Toddler Won't Let Grandma Stand in Way of Relentless Attempts to Eat Toy

Many parents might judge a toy based on how noisy it is, its ease of use, or most importantly, how long it keeps their child entertained. However, toddlers seem to think very differently—because for them, the true test of a great toy is simply how it tastes.

One parent baffled by this is Devan Kershaw, 27, who loves introducing her two-year-old son Ronnie to new toys, but of course, he has to taste test everything first. That wasn't really an issue until Kershaw introduced her toddler to Play-Doh, and he just couldn't stop putting the brightly colored modeling clay in his mouth, even though it's probably not very tasty.

Kershaw, from the United Kingdom, jokingly told Newsweek that Ronnie is "a little devil" when it comes to eating Play-Doh, and that he will indulgently sink his teeth into it whenever he gets the chance.

"When we went to toddler groups, we kept trying to introduce him to it so he could play nicely with it, but as you can see, it didn't work," Kershaw said.

"It's a lovely texture and it's usually in bright colors which is why he probably enjoys tasting it. Not to mention, he knows that we don't want him to eat it, so it makes him want to do that even more."

As babies and toddlers are learning and exploring from such a young age, parents will often wonder why they feel the need to put everything they see into their mouth. Whether it's their teething toys, a children's book, or even the television remote – nothing is off limits.

According to BabyCenter, this habit can begin from around three or four months old, or as soon as they're old enough to grab things. Some children will even carry on doing this until they reach three years of age, but BabyCenter notes that it typically decreases from 18 months onwards.

By putting items into their mouths, babies can learn more about their environment and understand taste better. In some cases, it's also a sign of teething and self-soothing.

It's safe to say that the unusual texture and taste of Play Doh doesn't put Ronnie off, and it often proves to be his favorite snack. It's usually not advisable to eat Play Doh, but WebMD suggests that parents can make their own edible modeling clay instead.

How Did TikTok React?

On April 9, Kershaw shared a video of Ronnie when he was around 18 months old as he showed just how determined he was to get the Play-Doh in his mouth, despite his grandma repeatedly trying to stop him. As it turns out, many parents could relate to the hilarious clip, and it gained more than 352,000 views and over 13,700 likes on TikTok in a matter of days.

Kershaw continued: "I can't believe how mad the social media reaction has been, and everyone seemed to love it which is great. Of course, I've also had some people recommend that I make my own Play Doh because it's safer, or to feed him before playtime, but that's to be expected when a video blows up this much."

Many parents were quick to comment on the hysterical TikTok video, and it's already gained more than 370 comments at the time of writing. One comment reads: "how are they so fast."

Another person wrote: "It's the way he looked her in the face and put the last piece in his mouth."

While another TikTok user responded: "The determination though."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.