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Edible Scented Play Sand

Jun 24, 201446,151 views
Summer
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art with scented edible sand forkids Save

by TurkeyMom in Summer

Ages2–5 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessHigh
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Mix cornmeal with unsweetened Kool-Aid and a splash of water to make brightly colored, scented play sand that is taste-safe if accidentally mouthed. Keep it dry for scooping and pouring, or add a bit more water to make it moldable like damp beach sand.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Taste-safe, not a snack: the sand is made from pantry ingredients, so an accidental taste is no cause for panic, but don't let kids eat it.
  • Supervise sensory play at all times, especially with toddlers who mouth materials.
  • Contains cornmeal. Skip or substitute for children with a corn allergy.
  • Kool-Aid stains hands a bit. The adult mixing the sand can use forks or spoons to avoid it, and stains wash off with warm water and soap.
  • Keep the drink-mix powder and sand away from eyes, and wash hands after play.
  • If you swap in liquid watercolors for color, the sand is no longer taste-safe. Don't use that version with kids who mouth materials.

Before the kids arrive

  • Choose your colors and remember the yellow cornmeal changes them. Blue Kool-Aid gives green, and grape gives a dark purple that looks almost black.
  • Decide whether you want loose dry sand for scooping and pouring or damp, moldable sand, which needs a little extra water.

Steps

  1. Put 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a container.

  2. Add 2 envelopes of unsweetened Kool-Aid.

  3. Add about 1/4 tbsp of water.

  4. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or fork until the color spreads evenly.

  5. For moldable sand, add a little more water and mix again.

  6. Repeat with a new Kool-Aid flavor in a new container for each color.

  7. Set the containers in a big shallow plastic tub with scoops.

  8. Let the kids enjoy the colors, then scoop, pour and mix.

  9. Layer the colors into a clear cup to make sand art.

Tips

  • Use 2 envelopes of Kool-Aid for every 1/2 cup of cornmeal for the best color and scent.from the author
  • The person making the sand gets the stained hands, so mix with forks or spoons. The children will be fine because the color settles into the cornmeal.from the author
  • Cornmeal is yellow, so the color you add mixes in and gives you a secondary color. The green sand you see is actually cornmeal and blue Kool-Aid.from the author
  • For 'black' sand I used grape Kool-Aid. It's dark purple rather than black.from the author
  • The children can enjoy the colors first, and then we all know what happens! They enjoy the mixing process even more.from the author
  • Ours made multiple cakes, rainbow cupcakes and real, red hot lava cakes. That chance sand art led them to make more intentional sand art in a cup.from the author
  • Outside the US, cornmeal is what polenta is made from, and Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix a bit like cordial powder.from readers

Make it your own

  • Layer the colors in a clear cup or bowl for sand art.
  • Add a little extra water and mold sand cakes, rainbow cupcakes and lava cakes.
  • Turn the play sand into sand dough (see the author's follow-up sand dough post).
  • Make an unscented version with food color mixed with a bit of water.

Questions readers asked

Does it stain hands?

A little, because of the Kool-Aid. The person mixing gets stained hands, which wash clean with warm water and soap. Kids playing usually don't, since the color has settled into the cornmeal and they use scoops. Mix with forks or spoons to avoid stains.

Can I make it without the scent?

The author suggests food color mixed with a bit of water. Liquid watercolors also work, but then the sand isn't taste-safe.

How did you make the black sand?

With grape Kool-Aid. It's dark purple rather than black.

What can I use outside the US, like in Australia?

A reader explains that cornmeal is what polenta is made from, and Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix similar to cordial powder.

Why is my blue sand green?

Cornmeal is yellow, so the color you add mixes with it into a secondary color. Blue Kool-Aid gives green.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · June 2014
play recipe for sand
Ah! Summer is here and the children love playing in the sand. You can keep this scented play sand as loose dry sand, which is great for scooping and pouring.
1 / 10

Edible Scented Play Sand: the original post

Easy homemade play sand made using pantry ingredients. Ah! summer is here and the children love playing in the sand. Couple of years ago they had a ball making an island in our sandbox ( time to do that again!) They also loved making beach creatures. This season, we want to kick off summer fun with this simple “edible sand” recipe using basic pantry ingredients. play recipe for sand You can keep this scented play sand as loose dry sand which is great for scooping and pouring or with a bit of extra water you can keep them moldable as real damp beach sand. edible scented sand The scent and the colors turn out gorgeous. scented sand recipe for kids and honestly the preparation is so simple. play sand recipe for kids This below is NOT a carefully created sand art. The children were absolutely mesmerized playing with the sand that they strictly said ” no camera when we are playing” hahahah. So I respected their wishes ( commands?) and waited until they were done. But right in the middle of their play time I hear ” mom, come over here! You have to take a picture! This cupcake we made is gorgeous” Of course it is.. They did a lot of scooping and pourning and realized that they created a wonderful piece of sand art during their play time. art with scented edible sand forkids They were multiple cakes and rainbow cupcakes. edible sand for summer and lava cakes. ( I mean real, red hot lava cakes.) play sand recipe Their chance creation of sand art led them to create a more intentional sand art in a cup. sand art for kids Now on to the simple recipe for edible sand. Materials

Place 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a container. Add 2 envelopes of Kool-Aid (unsweetened drink mix) for every 1/2 cup for the best color and scent. Add about 1/4 tbsp of water. Water is added for the drink mix to give out its vibrant color and scent. Mix thoroughly with hands or a spoon until the color spreads evenly. If you want a more moldable sand, add more water.. Place them in separate containers and place the lot in a big shallow plastic tub. The children can enjoy the colors first and then we all know what happens! They enjoy the mixing process even more. Cornmeal in itself is a fantastic sensory material. We first used it in our alphabet sensory bin. Then in our desert sensory bin and in our fall activities for math post. Note: remember the cornmeal is yellow and the color you add with mix in and give you a secondary color. The green sand you see is actually cornmeal and blue Kool-Aid.

Thanks for reading Edible Play Sand Recipe for kids

We went ahead and tried making a dough with the play sand and it turned out so good.

How to make sand dough sand dough for kids

What readers say

💬 16 comments ✍️ 7 answered by the author

Answered by the author

“Does it stain the hands?” · Deebi27

Author A little, because of the Kool-Aid, mainly for the person making it; warm water and soap removes it. Kids are usually fine since the color settles into the cornmeal. Mix with forks or spoons to avoid stains.

“Any suggestions for coloring without scent?” · Colleen

Author Food color mixed with a bit of water should do the trick. Liquid watercolors also work.

“How did you make the black sand?” · Susan

Author With grape Kool-Aid. It's actually dark purple rather than black.

“Does the Kool-Aid color wash off your hands?” · Rosie

Author Kool-Aid does stain a bit, but it washes off with some soap and water.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Avoid stained hands: mix with spoons

Kool-Aid stains a little, mostly for whoever mixes it. Mix the color in with forks or spoons; kids playing afterwards usually stay stain-free.

“The person making the "sand" can easily avoid the stain by using forks or spoons to mix the color in.”
TurkeyMom, Jun 2014

✨ Readers' twist

Unscented option for smell-sensitive people

A reader sensitive to smell asked about coloring without scent. TurkeyMom suggests food color mixed with a little water, or liquid watercolors (those aren't taste-safe).

“Probably food color mixed with a bit of water will do the trick. Even liquid watercolors will work.”
TurkeyMom, Jun 2014

✨ Readers' twist

Ingredient names outside the US

For an Australian reader, another reader explained cornmeal is what polenta is made from, and Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix, roughly like cordial powder.

“Cornmeal is used to make polenta, so it may be called something different.”
Jennifer, Jun 2014

✨ Readers' twist

Grape Kool-Aid makes the dark sand

Asked how the black sand was made, TurkeyMom explained it's grape Kool-Aid, which gives dark purple rather than true black.

“I used grape Kool-Aid.. It's dark purple rather than black.”
TurkeyMom, Jul 2014

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 16 comments

  1. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jul 2014 · replying to Susan

    I used grape Kool-Aid.. It's dark purple rather than black.

  2. Susan · Jul 2014

    How did you make the black sand?

  3. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Rosie

    Kool-Aid does stain a bit. But it washes off with some soap and water.

  4. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Jennifer

    Thanks for helping out Jennifer

  5. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Olwyn Lorna Paschalis-Young

    Your very welcome. Glad that you are enjoying the activities

  6. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Deebi27

    A little bit because of the Kool-Aid. But the person making the sand will have stained hands which will go with some warm water and soap scrubbing. But the children will be fine without any stained hands since the color would have settled in with the cornmeal. The children also would probably use tools like shovels and scoops. The person making the "sand" can easily avoid the stain by using forks or spoons to mix the color in.

  7. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Colleen

    Probably food color mixed with a bit of water will do the trick. Even liquid watercolors will work.

  8. TurkeyMomAuthor · Jun 2014 · replying to Ana

    Thanks Ana./

  9. Colleen · Jun 2014

    I am highly sensitive to smell. I know that the smell from the Kool aid would drive me bonkers ;) any suggestions for coloring without scent?

  10. Deebi27 · Jun 2014

    Love this idea!!!!! Does it stain the hands?

  11. Olwyn Lorna Paschalis-Young · Jun 2014

    Yet again; thank you for sharing your great ideas. Appreciate these hints and tips.

  12. Rosie · Jun 2014

    If you get every where does the Kool-Aid color wash off on your hands

  13. Jennifer · Jun 2014 · replying to Penny

    Cornmeal is used to make polenta, so it may be called something different. Kool aid is a powdered drink mix, like a cordial powder (kinda) hope that helps!

  14. Penny · Jun 2014

    That looks like great fun! What would you suggest the equivalent to Kool Aid and cornmeal is in Australia?

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