Sand Play Dough Activity

We don’t let a Summer go by without making DIY, beautiful, easy sand play dough. It looks like sand and molds like play dough, making it the ultimate sensory activity. Check out our tips, tricks, and recipe for the best homemade play dough.

Several seashells are pressed into a mound of sand play dough. Various other seashells and sprinkles of flour are scattered on a blue table around the dough.

Sand play dough is even better than regular sand

When playing in a traditional sand table, the sand must be wet to be moldable.

But with sand play dough? It’s moldable the whole time!

You get the look of sand with playdough’s moldability, making this a win-win.

Whether you’re planning for a preschool ocean theme or just a fun anytime-of-year activity, sand dough is for you.

Related: We are famous for our easy, no-cook play dough recipe that we’ve been making for years.

A handprint has been indented into a ball of sand play dough. Seashells sit scattered on the blue table in the background.

What does sand play dough feel like?

Even though I have made this a billion times, I am always surprised by how smooth this dough feels.

You can feel a grittiness when pulling it apart or pressing hard, but overall, it’s smooth.

Over the years, several teachers and family members have shared stories of preschoolers who have a hard time with the texture of plain sand, and this dough is the best alternative.

We are big ol’ play dough fans! Check out some of our other faves:

Four bowls of ingredients: flour, sand, salt, and vegetable oil. The four bowls sit on a blue table with a scattering of flour and seashells.

Materials

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2.5 cups flour
½ cup salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup play sand
1 cup boiling water
Stand mixer with a dough hook OR bowl + large spoon
Loose parts – ex: shells, gems, beads, ocean animal toys, rolling pins, cookie cutters

A small bowl of sand is poured into a mixing bowl.

How to make sand play dough

Directions taken directly from our no-cook play dough recipe post.

A note before we begin – This recipe uses boiling water. As with any kids’ activity, adult supervision is always required, and kids should never handle dangerous materials.

Add the flour, salt, oil, and sand into your mixer or bowl and mix.
Add the boiling water.
Leave for about a minute in the mixer with a dough hook, or mix in a bowl with a spoon and knead when ready.

If your dough is a bit too dry, add small amounts of water until it reaches the correct consistency.

If your dough is a bit too wet, add small amounts of flour until it’s just right.

Tip: Check out the original post for my three best tips and tricks (including why we don’t use cream of tartar).

What do kids do with sand play dough?

Use it exactly as you would regular play dough.

Invite your child to create beautiful art and open-ended play with their favorite loose parts.

Seashells are my favorite loose part with sand play dough as they mimic a real beach (which is fun for all kids, especially those who may have never been to a beach before).