We tested countless mixtures to find the best DIY moon sand recipe for every situation. Whether you’re looking for a taste-safe 2-ingredient moon sand, moon sand with the most vibrant color, or a DIY that will work for kids with wheat allergies, this guide has all the instructions, tips, resources, and play ideas.
Moon sand – You might have seen this referred to as moon dough, cloud dough, sand dough, or kinetic sand…whatever you call it, this smushy sensory play sand is a tactile delight and incredibly easy to make.
The Definitive Guide to Homemade Moon Sand – Table of Contents
The Definitive Guide to Homemade Moon Sand – Table of Contents
Use the links below to jump straight to this article’s specific topic of interest…
- DIY Moon Sand Supplies
- How to Make Moon Sand – A Step-by-Step Tutorial
- Moon Sand Recipe Variations
- The Fastest Way to Make Colored Moon Sand
- Gluten-Free Moon Sand
- Edible Moon Sand for Toddlers
- Homemade Moon Sand Tips and Tricks
- Recommended Moon Sand Play Accessories
- Beach Sensory Play Ideas
- More Moon Sand Sensory Play Ideas
But hold up – before you go googling recipes and getting your hands dirty, we have a confession to make…
We, too, were lured in by the siren song of “easy colorful DIY moon sand!” only to find ourselves disappointed with the lackluster results of many of the recipes we found online.
Inspired by quite a few of our own moon sand mishaps, we’ve done the dirty work for you, testing and tweaking numerous recipes to find the very best homemade moon sands out there – recipes actually work!
In addition to being a fun sensory supply to make yourself, it is also a fantastic way for kids to experience the joy of the beach right in their own backyard. With limited summer travel for the past couple of years, I tried to recreate some of the typical visits and traditions by taking bits and pieces of treasured experiences and using them as inspiration for at-home activities.
The things I found the most fun and rewarding almost always awakened our sensory reflexes – helping us to recall memories through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
I love this moon sand summer sensory activity because, besides being the quickest little DIY, a few simple sensory additions can help kiddos feel like they’ve enjoyed that classic beach play experience. Be sure to keep reading after the instructions for a few seriously simple ways to make your moon sand play into an entire afternoon tropical paradise experience…
For more themed sensory play, get out the play dough for an uber fun Paul Bunyan pancake and donut sensory activity, try making your own DIY rainbow rice, or enjoy squishy taste-safe play with DIY water beads.
To make your own taste-safe DIY moon sand, you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Etsy, Woodpeckers Crafts, and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As Amazon Associates, we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- 8 cups of flour (or rice flour for a gluten-free option)
- 1 cup of coconut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil
- A baking sheet
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Gel food coloring (like this) or kool-aid packets (2-3 packets for every 2 cups of flour for bright, vibrant colors)
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES FOR PLAY:
- Buckets, pails
- Sand and water toys
- Toy cars and trucks
Moon Sand Supply Substitution Tip
If you’re hoping to achieve a texture and colors closer to the kinetic sand stores sell, you can use regular sand or colored sand instead of flour. I prefer our flour and oil recipe for castle-building and using it with molds, because it seems to hold shape better, doesn’t quickly dry out, and only requires household supplies I typically have at home.
How to Make 2-Ingredient, Taste-Safe Moon Sand – DIY Instructions:
Learn how to create your own taste-safe DIY moon sand for engaging sensory play using just a few simple, household ingredients in this step-by-step tutorial.
Measure and bake the flour.
The first step is to decide how much moon sand you’d like to make. You want an 8:1 ratio of flour to oil, so I recommend starting with 8 cups of flour (you can halve the recipe by using 4 cups of flour and a 1/2 cup of oil).
For truly taste-safe moon sand, spread the flour on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. If you plan on using this with older kids, you can probably skip this step, but for toddlers or anyone tempted to put a handful in their mouth, you will want to give the flour a quick bake before mixing.
Add food coloring to the oil (optional).
For vibrantly-colored, taste-safe moon sand, I recommend mixing quite a bit of gel food coloring with the oil (I’m talking at least half a bottle, for the bright colors you see here) before pouring the mixture into your flour. Kool-Aid also produces fairly pretty colors (and great smells!)
If you’re okay with a lighter, more natural color, you can try stirring regular food coloring with the flour in a pinch, but it’s hard to get it all mixed together without clumping (you know what they say about oil and water!), and I found it tough to get a satisfying color without using a crazy amount of food coloring.
If your sand *doesn’t* need to be taste-safe, scroll down for our alternative fastest, most colorful moon sand recipe.
Mix the oil into the flour.
Mix the oil and flour together until it feels silky and sandy but will hold a shape if you squeeze it in your hands.
You can use your hands or a large spoon to combine the ingredients, or involve little ones by pouring the mixture into a gallon Ziplock bag and letting them knead the bag with their hands.
Move the moon sand to a large bin or tray for play.
Pour your moonsand into a large bin or tray for indoor or outdoor play. You can use this as a fun sensory experience all on its own or add tools and sand toys to a bin or tray for play.
When playtime has ended, store your moon sand in an airtight container to play with later.
As a reminder: both food coloring and Kool-Aid can leave a slight stain on hands and surfaces if left sitting or after being played with for quite a while. It’s a great excuse to take it outside for play, then hop into a baby pool for some cleanup afterward!
After you’re done with play, it’s good to remember to wash hands and surfaces thoroughly. To clean any food coloring stains off little hands, I like to use a mixture of dish soap and diluted white vinegar with warm water. Rub with an old washcloth, adding a bit of baking soda if necessary. I’ve also heard that foaming shaving cream works well for instant cleanliness!
Three Alternative Moon Sand Recipes
The Fastest Way to Make Colored DIY Moon Sand
As mentioned as a tip above, you can substitute the flour in our moon sand recipe for non-toxic craft sand or real sand if you don’t require a taste-safe version for play.
Hands-down, the fastest way to make your own colored kinetic sand is to use colored craft sand as your base. You can find it in a variety of bright colors and don’t have to worry about any color mixing. To create a sandy yet moldable texture, we mixed 2 cups of colored sand with 1 cup of cornstarch (or flour) and 1/4 cup of oil.
Of course, by the time you’ve finished making the moon sand, you may decide it’s less expensive to simply buy pre-made kinetic sand. The making of it is a fun process for kids to participate in, but if you’d prefer a zero-prep play option, store-bought kinetic sand is probably the way to go.
A Gluten-Free Moon Sand Recipe
To create gluten-free moon sand, replace the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of gluten-free flour or rice flour, then mix it with coconut oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or vegetable oil in the same 8:1 ratio to achieve a moldable, sensory-friendly texture.
Edible Moon Sand for Toddlers
You can create an edible version of moon sand with Cheerios and applesauce! Thoroughly blend about 4 cups of Cheerios in a food processor, pour into a bowl, then add about a 1/2 cup of applesauce and mix. Add food coloring as desired.
Keep in mind that while these ingredients are safe for consumption, the texture might be just a bit different from traditional moon sand!
Making Moon Sand from Scratch: Tips and Tricks
Can I use regular sand instead of flour to make moon sand?
Yes, you can use regular sand or play sand mixed with cornstarch or flour, and a few drops of oil to create a moldable, alternative version of moon sand. However, using flour is preferable for indoor play as it’s less abrasive, easier to clean up, and can be used for taste-safe moon sand for kids under age five.
How long can I safely keep DIY moon sand?
If stored properly in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag, DIY moon sand can last up to several months if you’ve used sand. For taste-safe moon sand made with flour, we recommend treating it as you would any other food product – refrigerate when not in use and keep for only 48-72 hours.
How can I safely add scent to our homemade moon sand?
You can add scents to your DIY moon sand by adding a drop or two of flavor extract. For sensory play recipes, we always recommend using food-grade flavor extracts instead of essential oils and testing for any allergies before use.
How do I clean up moon sand after playtime?
Use a drop cloth or play mat underneath the play area for easy cleanup. Once finished, shake or brush off any excess sand from toys and surfaces, then vacuum or sweep the remaining sand before washing. If moon sand gets on clothing, shake off as much as possible before washing.
What can I do if my DIY moon sand dries out?
If your moon sand begins to feel too dry, try adding a small amount of oil and mixing it thoroughly to restore its moldable texture. Store it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag to prevent it from drying out in the future.
Will using food coloring to dye moon sand stain hands or clothes?
When using food coloring to dye moon sand, you may find it leaves faint stains on children’s hands or clothes and surfaces it’s been sitting on for a while. You can try adding a small amount of rubbing alcohol into the dyed moon sand and letting it air dry before play or storing it in an airtight container.
Toys and Accessories to Use with Your Moon Sand
From versatile molds to imaginative tools, these additions encourage tactile exploration and foster cognitive development through imaginative play...
- A Tuff tray, sensory play table, portable sand bin, or large, shallow bin.
- Sand pails.
- Combine your moon sand with kid-made easy cardboard sandcastles for super beachy small-world play!
- Small shovels and rakes to push around or smooth your moon sand.
- Sand molds for castle-building or creating various shapes like stars, hearts, or animals.
- Kitchen utensils like measuring cups, spoons, and whisks for pouring practice or pretend cooking.
- Cookie cutters to make fun, recognizable shapes, and designs.
- Funnels and cardboard tubes for pouring your moon sand or building tunnels.
- Little toys like play cars and trucks or a set of toy animals to create small worlds.
- Natural supplies like sticks, seashells, or flowers for building, decorating, or adding texture to moon sand creations.
- Alphabet and number stamps, shapes, or magnets for imprinting educational elements into the sand.
Ideas for creating a multi-sensory moon sand play experience
Once you have your own batch together, it’s time to kick up basic beach play a notch! Like an actual beach day, this should feel like a relaxing getaway. One way to achieve total escape and the full beach experience? Awaken ALL your senses…
Multi-sensory experiences can help increase focus and concentration and calm anxiety. For more stressful times (the back-to-school season is a big one here), it can be helpful to have simple activities that offer calming, meditative experiences like this at the ready.
Take your moon sand outside.
Slather on the sunscreen, grab a beach towel, and take this activity outside! Warm sun, a gentle breeze, the sounds of birds – all these natural elements help create a memorable and enjoyable sensory experience.
Add homemade salt water to your mood sand.
Fill a beach pail or spray bottle with DIY salt water (I mix a tablespoon of sea salt with a cup of hot water, then let it cool). You can also fill a tray with salt water, then add our floating egg carton whale and scrap supply sailboats to create your own miniature ocean!
Listen to soothing beach sounds in the background.
Turn on some serene ocean sounds (I like this calming soft beach sounds track from YouTube or this hour of relaxing beach waves on Spotify).
Incorporate nature items from the beach.
Add seashells, smooth pebbles, water beads, or other beach-themed nature finds to your play setup.
Mix your moonsand with frozen sidewalk chalk paint.
Make DIY sidewalk paint, freeze it, and take it outside for cool, colorful art-making. You can experiment with adding moon sand to the paint before mixing, or playing with them both on a tray together.
Stay hydrated during outdoor moon sand play with chilly beach drinks.
Tie in your tastebuds with a favorite classic beach food, healthy tropical drink, beachy juices, or yummy flavors of coconut water.
Make sure you ALL give yourselves time to enjoy breathing in the scent of saltwater and coconut, taking in the feeling of wet “sand” slipping through your fingers – even washing your hands and basking in the warm rays of summer sunshine are little day-to-day sensory experiences you can bring attention to with this activity. Breathe deep!
Even more ways to play with your homemade moon sand
For more ocean and beach moon sand play visit:
For other play and learning ideas to try with your homemade kinetic sand, visit:
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
