Kids of all ages love sensory play, and what better sensory fun than playing with sand? It evokes all kinds of wonderful memories for us all, of lazy days spent playing on beaches! Sand is so versatile too – sift it, dig in it, pour it, enjoy the feel of it, build with it, and even make art with it! Here are 23 Sensational Sand Play Ideas Your Kids (And You!) will Love.
1. Sand Drawings Outside
Drawing with sand is so much fun! Like Buggy and Buddy, using clear squeeze bottles and a variety of colored sand, use the great outdoors for your canvas!
Image via Buggy and Buddy
2. Sand Dough Sensory Play
Using 3 simple ingredients, Little Bins For Little Hands show us how you can create some sensory sand dough to explore at home! It feels soft to touch and doesn’t leave a heavy residue on the hands. It also sweeps up easily which is a bonus.
Image via Little Bins For Little Hands
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3. Creating Sand Castles that will Last
Sand castles are great fun to make. Want to create one that will last? Your very own sand castle sculpture? Meaningful Mama gives us the low down.
Image via Meaningful Mama
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4. Indoor Beach
Do you want to give your child sensory activities to explore but are held back as they still put things in their mouths? How about an edible indoor beach, courtesy of Mama Papa Bubba?
Image via Mama Papa Bubba
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5. Fairy Land Sandy Small World
A magical fairy set up. We love the miniature fairy gardens you can create outdoors, and this is a fabulous idea by Creative Play Central, for bringing the magic indoors!
Image via Creative Play Central
6. Sand Foam
Using only 2 ingredients this is an interesting sensory activity, by Little Bins For Little Hands, that is very simple to create. Whether you are creating a play set up for imaginative play or mark making, sand foam is sure to go down a treat!
Image via Little Bins For Little Hands
7. Train Tracks in the Sand
Is your child crazy about trains? Gather sticks together and take a trip down to the beach. Create your very own train tracks in the sand! You could extend this by creating your very own sand city.
Image via Play-Trains.com
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8. Preschool Dinosaur Dig
Calling all scientist, uncover the dinosaur bones and see if you can identify the creatures, in this activity by Fireflies and Mud Pies.
Image via Fireflies and Mud Pies
9. Sand Paint
We love painting activities and have done many different techniques over on our blog. I love the idea of adding textures, like in this idea by House of Burke! Sand would provide an interesting texture, great fun for finger painting! Homegrown Friends have also been busy sand painting. Why not give tape resist art a try using sandy paint and glitter?
Image via House of Burke
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10. Sandy Oobleck
Buggy and Buddy share the recipe to create a fun Sandy Oobleck to explore. They show us in their ooey-gooey dinosaur world.
Image via Buggy and Buddy
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11. Microwave Puffy Paint
This Puffy Paint by Simple Fun For Kids is an interesting media to paint with. I love that children can help create this paint from scratch! You can offer a range of materials to transfer the paint onto the canvas. Whether you choose to use spoons, hands or squeezy plastic bottles you will create some fun puffy textured art work!
Image via Simple Fun For Kids
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