Almost all kids love to play with playdough, so we’ve used preschool playdough mats a lot with our kids.

And that started us thinking about how to include more sensory play on a regular basis.

Basically, moon sand is crumbly sand that’s moldable. I’d seen it for sale in stores, but I’d never thought about making it myself.

Turns out it’s pretty easy! We decided to include a fun twist by adding some color with this DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe!

Read on to see the full moon sand recipe. And, if you’d like more ways to play with moon sand, read our roundup of ten different moon sand recipes to try!

Plus, don’t miss our fun sidewalk chalk math game for more outdoor play!

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

To make colored moon sand, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Play sand
• Cornstarch
• Food coloring
• Water

FYI, play sand comes in a super heavy bag. If you buy a bag at a store, be sure to grab one of those rolling handcarts to transport it to the register.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with super sore arms the next day….like me.

Just mix the play sand, cornstarch, and water together with about a 4 to 2 to 1 ratio.

Then add any choice of food coloring. You’re done!

Scroll down for the printable recipe!

Here’s another FYI: Do not make this on your dining room table, unless you really want a scratched table.

(We found this out the hard way.)

This is definitely an outdoor activity. We finally wised up when it was time for the kids to sink their little hands into it.

The littles liked the fact that the moon sand could change shape.

It could be broken into chunks like bricks.

Or it could be ground into sand – just like beach sand.

By the time we got them into the house, their hands were covered with color dust, but they had a blast with our DIY moon sand recipe!

Be sure to have the shower running when you bring the kids into the house. They’ll need some hot water and soap STAT.

For just 10 minutes of prep, this was an outdoor sensory activity that lasted all afternoon! Perfect for unstructured creative play.

Don’t miss these other fun activities!

 

Print

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Adapted from Wikihow

Ingredients

• 2 cups cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 4 cups play sand
• 5-8 drops food coloring (optional)

Instructions

• Pour water into large container. A sturdy outdoor box is best.
• Add the corn starch and stir well to break up clumps.
• Add desired food coloring and mix well.
• Slowly add in play sand, stirring to combine.

The post DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

Have you ever tried moon sand with your little ones? My four love playing with it! It’s soft, squishy, and moldable, which makes it a wonderful sensory play activity for kids. But once you’ve made one moon sand recipe, you’ve made them all, right?

Nope!

There are plenty of awesome moon sand recipe ideas that you can make at home! Take a look at these fun ways to make moon sand and be sure to check out the different ways to play with your moon sand too!

For more sensory fun, don’t miss this super easy DIY flubber!

10 Moon Sand Recipe Ideas to Make at Home

These moon sand recipes are really easy to make. Most of them only require a couple of common ingredients!

1. DIY Colored Moon Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Moldable Moon Sand – Laughing Kids Learn

3. Taste Safe Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

4. 2 Ingredient Moon Sand – Happy Hooligans

5. Glitter Moon Sand – The Imagination Tree

6. Snow Themed Moon Sand – Powerful Mothering

7. Chocolate Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

8. DIY Play Beach Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

9. Fizzy Moon Sand – Powerful Mothering

10. Pumpkin-Scented Moon Sand – Parenting Chaos

Check out 10 ways to play with moon sand – up next!

10 Ways to Play with Moon Sand:

Once you’ve chosen one of the moon sand recipe ideas above, try one of these super cool ways to play with it!

1. Moon Sand Construction Bin Play – Happiness is Homemade

2. Moon Sand Absorption Experiment – Lemon Lime Adventures

3. Moon Sand Space Sensory Play – Little Bins for Little Hands

4. Moon Sand Syllable Smash Game – Still Playing School

5. Moon Excavation Sensory Bin – Parenting Chaos

6. Moon Sand Castle Play – Delightful Learning

7. Dinosaur Moon Sand Sensory Bin – Little Bins for Little Hands

8. Moon Sand Desert Small World – Crayon Box Chronicles

9. Moon Sand Space Writing Tray – Gift of Curiosity

10. Moon Sand Beach Small World – Fun-A-Day

Need more simple play ideas to share with your kids? Check out these fun activities!

See more ways to play inside on my Indoor Play Pinterest board!

The post 10 Moon Sand Recipe Ideas + Ways to Play! appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.