Sand Play Dough Shapes

[45 Minutes]

Bring a bit of the beach home with you and use it to make play dough that will harden in the sun. Together with your child form the play dough into basic shapes.

You'll need:

• 1 cup sand • saucepan • bowl • 1/2 cup cornstarch • 3/4 cup water • cookie sheet or tray • circle, square, triangle, rectangle cookie cutters, spatula, and rolling pin (optional) • measuring cup

What to do:

1. Help your child measure and pour ingredients into a saucepan.
2. Cook until very thick.
3. Let the mixture cool and then put it into a bowl.
4. Invite your child to knead the cooled mixture for a few minutes.
5. Encourage her to use a rolling pin to roll out the dough and then cut out shapes with cookie cutters, an inverted glass, or a plastic knife.
6. Carefully lift the finished shapes and put them on a tray or cookie sheet.
7. Place the tray or cookie sheet with the shapes on it out in the sun to bake for one to two days. They will become hard.
8. Cover any remaining mixture in the bowl with plastic wrap for later use.
9. These make great paperweights. Your child can paint them or decorate them with markers.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Can you close your eyes, feel the shape, and tell me what it is?
• We made quite a few things. Let's pick out one or two to give away to one of your friends. Who should we give them to?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills and language skills.