What you need:
- 6 cups flour
- 1 cup oil – Vegetable, Canola, or Baby oil work well
- Ocean objects of your choosing! – try pasta shells, plastic fish and sea creatures, or textured rocks
- Plastic bin or cardboard box
- (Optional) Old toothbrush
Instructions:
- To create the sand, combine 6 cups of flour and 1 cup of oil in a bowl. Use a fork to mix and press the oil into the flour until you get a sandy texture. You can prep this step ahead of time, or include it as part of the activity with your child.
- Transfer the sand into the bin or box.
- Bury objects into the sand and play! Explore how each object looks and feels as you uncover them.
NOTE: This activity is best played outside or on a surface that is easy to clean.
Tips for playing:
2-3 year olds
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Hide 10 different ocean objects in the sand. Encourage your child to describe each object that they find. For a challenge, help them group the items into categories (by color, type of animal, etc.).
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Make it a beach day—put on bathing suits, spread out a towel or blanket, and have a real (or pretend) picnic.
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Allow your child time to play with the sand and objects in any way they want. This is a great time to explore with their senses!
4 and up
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Play archeologists! Have your child use a toothbrush to uncover objects and brush off the sand, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. Looking to get the most out of this activity? This is a great way to extend playtime.
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Invite your child to help with the sand mixing step. They can follow along with the recipe, choosing the bin and the objects to place in the sand, too.
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Try racing for treasure! Hide 10 items and time how long it takes your child to find them all. Then, have a sibling, friend, or grown-up take a turn. Who uncovered treasures the fastest?
Skills Spotlight:
Tactile awareness, counting & sorting, following instructions
