Magic Cloud Dough Recipe

So there is this great product on the market, it’s a type of sand that kids obsess over, it holds its shape when squeezed and is easily vacuumed up – but it also costs a small fortune and I don’t really like spending money on things that go up the vacuum, ya know?

But, this little magic cloud dough recipe serves a similar purpose, costs next to nothing, you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen right now and your children can make it themselves. Not bad, hey? This is a great activity for preschoolers, they are learning with their hands at this stage and anything that encourages concentration, gets them to manipulate things in different ways and stimulates the senses* is going to be super beneficial for their little brains, but bigger kids can have lots of fun with it too.

Best bit: It will keep them entertained for literally minutes.

*You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the mix but because I have an ‘eater’ I didn’t. He needs no encouragement.

Supplies:

Plain flour: 5 cups
Vegetable oil: 1 cup
Glitter: 2 tablespoons
Food colouring: 1 tablespoon
Other options: Scented oil, peppermint essence, confetti, etc

Instructions:

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a lasagna dish and get the kids to mix it all together.

Step 2: Gather a bunch of tools for the kids to use. I have put a lot here so you guys can get some ideas, but usually I would pick one or two as kids tend to concentrate better when they have a clear purpose. You may notice that I am using glass, wood and metal rather than plastic when possible. This is because glass has a nice weight to it, the kids can see through it and if they drop it, it breaks. Life lesson, right? But keep an eye on them! Also, all the different sized tools really help their hand muscles get ready for holding pencils..

Step 3: Show them some different things they can do, like making sandcastles, stamping shapes, scooping squeezing, etc. They will soon get the hang of it.

Step 4: Make your self a cuppa and take a seat. Pin for later:

More ways to keep the kids happy:

Images: Barbara O’Reilly

Barbara O'Reilly, AKA Babs, AKA Patchwork Cactus is a blogger, a writer, a trash TV watcher and an Instagram addicted shutterbug. Although a journalist by trade, the three week old baby stowed away under her graduation gown steered her away from the world of reporting and right into the blogosphere.
Babs, her almost-hubby and their two kids are attempting to live the slow life in a beach side suburb on the east coast of Australia, they have the rickety house, the pet chickens and the barefoot kids but are yet to find the 'slow'.
Her blog Patchwork Cactus is where she talks about making, baking, parenting and living a happy beachside life. Feel free to stalk her on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
PS - She wrote this bio with a nude two year old sitting on her shoulder like an actual parrot. True story.