5 Ways to Celebrate World Chocolate Day With Your Kids

Celebrate World Chocolate Day with your toddler through chocolate-themed crafts, snacks, and learning activities that support creativity and development!

World Chocolate Day, celebrated every year on July 7, is the perfect excuse to indulge in the world’s favourite sweet treat. This week offers a fun opportunity to help your toddler learn and grow through chocolate-themed activities that support early development. Whether you're whipping up some healthy chocolate snacks together, exploring textures and colours through chocolate-inspired crafts, or living out your candy land dreams with imaginative play, these five playful and educational activities will have you and your little one counting down to World Chocolate Day every year!

1. Healthy Chocolate Snacks

Here are 3 fun recipes you and your child can make together that incorporate chocolate in a fun and healthy way! 

No Bake Chocolate Oat Balls: 

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup nut butter (like almond or peanut, or use sunflower seed butter for allergies)
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds (optional)
• 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or raisins

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
2. Scoop and roll into small balls (about 1 inch wide). Have your toddler help you form the balls for a fun sensory activity. 
3. Place on a tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
4. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Chocolate Banana Bites: 

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cocoa)
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (optional, for smoother melting)

Instructions

1. Slice banana into 1/2-inch rounds.
2. In a small bowl, melt chocolate and coconut oil (if using) in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each.
3. Let your toddler help you dip half of each banana slice into the melted chocolate and place on parchment paper.
4. Chill in the fridge or freezer until chocolate hardens (about 15 to 30 minutes).
5. Serve cold or room temperature.

Chocolate Fruit Dip: 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or full-fat yogurt for toddlers under 2)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (omit honey for babies under 1)
• Optional: sprinkle of cinnamon or vanilla

Instructions

1. Let your toddler help you stir together all ingredients until smooth.
2. Serve with apple slices, banana chunks or strawberries.
3. Keep leftovers refrigerated and use within 2 days.

2. Simple Chocolate Crafts

These fun crafts are super simple and allow your toddler to explore their creativity with a fun chocolate theme. 

Edible Chocolate Play Dough:  

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for nut-free)
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (add more as needed)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix peanut butter and cocoa powder until well combined.
2. Gradually stir in powdered sugar until the dough becomes thick and moldable.
3. Knead with your hands until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if it’s too sticky.
4. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2–3 days.

Safety Note: While it’s edible, it’s still rich and sweet, supervised play is best, and it’s not intended to be eaten in large amounts.

Chocolate Bar Collage:

Materials

• Brown construction paper or cardboard
• Candy wrappers or foil
• Scissors and glue
• Markers or crayons

Instructions

Cut a “chocolate bar” shape from brown paper. Let your child decorate it by gluing on candy wrappers, drawing squares to mimic chocolate chunks or wrapping it in foil like a real candy bar.

Paper Plate Cookie: 

Materials

• Paper Plate
• Paint
• Paintbrush or sponge
• Construction paper or felt circles (for “chocolate chips”)
• Glue

Instructions 

Let your toddler go crazy painting their plate brown. Let them experiment with different shades to make it look “baked.” Once the plate has dried, give them different sized circles of construction paper to glue however many “chocolate chips” they want to their plate.

3. Fun Chocolate Education

These fun crafts are super simple and allow your toddler to explore their creativity with a fun chocolate theme.

Chocolate Colour Matching:

Materials

• Shades of brown paper or felt squares
• Small objects or blocks in matching shades
• Basket or tray

Instructions

Create a simple matching game using different tones of "chocolate" colours. Toddlers can match blocks to the correct shades, great for visual development.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Counting: 

Materials

• Paper “cookies” with numbers (1–5 or 1–10)
• Brown pom-poms or paper “chocolate chips”
• Tongs or fingers
  
  

How to Play

Show your toddler a cookie with a number on it and help them count and place that many chips onto it. For extra fun, use tongs to build hand strength and coordination.

4. Creative Chocolate Themed Imaginative Play 

Encourage imaginative play with chocolate-themed activities! These fun, hands-on experiences spark creativity, storytelling and fine motor skills.

Chocolate Factory Pretend Play:

Materials

• Empty cardboard boxes
• Tape, markers, stickers
• Aprons, play kitchen tools
• Optional: toy conveyor belt (tape boxes together)

Instructions

1. Set up a “factory” station using boxes and props.
2. Let your child be the chocolate maker, pretending to mix, mold and wrap “chocolate” using felt or paper pieces.
3. Role-play delivering chocolate to friends or stuffed animals.

Create Your Own Candy Land: 

Give your toddler a blank sheet of paper and some crayons, markers or colored pencils, and let their imagination take over! Encourage them to design their very own candy-themed world. Ask fun, open-ended questions to spark ideas:

• "Would you have a chocolate river?"
• "What colour would your lollipops be?"
• "Do you want cotton candy clouds or jellybean trees?"

There are no limits, whether it's gummy bear mountains or marshmallow roads, let your child dream up their own sweet adventure. This activity promotes creativity, storytelling and fine motor skills through drawing and conversation.

5. Playful Chocolate Sensory Exploration 

Toddlers are constantly learning through their senses and world chocolate day is a perfect opportunity to introduce them to new textures and scents. 

Ideas:

• Chocolate Scent Bottles
  Fill small jars or bottles with cocoa powder, vanilla extract or chocolate-scented lotion. Let toddlers smell and describe each scent using words like “yummy,” “sweet” or “chocolatey.”
• Chocolate Texture Table
  Set up trays with a variety of chocolatey textures:
  • Brown Pom Poms (cocoa beans) 
  • Brown play dough
  • Crinkled candy wrappers
• Chocolate Water Play
  Add brown food coloring to water and let toddlers stir with spoons or pour using cups. You can call it “chocolate milk” or “cocoa water.” Add cotton balls for “marshmallows.”
• Ice and Melt Cocoa Experiment
  Freeze small drops of chocolate milk in an ice tray and let toddlers feel them melt. Ask simple questions like “Is it cold?” or “What’s happening?”
  
  

World Chocolate Day is the perfect opportunity to add a little extra fun and sweetness to your everyday routine with your toddler. Whether you are whipping up a simple chocolate treat together, diving into imaginative chocolate-themed play, or creating a one-of-a-kind candy land filled with marshmallow roads and chocolate rivers, these easy and engaging activities are a delightful way to celebrate. They not only bring joy and laughter but also encourage creativity, bonding and playful learning. Make memories that will last long after the chocolate is gone with this unforgettable experience.