Sensory play sand - Arts, Crafts and DIY

27 Comments

This sensory play sand inspired by Pinterest is DIY, budget friendly, customisable and lots of FUN! It requires very little ingredients and it lasts a little while before you need to throw it out if kept in containers or covered up in a large tub.

Material

1 Mixing Container
12 Cups Plain Flour
8 Cups Baby oil, vegetable oil or coconut oil
Drops Optional food colouring

Method

Pour your flour into a mixing bowl and add your baby oil. Distribute until even and the flour feels soft and silky but crumbly at the same time. You should be able to press the sand together firmly and it will hold momentarily.
To give the sand some colour add drops of food colouring to the baby oil. Mix the baby oil up a little before pouring it in. The colour will give the flour a speckled effect unless effort is taken to distribute evenly.
You can experiment with different things such as glitter if you are confident your child won't mouth/ingest the mixture. I suggest large flakes of glitter as fine glitter can irritate the skin/eyes.

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About The Author

Kate Shelby

Kate Shelby is an Australian mum blogger, mother and lover of superheroes in tight pants. Between raising kids and tackling life's curve balls you will find her at australianmum.com

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27 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    4:32 pm
Oh we love magic sand, so much fun

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 30 Apr 2020
    1:46 pm
The coconut oil is a bit expensive to buy but it’s a lovely project

- - mom462038 said
  - 07 Apr 2020
    5:47 pm
I’m onto this! Grandson home, needing lots of new easy activities to try. Am sending this one to my daughter in law to help out

- - Petal53 said
  - 01 Apr 2020
    2:28 pm
This is a much more cost friendly form of sensory sand than the bought products. Sensory sand is such fun and so calming.

- - mom322089 said
  - 08 Jan 2020
    8:15 am
Great to then hide things in too and the kids have to go on a treasure hunt. Adjuncts go well with it too like dinosaurs and making dinosaur land.

- - mom81879 said
  - 09 Nov 2019
    12:01 pm
Looks like it’s pretty easy to make but I’m unsure exactly what to do with sensory sand. Maybe I’ll just make some to find out. Lots of oil needed

- - MrsA said
  - 21 Mar 2019
    3:56 pm
I have always wanted to do something like this. So simple.

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 07 Mar 2019
    7:00 am
I HAve some of the materials at home should give this a go THx for sharing

- - caramello said
  - 30 Jun 2018
    8:41 pm
so quick and easy to make. Thanks for sharing.

- - kjgarner said
  - 22 Jun 2018
    9:16 pm
My 2 year old loves feeling the dirt and sand through his fingers, this would be good for him to play with

- - natct said
  - 13 Jul 2017
    8:12 am
Just like magic sand how wonderful.
- kjgarner replied
  
  28 Jun 2018 , 8:23 pm
  It should be called Magic Sand love the name
- - Stef said
  - 23 Feb 2017
    1:37 am
Great idea. We’ve used this before in Therapy!

- - mom19782016 said
  - 18 Oct 2016
    1:39 pm
Cheaper than buying the store bought versions too.

- - mom111059 said
  - 29 Sep 2016
    6:37 pm
Easy and simple. Great to encourage sensory play.

- - mom111059 said
  - 13 Aug 2016
    4:12 pm
Nice and messy. Just how kids like it. Great idea for lots of fun and giggles. Thank you

- - dannsbuild said
  - 05 Jul 2016
    7:36 pm
Kids love sand! A creative great idea.

- - mom183717 said
  - 22 May 2016
    4:19 pm
I’m going to give this a go when I have time for my sons. They love sandpits so I’m sure they will love this.

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 22 May 2016
    8:49 am
This is a great simple idea to try!

- - pakeko said
  - 20 May 2016
    9:53 pm
Was looking for something like this today so helpful thank you so much

- - mom134803 said
  - 18 May 2016
    7:53 am
Nice one ! I would leave the food colouring out and use olive or coconut oil as my girl likes to eat everything. You could always choose to colour with some ground dried goji berries.