DIY Kinetic Sand
Need a pick-me-up that brings back memories of summer fun? This DIY
kinetic sand is a great way to recreate the fun of playing at the beach, right from your own home. Kinetic sand is an easy project that allows kids to explore their senses, build fine motor skills and strengthen their imaginative play muscles. Kinetic sand is play sand that is soft and crumbly, but also holds its shape when squeezed or pressed. And with only three ingredients, this DIY activity couldn’t be easier to make.
Whether you need enough kinetic sand for one child or a large group, it’s easy to make as much or little as you need. Just remember the 5-3-1 ratio.
What You’ll Need
- 5 parts play sand (can be found at most craft or home improvement stores)
- 3 parts cornstarch (or you can substitute flour)
- 1 part cooking oil
What You’ll Do
Simply mix the ingredients together until there are no oily or dry spots. And that’s it; it’s ready for play. Store your kinetic sand in a lidded bin with some play tools and you’ve got a sensory bin to keep kids entertained for hours. Some items you could add are:
- Cookie cutters
- Butter knife
- Spoon or small scoop
- Rolling pin
- Cups or Tupperware containers
- Small toys or plastic animals
DIY kinetic sand is a fun and easy activity to keep kids busy all throughout the year. Plus, once you make it yourself, you’ll never need to buy the expensive version from the stores again.
What Kids Learn
How to Support the Play
- Ask lots of questions. Especially ones without a yes/no or right/wrong answer. “Why do you think that happened?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
- Add plot twists into a child’s play. “What would happen if___?” The lights went out? A gorilla showed up? Everyone had wings? You get the idea.
- Talk about what you see a child doing as they do it. Be a play-by-play announcer. You’ll notice little things that reveal how a child is learning. “I see how you…” and “I noticed that you…”
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
Glue Gun Fun
There’s no substitution for hands-on exploration. Letting kids (safely) experiment with real tools, such as a glue gun, provides opportunities to build confidence, independence, creative thinking skills and more.
Make Your Own Eyeball Wall at Home
If you’ve visited our new special exhibit, Monsters on Summer Vacation, you’ve likely seen the Eyeball Wall, a chalkboard wall covered in eyes that is the perfect backdrop for visitors to sketch out monster faces of their own.
Three Fun Static Electricity Experiments to Do at Home
Experimenting with static electricity is a great way to introduce young kids to science and spark their curiosity to learn more.
DIY Paper Tube Xylophone
Get your kids excited about exploring music by making your own paper tube xylophone. Or, make a few and start your own xylophone band!
Build a Gnome Home
Spark your child’s imagination and creative thinking skills by building a whimsical gnome home. Make a single home or an entire village.
Water Play
Kids love playing with water. But it's not just about the fun of splashing around and getting wet. Kids experiment, explore and discover while playing with water — Does this object float or sink? How does water flow through this funnel? What happens if I fill a cup...
Milk Carton Bird Feeder
Have an empty milk carton on hand? Spark some creativity and fun – and put it to good use – by creating a DIY bird feeder.
Lava Lamp Experiment
Making temporary lava lamps is a fun, colorful and easy science experiment sure to keep your kids engaged.
Take Things Apart
Explore the inner workings of old machines. For Ages: 6 and up