Kids Activity: How to Make Easy, DIY Sand Play Dough for Kids, A Recipe for Ocean or Beach Theme Sensory Play for Preschoolers
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As we move towards the end of a fun, adventurous summer, we are reliving our favorite memories from the last few months, including our family vacation to the coast in May. Sweetpea (4) keeps asking when we can return and it warms my heart to see my own love for the ocean growing in her. There’s just something so tranquil and soul-nourishing to be found at the edge of the waves.
I love this time of year as the pace slows just a bit while we begin to embrace the idea of the change of seasons that is inevitable over the next six weeks while still enjoying the late summer nights and precious family time.
Our afternoons have shifted to a more quiet time so Sweetpea and I are trying out some new sensory play ideas. Our first choice was to recreate some of our beach memories with this fun sand play dough!
There are so many uses for this dough and it has a rough, squishy texture that is really fun! We paired it with sea shells, marbles and used it in this colorful, educational coral reef sensory tray! The craft section at Dollar Tree is our favorite place to find things like sea shells, gems and umbrella picks.
Easy, DIY Sand Play Dough Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of salt
1 1/2 cups of sand (we used this white sand from Dollar Tree)
2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoons of coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
1 to 1 1/2 cups of boiling water
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the flour, salt, sand, cream of tartar and oil together. Microwave water until it’s gently boiling and then stir into the dry mix slowly, stirring constantly. Remove dough from mixing bowl and knead well by hand. Allow to cool. After play, store in an air tight Ziploc bag, jar or container.
Hope you enjoy this fun sensory DIY as much as we have!
We can’t wait to dream up new ways to use it - including a desert play tray and dinosaur tray!
