DIY Kinetic Sand. Made with just 3 ingredients this homemade Kinetic Sand is perfect for playing with! Soft, stretchy and moldable, this homemade Kinetic Sand will bring hours of play time for the kids!
DIY Kinetic Sand
Kinetic Sand is one of my 5 year olds favorite things to play with. However, she plays with it so much that buying it in large quantities could totally break the bank. To save money we make our own Kinetic Sand at home. Not only does it save money but she enjoys spending the time with me making it. It also gives her the ability to pick the colors that she wants instead of just having the colors that they sell in the store.
What is Kinetic Sand?
Kinetic Sand is sand that has ingredients added to it so that it becomes stretchy and moldable. It is also soft and crumbly like beach sand but with the ability to be molded into different shapes and to be stretched. It is a ton of fun for kids to play with too and is great for sensory play.
Tips for Making DIY Kinetic Sand
Make sure the sand is dry. Moisture in the sand won’t hurt anything but It will make it less similar to the kinetic sand the kids are used to playing with.
Remember the ratios. While I am using cups and 1/2 cups to make this as long as you stick with the 5 parts sand, 3 part cornstrach and 1 part baby oil you will have easy Kinetic Sand that turns out perfectly. But I do recommend using cups as it is easier to make when you are measuring with exact measurements.
You can use a few different types of oil. I like using baby oil but you can also use canola oil or olive oil.
In a pinch use flour instead of cornstarch. Using cornstarch makes it softer, but if you don’t have any then you can use flour.
How to Play with Kinetic Sand
My daughter loves to build shapes with it using her hands, she also likes to push it flat and then use cookie cutters to make shapes. Sometimes she just squeezes it thru her hands. There is no wrong way to play with is, let the kids have fun with it however they want to.
How to store Kinetic Sand
It is best to store in an airtight container or in a zip close bag.
Why is it sticking to my hands?
If the Kinetic Sand gets wet then it will get sticky. If you find your sand is sticky then pour it in a thin layer on a baking sheet and let it sit in open air on the counter to dry out. Once it is dry again pour back in the storage container you have been keeping it it. It will take a few hours to dry out, but it will dry out back to its original texture.
Does it dry out if left out?
No. If you leave it out with out being in an air tight container and it is not wet then it will keep its texture and be fine. I like to store it so that it doesn’t end up being spilled from being left out in the open.
Kinetic Sand Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Fine Sand (we chose blue for one batch and pink for the other)
- 1 ½ cups Corn Starch
- ½ cup Baby Oil
How to Make Kinetic Sand
Mix together the sand and corn starch in a large container, mixing it until completely combined.
Add the baby oil and mix until combined.
Hands on Kids Activities
- How to grow borax crystals
- Homemade playdough
- Snow Volcano
- Color changing slime
- Galaxy Slime
- Glow in the Dark Slime
- Glitter Glue Slime
- Dinosaur Slime
- How to make Floam
How to Make Kinetic Sand
Materials
- 2 ½ cups Fine Sand
- 1 ½ cups Corn Starch
- ½ cup Baby Oil
Instructions
- Mix together the sand and corn starch in a large container, mixing it until completely combined.
- Add the baby oil and mix until combined.
