Easy DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe Tutorial + 10 Activities - Fun With Mama

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Learn how to make kinetic sand with this simple DIY kinetic sand recipe. It is a favorite sensory recipe for kids and only requires 3 ingredients.

Keep reading to find out how to make your very own homemade play sand for sensory play! Don’t forget to check out our recipe on how to make Easy Confetti Moon Dough, too!

easy homemade kinetic sand recipe

Kinetic Sand

This unique play sand provides a base for some sensory activities for kids and will encourage children to explore textures and the beginning of science for little ones. Kids will love squishing and molding the sand to transform it into something that is imaginative and creative!

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What’s in this post:

  • Kinetic Sand
  • How to make Kinetic Sand
  • Try this Easy Kinetic Sand Recipe
  • Kinetic Sand Activities
    • More Sensory Activities for Kids:
What is kinetic sand?

Kinetic sand is a unique sensory material that was created in 2007 by Canadian company, Play Sand. Inc. It is not actually sand, but finely milled polystyrene granules that stick to each other and won’t fall apart. You can mold it into balls and shapes.

It has an unusual texture (like Oobleck and these water beads for kids) in that it’s not like regular play sand and it’s not like mud. It is moldable sand.

This play sand recipe makes a wonderful sensory activity for kids of all ages, from toddlers to upper elementary kids! (and even adults can join in on the fun!) It’s constantly in rotation on our sensory table and we often put it on a play tray for some quiet time too..

diy sand

How to make Kinetic Sand

Follow this tutorial to find out how to make your own kinetic sand at home. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is!

You can use this sand in place of the pricey one found in stores, and we found that we like the texture of this sand much better than the store-bought version!

kinetic sand recipe

What you will need to make the Kinetic Sand

These ingredients are required:

  • flour
  • oil
  • craft sand (you can also use fine playground sand, which is my preference.)

It would be good to have:

  • Play tray
  • Small toys (we used dinosaurs)
  • Assorted cookie cutters

Try this Easy Kinetic Sand Recipe

  • 1 cup play sand
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup oil

Here is how to make your first batch of Kinetic Sand. Please note that it is like your basic slime recipe, in that you need to look at your mixture, observe what it looks like, and mix things in slowly. You can adjust the ingredients according to the consistency you are seeing while you are mixing it together.

DIY kinetic sand recipe

Add the flour to the sand and mix it together. Make sure to mix it well. You can substitute flour for cornstarch if you don’t have flour.

You may need to adjust these amounts based on how much water you put in and the humidity of your area.

Add your 1/4 cup of oil mixing as you go, until moldable paste forms.

Once the homemade kinetic sand is moldable to your liking, give it to your child to play with.

Homemade play sand is so much fun to play with!

They can form shapes, use cookie cutters, play with small plastic toys, and build fun structures using sand molds!

Helpful tip: You can add a few drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties to prevent mold and bacteria from forming on the sand. Tea Tree Oil has antibacterial qualities.

Alternate recipe to try

ingredients to make kinetic sand recipe

After trying the above recipe of DIY Kinetic Sand, try this recipe and see which one you prefer.

Mix 1 cup of play sand with 2 TBSP of corn starch and 2 tsp of dish soap.

Then slowly add in a 1/2 cup of school glue. Mix it up. It’s kind of like a sand slime.

Add your cups, cookie cutters, construction trucks, etc.

kinetic sand recipe

Don’t forget to check out our recipe on how to make Easy Confetti Moon Dough, too!

What is the best way to store Kinetic Sand?

To store the sand, place the sand in an airtight little container. If you leave it out, it will start to dry out.

toy animals and kinetic sand recipe

If the sand starts to dry out, add a few sprinkles of water to get it moist again. Since there are no chemicals in this version of kinetic sand, the sand will eventually dry out as kids play with it. Just adding a bit more water will get things working properly again!

Kinetic Sand Activities

  1. Ant and Anthill activity – 3Dinosaurs
  2. Dinosaur Excavation – Crafts On Sea
  3. Construction Alphabet – ABC’s of Literacy
  4. Fossil Sensory Bin – ABC’s Of Literacy
  5. Kinetic Sand Race Track – In The Playroom
  6. Dinosaur Dig – Rainy Day Mum
  7. Pretend Play Food – The Craft Train
  8. Sand Stamping – Picklebums
  9. Make pretend cupcakes – And Next Comes L
  10. Lego Sand – Toddler Approved
  11. Easter Play – Toddler Approved
  12. Mr Potato Head – And Next Comes L
Is Kinetic Sand toxic?

While it is not poisonous, it can pose a choking hazard if swallowed.

What is Kinetic Sand made of?

It is made of 98% ultra-fine grain sand and 2% dimethicone (polydimethylsiloxane.)

More Sensory Activities for Kids:

  • Muddy Oobleck Play Table
  • Sensory Sight Words
  • How to Make Play Dough

This post was originally published on October 9, 2020. It was updated on January 11, 2022.

Print the recipe to make your own kinetic sand at home

Print Pin

DIY Kinetic Sand

Fun With Mama Kinetic Sand is a great base for sensory activities. Children will love molding it into balls and shapes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fine craft sand (or play sand)
  • 2 /3 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup oil

Instructions

  • Mix the dry ingredients together (flour and sand)
  • Add in the oil
  • Mix together with your hands until it's moldable
Share with our community!Mention @funwithmama or tag #funwithmama! Winter Activities for Preschoolers Cards Preschool Snowman Printables – Alphabet Matching About the Author Brenda

Brenda MacArthur is a STEM curriculum writer, STEM author, and STEM accessibility advocate. She founded the site STEAMsational.com in 2012 which offers hands-on STEM activities for kids and STEM lesson plans for teachers.

View all posts from this author

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