Jello Play Dough

I have tried playing with play dough twice before, but it always ended in frustration. Alyssa wouldn't play with it. Abby would want to eat it. The first time it was okay that Abby was eating it - I made totally edible peanut butter play dough. The second time I made Jello Play Dough with the recipe found here. Alyssa still wasn't very keen on it but instead started following Abby's lead and tried eating it. However this dough was very salty....I got some pretty funny faces. But they still kept trying to eat it! And gagging a little and I was worried about the salt content so we put it all away and drank lots of water. Into the fridge the rest of the play dough went.

Okay that was a long time ago. I got up my courage to try play dough again. I got out the remaining play dough while Abby was asleep and had some one-on-one time with Alyssa trying to get her to play with it. It was a much better experience. She was still cautious about it - never really grabbing or squeezing the dough, but she would poke it and pull pieces apart. I made her some balls which she was immediately throwing around happily and storing them safely on the floor. She was very upset if I squashed a ball.

Abby joined us when she woke up. I was expecting a lot of eating attempts, and I got them. I was more prepared this time. I didn't get as frustrated and just sat there with them constantly bringing her hand back down and squeezing her fingers in the dough, poking the dough with her fingers - just trying to force her hands to feel the dough instead of her mouth. It requires a lot of patience and diligence. Alyssa was pretty much on her own at this point - which she was fine with.

Quick thoughts:

• It was much better having some one-on-one to help Alyssa interact with the dough. And then I could turn my full attention to Abby to keep her hands doing the sensing. 
• I don't think I will do the jello play dough again for a long time. Not until Abby stops eating it. I have found some other recipes for edible play dough that I want to try - or do the peanut butter dough again. The jello has good color and smells, but is way to salty for me to be comfortable with her eating it. 
• I think doing this more often would help Alyssa get more adventurous as well. 
• There is a little clean up but it really isn't even that messy.