Simplay3 Blog

Sensory play is a simple and easy way to engage your child in a fun learning activity. More and more sensory materials are popping up on shelves across stores and online, but it is just as easy and more cost effective to make your own. Plus, making your own guarantees that nothing toxic will find its way into your little sensory seeker’s mouth.

1. Moon Dough

Ingredients:

All-purpose flour, 8 cups

Vegetable or coconut oil, 1 cup

Instructions:

Bake the 8 cups of flour on a baking sheet for 5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix in 1 cup of the oil of your choice to the cooked flour. Now it’s time to play!

2. Classic Sand

Ingredients:

Cheerios

Instructions:

Take a food processor or blender and fill it with Cheerios. Once the Cheerios are crushed down, you are ready to play with your sand.

3. Chickpea Foam

Ingredients:

1 Can of chickpeas

1 tsp of cream of tartar

Instructions:

Take the can of chickpeas and drain the liquid into a bowl. Discard the chickpeas or use them for another recipe. Combine the cream of tartar with the liquid and then mix on high for three minutes. Add food coloring to the mixture before you mix if you want colorful foam.

4. Rainbow Pasta

Ingredients:

Box of pasta of your choice

Food coloring

Instructions:

Cook the pasta as listed on the box. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. While the pasta is still wet, add a couple of drops of food coloring and mix. Let dry for 5 to 10 minutes before playing.

5. Kinetic Sand

Ingredients:

Baking soda, 1 cup

Sugar, ½ cup

Cornstarch, ½ cup

Cream of tartar, 1 Tbsp

Water, ¼ cup

Food coloring

Instructions:

In a bowl mix together all the dry ingredients. Take the food coloring and mix it with your ¼ cup of water. Combine these two mixtures until the desired texture is reached. Continue adding up to a tablespoon more of water or an additional ⅓ cup more of cornstarch if needed.

6. Chia Seed Slime

Ingredients:

Chia seeds, ¼ cup

Water, 2 cups

Food coloring

Instructions:

Add together ¼ cup of chia seeds to 2 cups of water. Mix in food coloring of your choice. Repeat for as many colors as you desire. Once complete, place it in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning it's ready to play with!

7. Play-Doh

Ingredients:

All-purpose flour, 1 cup

Cream of tartar, 2 tsp

Table salt, ⅓ cup

Vegetable oil or Canola oil, 1 Tbsp

Water, 1 cup

Gel food coloring

Instructions:

In a saucepan combine the flour, cream of tartar, and salt. Add food coloring to your water then combine in your saucepan. Turn the burner on to medium/low heat. Continue stirring until it starts to get a little solid. Once the dough starts to gloop onto your spoon it is done. Remove from your saucepan and let cool before playtime!

Take your taste-safe sensory materials and create magical sensory experiences in one of our sensory tables, even transform your water table into a sensory table! Check out our selection at Simplay3.com