K is for Kinetic Sand Sensory Play
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This post is part of the A-Z's of Sensory Play for Kids Series.
If you have not heard of or played with kinetic sand yet, you are missing out on something really fun. Today I am sharing some of my favorite resources for using kinetic sand in sensory play with your kids.
Why is Kinetic Sand so great for Sensory Play?
There are a lot of reasons really. First, it is moldable, so your child can build, sculpt and play with it in almost any way they can think of.
It involves using some great skills along with sensory input:
- New sensory input different from sand
- Fine motor skills (finger strengthening, dexterity, in-hand manipulation, etc)
- Bilateral coordination skills (using both hands together to mold and shape)
- Visual-motor skills such as eye-hand coordination
Where Can I Get Kinetic Sand?
Most stores will carry Kinetic Sand now since it is growing in popularity. I have seen it at Walmart and heard of others seeing it at Target as well. And of course, there's always Amazon.
You can make your own DIY versions. Here are a couple of recipes to get you started:
- How to Make Kinetic Sand – Kids' Activities Blog
- DIY Kinetic Sand – Parenting Chaos
How Can Kinetic Sand Be Used in Sensory Play?
There are so many ways to add Kinetic Sand in with your sensory play. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Fun Ways to Play with Kinetic Sand – Teaching Mama
- Kinetic Sand Potato Heads – And Next Comes L
- Kinetic Sand Math – Left Brain Craft Brain
- Kinetic Sand Race Track – In the Playroom
- Kinetic Sand Sensory Play – There's Just One Mommy
We will definitely be adding kinetic sand to our sensory play this spring.
For more sensory play ideas, be sure to follow the A-Z's of Sensory Play for Kids Series.
Heather Greutman, COTA
Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.