Kinetic Sand

by Clean Plate

Kinetic sand is a great messy play option!  Much like bubbles it is not too messy, but can provide ages of open ended play for the children.  Kinetic sand has a much different texture than normal sandpit sand, and can be more easily molded and manipulated.  This makes it a great medium for children to create with!  You can easily incorporate cooking skills by allowing the children to help make it, providing cooking type utensils in your set-up or even using ingredients like purple cabbage or beetroot to colour the water (rather than using food coloring)! It also has a very pleasant feel and can be excellent as a calming material for anxious children.

Kinetic sand can be purchased from just about any toy or $2 shops.  But to get quantities that are usable for a large group of children, I would suggest making your own. You do need to prepare it ahead of time, but involving the children in the process as well can be a great way to get in some extra mixing and measuring practice!

Kinetic Sand Recipe

10 cups clean, fine sand*
1 cups cornflour
1/2 cup dish soap
Water to mix (1 to 2 cups)
Food colouring (optional)

1. Mix the sand and cornflour in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the dish soap and combine with a whisk.
3. Add water and mix until all the ingredients are fully combined.
4. Add the food colouring (if using) and mix in.
5. Leave the mixture to dry, the more water you add, the longer it will take to dry (usually 3-4 hours).  You can spread it out on a large baking tray to speed the process. 
6. Play!!

* Fine sand can usually be purchased in small bags from places like Mitre 10 or Bunnings.

To ease clean-up, play with the kinetic sand over grass, in the sandpit or over any other barked outdoor area.  However, if you want to save the sand to use again, it is fairly easy to sweep up after the children are finished.  Kinetic sand can be a fun indoor activity as well, in place of playdough, as it is equally easy to pack away.  If using with under 2s, make sure they will not eat it - it will not poison them, but the soap can hurt their little tummies!
Give it a go, you won't be sorry!!