I’ll include directions for how you can make colorful spaghetti, but you have any allergies or personally preferences against food coloring, you can always use un-dyed spaghetti too.

One tip for the perfect pasta consistency is to not overcook it. If it gets overcooked, it may break easily and be too difficult to thread through the colander! Going al dente is best! 

Another tip, don’t thread the entire strand of spaghetti through the colander! Break it in half or varying sizes to speed up the set up time!

• Colander with large holes

• Spaghetti 
• Natural Food Coloring 
• Colander with large holes  

Step 4

Rinse the spaghetti to wash away any excess food coloring;

Step 5

Mix dyed spaghetti together and thread each through the holes in the strainer. Break them in half  or quarters to avoid having to thread an entire strand through!

Step 6

Let your toddler pull each spaghetti out, and older kids can do the threading! 

Step 1

Boil the spaghetti according to the package directions, strain, and let them cool completely.

Step 2

Divide the spaghetti into one bowl for each color you want to dye.

Step 3

Mix in natural food coloring to desired vibrancy!

Step 4

Rinse the spaghetti to wash away any excess food coloring;

Step 5

Mix dyed spaghetti together and thread each through the holes in the strainer. Break them in half  or quarters to avoid having to thread an entire strand through!

Step 6

Let your toddler pull each spaghetti out, and older kids can do the threading!

As they pull out each spaghetti, teach your toddler the names of the colors. This will teach them color recognition and early communication skills too.

Educational Benefits of the Spaghetti Pull Game

Not only is this game a lot of fun (and completely taste safe) but it will help your baby’s brain grow and develop too!

Sensory play is so important for toddlers. By feeling different textures and interacting with their environment, their mind creates new connections and actually grows. This activity not only has the contrasting textures of the squishy cooked spaghetti against the hard colander, but it has bright colors and the taste element!

It also teaches that very important pincer grasp. In order to pull out the spaghetti, they have to pinch it with their index finger and thumb. This movement is the foundation for important practical life skills like buttoning, unzipping, and holding a pencil! 

As they pull out each spaghetti, teach your toddler the names of the colors. This will teach them color recognition and early communication skills too.