Hands on and easy to make – these tick my boxes for fun activities with my girls. This has been something that we will make on a regular basis. We love moon sand. It is so easy to make and also inexpensive. It only requires 2 ingredients. 

There are various recipes out there and some also add in some play sand. But we find it best to just use flour and baby oil (with food coloring optional). Yes, it is that easy. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS MOON SAND?

Moon sand is a type of kinetic sand. It is soft and moldable. When you squeeze it or press it into a mold it will hold its shape. 

Kinetic means “togetherness due to movement and energy” and is used to describe kinetic sand or moon sand because, unlike the sand at the beach, kinetic sand sticks together when force is applied to it.

You can buy kinetic sand at the store, but it is usually made of fine grained play sand and is coated in silicone oil. We do have some store bought kinetic sand, but my girls often prefer homemade moon sand. 

WHAT IS MOON SAND GOOD FOR?

Moon sand is good for tactile experiences. It can be a calming sensory play experience. It can also spark their imagination and helps to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. 

MOON SAND RECIPE

You will need:

• 8 cups of flour
• 1 cup of baby oil (You can use vegetable oil. Baby oil is better in my opinion.)
• Food coloring (optional)

(It is an 8:1 ratio, so if you want to make smaller batches follow the ratio)

If you want to use sand in the mix, you will need:

• 5 cups sand
• 3 cups flour or cornstarch
• 1 cup baby oil

How to make it:

• Put the flour into a bowl
• Add the baby oil and mix until fully combined. You may need to break up clumps

OTHER NOTES

You will want to play with the moon sand in an area that is easy to clean up. The kitchen is great. You can vacuum it up out of carpet but it is easier on smooth floors. We like to play with it outside because my girls can make a mess! (and by mess, I mean MESS!)

If the sand starts drying out you can add a few drops of baby oil to revitalize it. 

Have fun with this. It is such a fun activity. My girls are getting older but still love to make it. Honestly, I love to play with it too. I find it calming.

Want other fun activities? Check these out:
Cinnamon ornaments
Easy binoculars
Watermelon Suncatcher
and there are more on this site!