Here I was on a typical Tuesday afternoon in February, wanting to make Valentine’s cloud dough sensory bin exploration for my boys. Then it occurred to me! What if I added food coloring to cloud dough? It turns out that this pink cloud dough sensory play was a hit and made the perfect addition to my collection of Valentine’s activities for kids.
RELATED: Sensory play can feel tricky to get started. Here is how to introduce the sensory play to kids.
What is cloud dough?
Cloud dough, also called Moon Sand, combines flour and oil. The dough is soft, and it molds well. It is NOT edible, and children should be supervised at all times. It is simple to make and most likely uses ingredients you already have in your home.
Cloud dough is an easy way to incorporate sensory play into your everyday routine with kids. Sensory play allows children to learn about texture as they play and find a way to calm down.
Why else is sensory play important?
We hear a lot about sensory play and sensory bins. But what is all the hype? Is it all that it is talked up to be?
To help you understand why sensory play is important, I wrote the importance of sensory play for kids. I have seen the benefits of sensory play over the years, that I now gift sensory supplies to children for their birthdays.
Sensory play allows children an opportunity to:
- Create with their hands
- Express feelings through touch
- Increase vocabulary
- Imagine
- Strengthen fine motor muscles as the dough moves in and out of the fingers
- Stimulate new brain connections that help with future learning and problem solving
Related: Sensory play is a great tool to help kids learn. Here is why I keep sensory play in my workspace.
How to make cloud dough
- Add 8 cups of flour to your sensory bin. – It is unsafe to eat uncooked flour.
- Mix in 1 cup of oil. -(I used olive oil)
- Mix the flour and oil to get a playable texture that molds when clumped together.
- Add a small amount of oil if you notice your flour needs it.
- Add a few drops of red food coloring to your cloud dough.
- Mix the food coloring into the cloud dough sensory bin to create a pink-like color.
I added heart cut-outs for this Valentine’s Day activity and invited my preschoolers to take the lead in their sensory play as they search for the hearts.
How do we store sensory bin fillers?
When I first made cloud dough years ago, I didn’t realize I could reuse it. I now know that the construction cloud dough and this Valentine’s cloud dough are reusable if stored in an airtight storage container.
After playing, we collect the cloud dough into our hands and place it back in the storage container. I store my cloud dough in the same bins we use for toy storage.
Sensory Filler Storage Containers
What I like most about these storage containers is the air-tight lid. I keep these bins above my washing machine, and my children need help getting them down.
More sensory activities for kids:
If you are looking for more easy sensory activities for kids, I have an entire page dedicated to sensory play at home. These sensory play activities they can enjoy at home develop your kid’s senses. These fun activities will help children learn through exploring texture and play.
Kickstart your morning routine with play.
PDF Startup Guide – A road map for executing mornings anchored in play, discovery, and learning.
PDF Activity Cards Set One and Two – Breakfast Invitations are play-based, hands-on, and designed with an intentional introduction to learning through play.
FAQ
The food coloring in the cloud dough didn’t stain my children’s hands! The red added the soft color for a variation in a tried and true sensory play favorite.
1. Add about 8 cups of flour to your sensory bin. – It is unsafe to eat uncooked flour.
2. Mix in 1 cup of oil. -(I used olive oil)
3. Mix the flour and oil to get a playable texture that molds when clumped together.
4. Add a small amount of oil if your flour needs it.
No, it is unsafe to eat uncooked flour. Supervise your child and use your best judgment.
