Kinetic sand is a favorite at our house because not only does it provide great tactile sensory input, but it also encourages lots of fine motor practice.
While kinetic sand is fun to play with on its own, it's also extremely versatile and easy to clean up. It's one of my favorite sensory bin materials for kids because I know I don't have a huge mess to clean up later.
Seriously if you've never played with kinetic sand before, you're missing out. It's mesmerizing! I often find myself playing with kinetic sand after my kids have moved onto a different activity. Who says sensory play is just for kids anyway?
So if you are looking for kinetic sand activities for kids, then you're in the right spot.
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What is Kinetic Sand? How is it Different than Regular Play Sand?
I remember the first time that my oldest son touched kinetic sand. He immediately tried to wipe his hands after touching the kinetic sand, thinking it would be messy like regular play sand. He was so surprised to see that it didn't stick to him then happily dove back into to play with the kinetic sand. And that's huge because sand was a texture he avoided as much as possible!
So, what is kinetic sand exactly?
Well, kinetic sand is sand that sticks to itself. It also moves smoothly as you pull and stretch it and can be easily formed and molded into shapes. It's also really satisfying to play with (it's one of MY favorite sensory materials).
Unlike regular play sand, kinetic sand is relatively mess free because it doesn't stick to you or your hands as I mentioned earlier. Instead, kinetic sand sticks to itself, making it easy to clean up too!
Kinetic sand also comes in lots of bright colors too, such as pink and blue, but, personally, we have always used the original one that's brown.
Kinetic Sand Activities for Kids
Now that you know what kinetic sand is, let's take a look at some fun ways to play with kinetic sand. It's a super versatile sensory bin filler!
Here are some of the ways that we've played with kinetic sand in the past:
Want Even More Kinetic Sand Ideas for Kids? Grab Our Book!
If you want more simple ideas to try with your kids, grab a copy of 35 Awesome Kinetic Sand Activities for Kids. It focuses on low prep activities that use only 2-3 materials (one of which is kinetic sand itself!) and will give you lots of ideas for playing with kinetic sand.
Grab your copy of the ebook here
Or grab a print copy from Amazon
Kinetic Sand Tips & Tricks
Here's an easy trick for quickly picking up kinetic sand:
Kinetic sand also differs from regular sand in that it never ever dries out completely. However, if it does start to get a bit dry or doesn't seem to stick together as well, there's a quick fix to make it like new again. See the video below.
Now that you know these tips, which of the kinetic sand activities are you going to try first?
