DIY Kinetic Sand

Make DIY Kinetic Sand to play with at home using ingredients you probably already have!

Kinetic Sand is an amazing way to keep kids entertained and is perfect for those with sensory needs, like my daughter who has ADHD. This kind of sand can be expensive, so I figured out a way to make it at home for a fraction of the price! Kids of all ages will have so much fun making their own sand in a variety of colors. This is also a creative STEM project you can make as a class or for homeschooling.

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Check out our DIY Kinetic Sand tutorial video!

When you make your own kinetic sand, you can use any kind of sand. For this project, I would recommend using Crayola Play Sand to save yourself some steps and extra mess. Play Sand is high-quality and has been washed and coated with safe, non-toxic, vibrant colors, so you won't need any food coloring or paints. You can find 20 lb bags of Crayola Play Sand at your local Walmart for under $7!

To make kinetic sand, you need to start with some school glue. It won't matter if it is clear or white. Pour half a bottle (2-3 oz) in a mixing bowl.

Add in a small amount of baking soda and some water. Use a spoon to combine this mixture until the baking soda is dissolved.

Next, pour in some sand and stir it into the mixture.

Here's where the magic starts to happen! Add in some baby oil and contact solution. Stir the mixture until completely combined. The chemicals will start to react, creating a thick slime-like consistency.

Add in one more cup of sand, and mix it in. Once it gets too thick to stir with a spoon, use your hands to knead the mixture together. It will still be sticky, so add in one more cup of sand and knead it in.

Keep kneading and working the kinetic sand until all of the sand is mixed in. If it still seems to be sticky, add in a little more sand. If it seems too thick, add in a little more baby oil. The kinetic sand should feel like wet sand, but you can mold it, pull it, and stretch it without it sticking to anything else.

DIY Kinetic Sand

2-3 oz glue (clear or white)

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 cup water

3 cups of Crayola Play Sand

1 TBSP baby oil

3/4 TBSP of contact lens solution

Directions:

1. Pour 1/2 bottle (2-3 oz) of glue (clear or white) into a mixing bowl.
2. Add in 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
3. Slowly pour in the 1/8 cup water. Stir slowly, combining the ingredients until the baking soda has dissolved.
4. Pour 1 cup of the Crayola Play Sand into the mixture and combine.
5. Add in both the baby oil and the contact lens solution. Stir them into the sand mixture, which will start to thicken as you stir.
6. Pour in 1 cup of sand. This will make the mixture too thick to stir, so use your hands to knead the sand in. The mixture will be slightly sticky.
7. Add in one more cup of sand. Knead the sand into the mixture until it is no longer sticky.
   *If the mixture is still sticky, add in a little more sand. If it's too thick, add in more baby oil.
8. Store the kinetic sand in an airtight container or bag when not in use.

Have fun playing with your new DIY Kinetic Sand! This is such a fun project to do with kids, and will keep them entertained for hours. My daughter wants to go find more Crayola Play Sand in different colors to make an entire collection!

Find more about Crayola Play Sand on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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Do your kids like playing with Kinetic Sand?