Cook quick tapioca boba pearls, tint them with gel food color, and float them in a shallow tub of water. They make a non-toxic look-alike for vase-filler water beads.
Adult: bring 5 cups of water to a boil and add 1/2 cup of boba pearls.
Adult: boil until the pearls start to become tender.
Adult: cover and simmer for 3-4 more minutes.
Drain the pearls and divide them into small bowls, one for each color.
Add a drop of gel food color to each bowl and stir.
Let the pearls sit for about half an hour until the color sets in.
Pour the cooled pearls into a shallow tub of water.
Play with your hands or add your favorite toys.
The author hasn't tried it and isn't sure. Sabudana (sago pearls) has worked for readers.
The author introduces them only as a sensory play material; the kids don't know they're edible. The point is that an accidental swallow isn't a serious problem, unlike real water beads. Plain, uncolored pearls are less tempting.
They are non-toxic, but readers warn they are big enough to lodge in a toddler's throat. Supervise, and skip this for kids who still mouth objects.
2-3 days at most, stored with just a bit of water.
A reader listed the rainbow pearls' ingredients: tapioca starch, acetylated starch, CMC, guar gum, sodium hydrogen diacetate, water and FD&C dyes (Yellow 5 and 6, Red 40, Blue 1).
💬 34 comments ✍️ 4 answered by the author 🍎 tried with 1 classes or groups
“Doesn't an edible bead undermine teaching kids not to put things in their mouths?” · Jane
Author The author still presents them as play-only; the kids don't know they're edible. The point is that accidents happen, and these won't cause serious issues if swallowed.
“My son asked if he can eat them. What should I say?” · Monica
Author They're made of tapioca, but introduce them as a sensory play element from the start. They're tasteless alone, and skipping the colors may make them less tempting.
“Will this work with plain large tapioca?” · Leah
Author The author hasn't tried plain tapioca and isn't sure, and invites readers to report back if it works.
🎉 Worked for us
A parent too nervous for real water beads with a toddler and a pet at home said it was great for color words and imaginative play.
“I just did this activity with my 17 month old son and he LOVED IT!!! He enjoyed playing for over an hour!”
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Gel food coloring barely bled into the water, but liquid food coloring stained hands quite a bit.
“The gel didn't "bleed" too much, but the liquid stained our hands quite a bit.”
🛠️ Troubleshooting
A reader warns the pearls are big enough to lodge in a toddler's throat, so supervise closely and skip it for kids who mouth objects.
“These could easily get lodged in a toddler's throat. They are big enough where they can get stuck when being swallowed.”
✨ Readers' twist
A reader made the beads with sabudana (sago pearls) and her 2-year-old couldn't get enough. The author agrees they turn out great.
“I tried it just now with sabudana and worked perfect!”
✨ Readers' twist
Plain boba from a Chinese supermarket cost far less than buying online; tint it yourself with food color.
“You can get these in a Chinese supermarket, I found them much cheaper than Amazon.”
🛠️ Troubleshooting
A 4-year-old's first question was whether he could eat them. The author suggests presenting them as play material and skipping the color.
“The first thing my 4 year old son said when he looked at the pictures was: can I eat them?”
🍎 In the classroom
A reader made the edible water beads with her kids at school.
“I am making this today with my kids at school!”
Read all 34 comments
kevstephb · Apr 2014
FYI: The ingredients in the colored pearls are: Tapioca Starch, Acetylated Starch, DHA, Sodium Carboxy methlycellulose (CMC), Guar Gum, Sodium Hydrogen Diacetate (SDA), Water, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5 & FD&C Blue #1 Even though the FDA considers this edible, I avoid eating and touching these ingredients.
Johannah · Mar 2014
I just did this activity with my 17 month old son and he LOVED IT!!! He enjoyed playing for over an hour! I was really interested in water bead play, but with his young age and a pet at home, I was too afraid. This was a great activity--great for language building (especially since our "theme" for March is Color) and imaginative play, too. I only had 2 colors of gel food coloring and 1 of regular. The gel didn't "bleed" too much, but the liquid stained our hands quite a bit. For anyone on the fence, I'd go with your recommendation for gel. Thanks for the idea!
chaitra · Feb 2014
very innovative. I tried it just now with sabudana and worked perfect! my 2yr old cant get enought of those colorful beads. Thanks. Love your website
TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to chaitra
I have been meaning to write about the sabudhana beads as well. They do turn out great!! Thanks for stopping by :)
Leah · Feb 2014
Will this work with plain large tapioca?
Leah · Feb 2014
Can this be made with plain large tapioca?
TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Leah
I don't want to mislead you so I'm going to say "I'm not sure". I haven't tried it with just tapioca. If you are successful with creating with tapioca do come back and let us know. Thanks for reading.
Mama Amy · Jan 2014
its a great idea! My child is all grown now, but HE GAVE ME the water beads as a Christmas give (non-edible, of course) and the first thing he said to me was "Mom, DON'T EAT THEM!!!"
Daryll · Nov 2013
You can get these in a Chinese supermarket, I found them much cheaper than Amazon. I think I paid about 80p a bag but they weren't the rainbow ones, we just added our own food colour. Thanks for the brilliant idea.x
Jessica · Oct 2013
I am making this today with my kids at school! I can't wait to see how it turns out!!
Dee · Sep 2013
Excellent alternative. There definitely needs to be some caution displayed with the water beads that are meant for hydrating flowers and plants. I think the feel and texture naturally makes toddlers and young children want to put them in their mouth, but there can be some serious complications if this happens. Glad you did an article on this to give some ideas to parents.
Mansi@experimentingmom · Aug 2013
Hi. Just realized I have the sago seeds in my kitchen. In India they are called sabudana.
TurkeyMomAuthor · Jul 2013 · replying to Monica
Oh yeah they look really inviting don't they? They are made of edible substance ( tapioca) But I think it is better to introduce them as a sensory "play" element from the get go. You are right they are tasteless by themselves...May be you can skip the colors and that might make them less attractive haha.
Monica · Jul 2013
The first thing my 4 year old son said when he looked at the pictures was: can I eat them? They look yummy :) I said no, it is for playing. He insisted, but what happens if I eat them? My answer, I don't know. I hope that when we make them the sticky feeling will make him doubt of putting them on his mouth. And if he does, they should taste awful (tapioca without sugar has almost no flavor to me) and so he will spit them. They look very attractive!
Meri Cherry · Jul 2013
So smart! I have been so bummed that my little one can't play with water beads. Now I have the answer! Thanks so much.
Alice (@mumsmakelists) · Jul 2013
These look so pretty! I would love for you to link up at the Mommy Archive - we're focused on all sorts of water play this week, Alice @ Mums Make Lists
Allison · Jun 2013
I included this post in our summer bucket list. I had heard about tapioca pearls but have yet to try them. I ordered some last night. Great post and gorgeous photos!
Allison · Jun 2013 · replying to TurkeyMom
Well said Turkey Mom.
Liz · Jun 2013
This is a great idea! Just be careful and be sure to supervise your kids. These could easily get lodged in a toddler's throat. They are big enough where they can get stuck when being swallowed.
Kz and Me · Jun 2013
Just shared and pinned this like crazy. Stroke of genius!
mirnamil · Jun 2013
owh cant wait to try.. thank u dear!
TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2013 · replying to Jane
Hi, you have a valid point. Here is what I was thinking. We have still maintained that these beads are not for eating and for play only. The kids do not know these are edible. However I wanted to use a sensory element which will not cause serious issue even if ingested accidentally. During sensory play we watch our kids, still accidents happen. These edible water beads look alike come in very useful at those times..
Nanette · Jun 2013
Love this idea. In my search to source these in the UK my Malaysian friend sent me a link that you may like (she said just to ignore the syrup part unless you fancy eating it, water is just fine for playing).
Christine · May 2013
Another duh moment. Have you tried adding olive oil to keep them apart? Just a tiny bit? This would be good with the dogs too!
happyhooligans · May 2013
Oh my goodness, these are AWESOME! You are brilliant!
Holly B · May 2013
YAY! I love the water bead idea, but we have infant twins. I am so nervous with them! These seem perfect!
Jane · May 2013
I like it, but i'd rather stick with the non-edible kind. It's more consistent in keeping with the "don't put things in your mouth." This would just undermine that lesson. Plus, looks like a choking hazard.
Tulip · May 2013
So funny! I have these in my pantry for Taro Shakes and never thought of them for sensory. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley · May 2013
These look awesome! We love water beads, but with a toddler around we have to be extra cautious! Maybe I would feel better if we tried these! Thanks!
Natasha · May 2013
These are great! Off to see if I can find them in UK