Kinetic sand is the most widely known toy or material that has been used for ASMR content, or any topic for satisfying things that you have probably seen on Youtube videos. With its interesting component, it has become a popular toy for kids, which surprisingly has given most benefits to their physical development such as motor skills.
It is incredibly soft and fun to play with. But unlike regular sand, it is available in many colors and you can turn it into various forms. Because of its versatility, many teachers and parents consider it a key aspect of motivating youngsters to play and learn at the same time.
But is there anything more interesting about this sand? How should you use it? In this article, I am going to show you some techniques on how to use kinetic sand and different fun ways you can try.
What is kinetic sand and what is it made of?
Kinetic sand is composed of silicone oil and it is a very satisfying material to play with. The contents are just regular sand coated in silicone oil that is moldable, squeezable, which you can transform into different shapes and sizes. The texture is similar to wet sand, but it is not as moist as wet sand; when you touch or play with it, your hands are mostly dry.
Tip # 1: Mold Shapes and Objects
Molding is a wonderful way to get started. It is like building a sandcastle within your home, but with different colors. Here is how you use kinetic sand to create a variety of shapes and sizes.
Things you will need:
- A sand molding tool (it may come in different shapes or sizes)
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Prepare the amount of sand you will need. You can use any color you want to make colorful objects and molded shapes.
- To make varied shapes and sizes, fill the molding tool with sand. You can also cut it into whichever shape you like.
- Apply pressure to the sand to create a shape in the molding tool.
- Take out the molding tool and you are all set for more shapes!
Tip #2: Create Race Tracks
This type of material allows your youngster to be both creative and inventive. It can be used as a race track for your kids to play with, especially if they also love collecting toy cars. Here’s a concept for a toy that you can use.
Things you will need:
- Sand molding tools
- Cardboard box
- Paper
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Prepare the kinetic sand on the surface. It can be on a floor, table, or clean paper.
- Mold the kinetic sand into small strips. Mold it carefully as if you are kneading dough. Form it into a shape similar to a race track.
- For the bridges or race tracks, use cardboard to create a smooth surface. This is where you would place the cars.
- Make a checkered tile pattern on a piece of paper to form a finish line.
- On paper, you can create a mini flag and attach it to a stick. If you are going to do this with a kid, supervision is a must. Afterwards, you can place the flag in the empty spaces of the race track.
Tip #3: Stamping with Kinetic Sand (Letters and Words)
This simple and enjoyable activity will help your children enhance their language skills. Through this technique, they can escape boredom and find an enjoyable way to learn more about words and letters.
Stamps are a fun method to introduce your children to a new style of learning. Here are some directions on how to make studying more enjoyable.
Things you will need:
- Tray
- Letter stamps
- A paint brush or pencil
Step-by-step Instructions:
- To make a flat surface, place your kinetic sand on a tray and push it down harder.
- To form letters, use a letter stamp and push it into the sand.
- You can even write letters in the sand with the tip of a pencil or a paintbrush. It is another way to learn and spell sight words in the sand.
- Use any design of stamps to make it more fun.
Tip # 4: Dig and Discover Hidden Treasures
Digging for treasures is one of the fascinating things you can do with this toy, and your kids will adore it, especially if the prize they find is a surprise.
Follow these instructions to bring out the inner Indiana Jones in your little ones.
Things you will need:
- A plastic wipes container
- Random things to find (as the hidden treasures)
- Gold spray paint
- Tray
Step-by-step Instructions:
- To make it look like a treasure trove, spray paint the wipes container gold.
- Fill an empty tray with kinetic sand and the plastic wipes bottle.
- Bury the surprise treasures in the sand.
- Allow your children to locate the treasure and place it in the treasure box (a.k.a empty wipes container). Just a heads up, this can get really messy!
- If you are going to use mini toys, make sure to supervise your kids to avoid choking.
Tip #5: Practice Writing Numbers, Letters, and Words
Studying using kinetic sand is more enjoyable since you can have colorful materials to choose from or different shapes and sizes to write on. With this tip, you will know a different side of education in a more artistic way.
Things you will need:
- A tray
- A pencil or stick
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Fill the tray with kinetic sand and smooth it out into a level surface.
- Trace letters, numbers, or words using a stick or pencil so they may copy them on the sand.
- To add even more fun, decorate some molded sand.
Tip #6: Tell the Time with the Kinetic Sand Clock
You can learn how to tell the time in a more fun way by using kinetic sand. You can use different colors or add decorations to make this creative idea even more fun for your kids. Here are some ideas for making a kinetic sand clock.
Things you will need:
- A tray
- A straw
- A stick
- A number mold
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Fill the tray with sand and flatten the surface. When leveling the sand, apply some pressure.
- Using the stick in the sand, carefully sketch a square. Compare the clock you’re tracing with any other clock.
- Trace numbers on the side of the clock you are tracing using a number mold.
- Cut the straw in half (unevenly) and place it in the clock’s center. This represents the hands of a clock.
- Place the hands (straws) into different numbers and allow your child to tell the time. Change the hands now and then to help your kid study the time and different hand clock positions.
Tip #7 Building Blocks Using Kinetic Sand
Building blocks or lego is another way to help your kid develop visual perception and enhance eye-hand coordination. Since it creates shapes of legos, it can elevate your child’s imagination and build skills. Here is how to get kinetic sand turned into building blocks.
Things you will need:
- Building blocks of lego
Step-by-step Instructions:
Mold the sand into a block using leggo or building blocks to create an actual block.
Press it to form an actual block using kinetic sand.
You can now use it as toy blocks. You can use different colors.
Proper Cleaning and Storage Methods for Kinetic Sand
After playing with this unique toy, probably the next thing to think of is how to store kinetic sand. Of course, parents or guardians should know how to clean and store their kid’s toys safely.
But how about kinetic sand? It is not like any solid toy that you can just put away. Take a look at the following tips on how to clean kinetic sand and the proper ways to store it.
- The good news is kinetic sand is incredibly easy to clean. It just sticks to itself and does not attract dirt and dust.
- You can use a perfectly fitting plastic container with a large tab for easy gripping. If you have a lot of kinetic sand, you can opt for containers with ridges on the lids for optimum stacking.
- You can use paper to gather the rest of it and put it in a zip bag.
- If you have added too much water to your kinetic sand and it becomes too moist, spread the sand on a flat surface. Let it dry for several hours. Once completely dry, it reverts back to its original form and texture.
Conclusion
To summarize, this soothing, relaxing, and mesmerizing material is a lot of fun to work with. It can be used and formed in a variety of ways, especially if you have kids and you need more ways to make learning engaging and enjoyable.
This type of substance also provides satisfaction when used, as well as relaxation and the ability to release tension if you are stressed. This is the most effective technique to utilize it, and it is suitable for people of all ages to use.