Sand Art Material: Cloud Dough, A Salt-Free Beach Theme Project
In an effort to combat the winter blues and create a summery mood, F has taken on a new project - making beach-themed cloud dough. This unique play material, which resembles slightly damp sand or rubbed flour and butter, offers a fun and tactile experience for young and old alike.
The cloud dough recipe is quite straightforward. To make this sensory delight, you'll need 8 parts plain flour and 1 part baby oil. Simply mix these ingredients together until the mixture holds when squeezed but crumbles easily like sand. This creates the basic soft, moldable cloud dough [1][5].
To add a beach-themed colour or appearance, crush coloured chalk (such as blue, green, or tan) into a fine powder and mix it into the dough. This colouring technique mimics ocean or sandy tones, enhancing the beach sensory experience [2].
F has been attempting to make sandcastles with beans from a Dried Bean Sensory Table, but with limited success. However, with the cloud dough, he has found a newfound joy in building sandcastle towers, together with his family. The sea shells and a scoop were added to the cloud dough in a dish, making the playtime even more engaging [5].
It's important to note that the cloud dough is messy due to its crumbly nature, causing bits to fly everywhere and stick easily in fingernails. But for those who are not deterred by a bit of mess, this dough offers a unique and enjoyable sensory play experience [3].
If the cloud dough is being made for young children who may ingest it, vegetable oil can be used instead of baby oil. The dough's smell resembles suntan lotion due to the baby oil, adding to the beachy atmosphere [4].
The method for colouring the cloud dough with powdered chalk is from a source called "Growing a Jeweled Rose" [2]. F enjoyed making sandcastles with the cloud dough on the first day, and even on the second day, he did not get his hands dirty, but is being encouraged to do so.
So, if you're looking for a fun and engaging activity to bring a touch of summer into your home during the colder months, why not give this beach-themed cloud dough a try? It's a simple recipe that offers a unique sensory play experience for all ages.
[1] Mixing the basic cloud dough ingredients [2] Colouring the cloud dough with powdered chalk [3] The messy yet enjoyable nature of cloud dough [4] Using baby oil or vegetable oil in the cloud dough recipe [5] Adding sea shells and scoop to complete the beach theme
Incorporate summer fashion-and-beauty into your home-and-garden by creating beach-themed cloud dough as a fun lifestyle activity for both young and old. For an authentic ocean or sandy tone in your cloud dough, crush coloured chalk into a fine powder and mix it into the dough.
