Kinetic Sand does not dry out, however; you may notice the texture can be off because of the humidity. If this is the case the best thing to do is add some moisture by adding a few drops of water and then mix. If the kinetic sand gets too wet simply spread it thinly and allow it to air dry.
Kinetic sand is a great addition to any play space and is a great sensory activity. It’s fun, easy to use, and can be molded into pretty much anything you want it to be!
But how long does kinetic sand last? Will the kinetic sand dry out and harden if left in one place for too long?
Let’s find out more!
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Does Kinetic Sand Dry Out
The simple answer is no it doesn’t dry out though if it gets really humid it may seem like it is. If it seems like the kinetic sand has lost some of its texture and it is really hot out just add a few drops of water.
This will bring the Kinetic sand back to life and the kids can start to play with it right away.
What is Kinetic Sand
Kinetic sand is very similar to other sand except for three key differences. The sand is very soft and a lot of parents like this as there is no chance the child can hurt their hands when playing with it.
Kinetic sand is also easy to create things with. The sand holds shape so well that the little ones love to mold their ideas into it.
Finally, there is no mess! Kinetic sand will not stick to your hands or clothing. The only thing it sticks to is itself.
The kinetic sand is so popular because it feels like wet sand but it won’t get sand everywhere as beach sand would. Kinetic sand is also made out of different ingredients than play sand – what is play sand made out of?
DIY Kinetic Sand
It’s not difficult to make your own kinetic sand as long as you have access to the below ingredients. The main one is sand but keep in mind when you purchase kinetic sand from a known distributor the sand goes through lots of tests and cleaning before it ships.
Making the sand with the below recipe will save you some money but may not be as clean and filtered depending on where you got the original sand from.
Simply follow the below recipe and mix it in a container. If you notice it is too dry add a few more drops of water.
If you notice the kinetic sand gets too wet, spread the sand thinly and allow it to air dry out. Once fully dried let the kids have it and they can start to shape whatever their imagination allows.
DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe:
- 5 cups of fine Play Sand
- 1 Cups Cornstarch
- 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil
- 1/2 Tablespoon of Dawn Dish Soap
- Slowly apply drops of Water till texture is correct
- Optional: Add a few drops of food dye coloring to change the color of the sand.
How Long does Kinetic Sand Last
Kinetic sand will last a very long time and will keep the kids busy for hours at a time. You can even create a DIY sandbox for outdoor play and fill it with kinetic sand.
We do recommend having a lid on the sandbox which we also go over in our tutorial.
Since the sand never dries out you don’t have to worry about it going bad, however; I would recommend keeping the sand sealed if it’s a small amount when you store it away.
Proper storage and care of the kinetic sand can have a lifespan well over 10 years. If Kinetic sand is not for you there are other types of sand you can use.
Kinetic Sand Safety
Overall, Kinetic sand is very safe even more than other sands because it is such fine sand so there are no share pieces plus the ingredients make it much softer. If your child is new to sand it is best to supervisor them and makes sure they know not to eat the sand.
It’s also great practice to teach the kids to put the sand away in a sealed container or ziplock bag when play has been completed. This will help keep the area clean and when they are ready to get back to play they will know what container to look for.
If you decide to set up a sandbox with kinetic sand make sure to check out our sandpit safety article.
Conclusion
With what you have learned you can now make DIY kinetic sand and a DIY sandbox together this will save you a good amount of money. You also learned how amazing the sand is.
It really is a lot of fun for your children and helps develops sensory play. There are so many benefits of different playground ideas like this.
Please be careful and use at your own risk
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