Moon Sand
This moon sand recipe is so much fun. The texture is soft and crumbly, but it also molds really well into different shapes. The kids thought it was the best thing ever! I’ve tested different kinetic sand recipes before (like this kinetic sand, this moldable play sand and this foam sand), but this one was BY FAR the best. And with only 2 ingredients it’s also super easy to make. We loved how the moon sand could be squeezed and molded into different shapes and then crumble back to its original consistency! After making it, we separated it into three containers (one for each of my kids) and played with it in the backyard. If you play with it indoors, you might want to contain the sand to a baking sheet or put down a drop cloth. Even if it gets on the floor, it vacuums up really easily.
Check out our Moon Sand video tutorial:
*Note: Scroll down for the step-by-step photo tutorial. Looking for more sensory craft ideas? Here’s some of our favourites:
Underwater Magic Sand Edible Frosting Play Dough
Here’s what you’ll need:
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All-purpose flour Baby oil Mixing bowl Wooden spoon
What is moon sand?
Moon sand is a type of play sand that is soft and moldable. Also known as kinetic sand, it holds its shape when squeezed or pressed into a mold, but turns soft and crumbly when you break it apart. This type of play sand is lots of fun because you can mold it and create shapes without getting it wet. You can re-shape your moon sand again and again.
What type of oil can you use in your moon sand recipe?
We used baby oil for our moon sand and it worked perfectly! I highly recommend using baby oil. You can usually find it at the dollar store, so it’s also super inexpensive. If you don’t have baby oil, you should be able to substitute cooking oil in this recipe. I haven’t tried it myself, but other people online have used vegetable oil, canola oil, and coconut oil with success. Cooking oils are a good option if you need your play sand to be taste safe.
How long does moon sand last?
Moon sand can last 2 weeks to a month in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. How long it lasts will depend on how much it’s played with and how clean the kids hands are when they’re using it. Throw it away if it starts to look dirty or smells off.
Can I make my moon sand coloured?
Absolutely! You can dye your moon sand by adding a little bit of gel or powdered food colouring to the oil before mixing it with the flour. You can also add 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered tempera paint to your moon sand after the flour and oil are mixed. Liquid food colouring can also be used, but since it’s water based, it won’t mix with the oil. It still colours the flour, but you’ll see darker and lighter bits, so the colour won’t be perfectly consistent.
This activity was an absolute hit in our house! We had a blast squeezing and pressing it into different molds and shapes. We’ll definitely make this recipe again. Let me know how it works for you! And did you know that you can make a stress ball with moon sand?! Check out the instructions for our moon sand stress ball!
Here’s even more sensory craft ideas:
How to Make Kinetic Sand
Underwater Magic Sand
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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