Sweets have always been a source of delight for children, but they’re not just for eating! With a little creativity, sweets can become tools for engaging, educational, and fun activities that kids will love. Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, planning a birthday party, or just searching for a new way to bond with your kids, these ideas are sure to inspire some sweet memories.
- Sweet Art: Creating Edible Masterpieces
Who says you can’t play with your food? Using colourful sweets like Skittles, jelly beans, or M&Ms, kids can create their very own edible artworks. Provide a blank piece of paper or even a plate and let their imaginations run wild. Arrange the sweets into patterns, shapes, or even a rainbow. For an extra creative twist, use icing or melted chocolate as “glue” to hold the sweets in place.
What You’ll Need:
- A selection of colourful sweets
- A flat surface, plate, or sheet of paper
- Icing, chocolate, or edible glue (optional)
This activity is not only fun but also helps kids develop fine motor skills and an eye for design. The best part? They can eat their masterpieces when they’re done!
- Candy Science Experiments
Turn your kitchen into a mini science lab with candy-based experiments! One popular activity is dissolving Skittles in water to create a colourful swirl effect. Arrange Skittles in a circle on a plate, add warm water, and watch as the colours spread and mix.
Another fun experiment involves sherbet and fizzy reactions. Mix sherbet powder with a little water or add it to soda to watch it bubble and fizz.
What You’ll Need:
- Skittles
- Warm water
- Sherbet powder
- Clear plates or bowls
Not only are these experiments entertaining, but they also introduce kids to basic scientific concepts like solubility and chemical reactions in a hands-on way.
- DIY Candy Necklaces
Candy necklaces are a timeless classic that combines creativity with a tasty treat. All you need are sweets with holes (like candy rings or gummy rings) and some string. Kids can thread the sweets onto the string to create their very own wearable snack.
What You’ll Need:
- Candy with holes (e.g., gummy rings, candy beads)
- String or thin liquorice
This activity encourages creativity and improves hand-eye coordination, and the finished product is perfect for eating or showing off.
- Sweet Treasure Hunts
Turn sweets into hidden treasures with a scavenger hunt. Hide individually wrapped sweets or small packs around the house or garden and give the kids clues to find them. You can make the hunt as simple or as elaborate as you like, depending on the age group.
What You’ll Need:
- A selection of kids sweets
- Clues or a map (optional)
This is a great way to get kids moving and problem-solving, all while enjoying the excitement of discovering their favourite treats.
- Cupcake Decorating with Sweets
Unleash your kids’ inner bakers by letting them decorate cupcakes with sweets. Provide plain cupcakes and an assortment of toppings like sprinkles, chocolate chips, gummy bears, and icing. Let them design their dream cupcakes with as many toppings as they like.
What You’ll Need:
- Plain cupcakes
- Icing in different colours
- A variety of sweets for decorating
This activity is not only fun but also perfect for parties or special occasions. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage kids to explore their culinary creativity.
- Edible Construction Projects
Building with sweets is a fun and tasty twist on traditional construction toys. Use marshmallows as “bricks” and pretzel sticks or toothpicks as “beams” to create houses, towers, or other structures. Kids will love the challenge of building something stable—and the reward of eating their creations afterwards!
What You’ll Need:
- Marshmallows
- Pretzel sticks or toothpicks
- Jelly sweets for decoration (optional)
This activity encourages problem-solving and engineering skills while being loads of fun.
- Colour Sorting Games
For younger children, sweets can be a colourful and engaging way to learn about colours and sorting. Provide a mix of colourful sweets like Smarties or Skittles and ask your child to sort them into piles by colour. You can also turn this into a counting game or use it to teach basic maths.
What You’ll Need:
- A selection of colourful sweets
- Bowls or cups for sorting
This simple activity helps toddlers and preschoolers with colour recognition, sorting, and counting skills while being incredibly enjoyable.
- Sweet Bingo
Combine the fun of bingo with the sweetness of candy! Create bingo cards with pictures of different sweets or numbers, and use small sweets like jelly beans or chocolate buttons as markers. When someone gets a bingo, they can eat their markers as a reward!
What You’ll Need:
- Bingo cards (printable or handmade)
- Small sweets for markers
This activity is ideal for family game nights or small parties and adds a sweet twist to a classic game.
- Math with Sweets
Turn learning into play by using sweets for basic math activities. You can use small candies for counting, addition, subtraction, or even simple multiplication. For example, “If you have 5 Smarties and eat 2, how many are left?”
What You’ll Need:
- A selection of small sweets
- A chalkboard or paper for equations (optional)
This activity makes maths more engaging and accessible for kids, turning numbers into something tangible and fun.
- Movie Night Sweet Bar
Transform a regular movie night into an unforgettable experience by setting up a DIY sweet station. Lay out bowls of different sweets like popcorn, chocolate buttons, gummy bears, and fizzy cola bottles, and let kids create their own snack mix.
What You’ll Need:
- A variety of sweets
- Bowls or containers
- Scoops or spoons
This is a fantastic way to make a family movie night extra special, and it gives kids the freedom to customise their treats.
Balancing Fun and Moderation
While sweets are undeniably fun, it’s important to balance indulgence with moderation. Use these activities as occasional treats and pair them with healthy snacks or active playtime. Teaching kids about balance from a young age will help them develop a healthy relationship with food.
Final Thoughts
Sweets aren’t just for eating—they’re tools for creativity, learning, and bonding. Whether you’re building marshmallow towers, sorting Smarties by colour, or designing the perfect cupcake, these activities turn simple treats into unforgettable experiences. With a little imagination and a handful of sweets, you can create magical moments that your kids will cherish forever.
So next time you stock up on sweets at PoundFun, think beyond the snack! You might just find a new favourite activity along with your favourite treat.