DIY Kinetic Sand (Moon Sand) Recipe for PENNIES!

We were in Brookstone recently and they had a display of that kinetic sand or moon sand that is out now. Tom wondered if you could fill a whole sandbox with it. At Brookstone prices, it would cost as much as buying your own beach. But I found a recipe on pinterest and we made our own, for pennies. 

It was fun to make – the KLAW had fun stirring the ingredients but was sad when I wouldn’t let him lick the spoon.

We picked up play sand at Home Depot ($3.50 for 50 pounds) and whipped up a small batch according to the recipe at gimmefreebies.com. I needed to add a little more water than the recipe suggested because the sand wasn't quite coming together. But once it did, the KLAW had a BLAST with it! I'm excited to go back and use the rest of our sand to make more - perhaps using the recipe for bright colors!

We used cookie cutters in it (ten cents on clearance at Dollar General! Score!), molded shaped with some cups and bowls, and transferred sand from container to container (and to the floor!) with hands and spoons. It's not quite as good as the store-bought stuff, but for a toddler it is just as fun as a day at the beach!

Incidentally, I recently found small cookie sheets and cake pans (Mainstay brand) at Walmart for 88 cents. They will be great for all sorts of activities (magnets, sensory activities, wearing as hats, e.tc) – check to see if your store carries them!

INGREDIENTS

• 5 cups sand (approx. 10 lbs) ~ free or nearly free, if you have it
• 1.2 cups corn starch (approx. 1 cup + 3 tablespoons)
• 1/2 teaspoon dish soap (e.g. Dawn Dishwashing Liquid)
• water (about 1 cup)

DIRECTIONS

1. Put sand in a container
2. Add corn starch and mix thoroughly
3. Mix water & dish soap, then add to sand
4. Mix thoroughly and enjoy!!

Store in a covered container.

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