# Beach Dough Creatures > Mix play sand into a simple no-cook play dough for a gritty beach dough, then press in shells, sticks and stones to build little beach creatures. A summer sensory and fine motor activity for toddlers and preschoolers. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/summer-sensory-activity-beach-dough-creatures/ - Ages: 2–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium - Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids - Skills: sensory-exploration, fine-motor, counting, creativity, nature-play - Cautions: wheat-gluten, ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - 1 cup Play sand - 1 cup Flour (household) - 1 tbsp Vegetable oil (household) - 1 tbsp Cream of tartar - 0.5 cup Boiling water (household) - 1 piece Mixing bowl (household) - Seashells - Small sticks (household) - Stones and pebbles (household) - 1 piece Tray or shallow plastic bin (optional) (household) - Googly eyes (optional) - Watercolor paints (optional) ## Safety - Adult handles the boiling water. Kids can help knead, but watch that hot water and make sure the dough has cooled before little hands knead it. - Shells, pebbles and small stones are choking hazards. Supervise toddlers closely and skip tiny pieces for children who still mouth things. - Sticks and pointed shells can poke. Check for sharp edges and broken shells before play. - Not for eating: the dough contains sand and uncooked flour. - Contains wheat flour. Check for wheat or gluten allergies. - Supervise sensory play at all times. ## Before you start - Gather shells, sticks and stones, and check them for sharp or broken edges. ## Steps 1. Put the sand, flour, oil and cream of tartar in a bowl and mix them all well. 2. Adult: add the boiling water a little at a time and stir. 3. Once it's cool enough to handle, knead the mixture into a play dough with a gritty texture. Add a splash more water if you like it more pliable. 4. Set out an invitation to play: the beach dough with a basket of shells, sticks and stones. 5. Squash, knead and feel the beach dough. 6. Press shells into your share of the dough and count them as you go. 7. Add sticks and pebbles to your creation. 8. Use the dough like glue to build creatures, such as a bird or a snail. 9. Line up all your beach creatures. ## Tips - Use the measurements as a base and adjust to your own preferences. We like our play dough very pliable. - The recipe is so simple that your kids can help knead. Watch for that hot water, though. - Expect different ages to play differently. My toddler was all about squashing and pressing objects into the dough, while her older sister used it as a glue of sorts to create more elaborate creatures. At their own levels, both were developing some serious fine motor skills. - One family has made it two summers in a row at the beach as a break from the sun, and brought googly eyes and watercolor paints along to paint the shells and dried creatures. (from readers) - It's a great way to use a shell collection you didn't know what to do with. (from readers) ## FAQ **Will it work with room-temperature water instead of boiling water?** A reader asked this, but neither the post nor the comments answer it. The recipe as written uses boiling water. **Can I paint the finished creatures?** A reader painted the shells and the dried creatures with watercolor paints and loved it. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013) Here is an Homemade beach dough recipe for a fun fine motor, sensory and **[nature play](https://www.funlittles.com/category/nature-crafts/)** with a big splash of summer theme. To make beach dough you will need. I used the [**4 minute no cook play dough recipe**](https://theimaginationtree.com/best-ever-no-cook-play-dough-recipe/) as a base. - 1 cup Play Sand - 1 cup Flour - 1tbsp Vegetable Oil - 1 tbsp Cream of tartar - 1/2 cup-3/4 cup of Boiling water ( add in small increments) Use the above measurements as a base and adjust to your own preferences. ( we like our play dough very pliable) I added the sand, flour, oil and cream of tartar and mixed them all well. Once mixed, I added the boiling water and started kneading the mixture. Soon you will get a play dough like material with a gritty texture. That's it! You have your own beach sand dough for little hands to explore and enjoy. I set out an invitation to play with beach dough, shells, sticks and stones. It was met with an excited squeal and giggles ( how exciting to see your kids get excited over your little set-up) Any sensory activity including play-dough substance is great for developing **[fine motor skills.](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/)** The recipe is super simple that your kids can help knead ( watch for that hot water though) The girls set off to play, explore and create with the beach dough. ### **Toddler's take on the sensory activity** My toddler as usual saw this as a complete **[sensory exploration.](https://www.funlittles.com/category/sensory-bins/)** She was all about squashing, kneading and feeling the beach dough. Soon however, she turned the sensory activity into a **[fine motor activity](https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activity-for-the-baby-stack-up-towers-quick-play-idea/).**She started picking up the shells and arranging them on her share of beach dough while counting the shells and simply vocalizing her process. She soon added sticks and pebbles to her creation. It was great to see the kids using objects from nature to play and create. As you can see my toddler was more into pressing objects into the beach dough. While her older sister was using the beach dough as a glue of sorts to create more elaborate creatures. At their own levels both were developing some serious fine motor skills all while playing and creating with nature. ### **Preschooler's take on the sensory activity** My preschooler's sensory activity leaned more towards "creating" with the dough than exploring the dough by squashing. Here is her beach dough bird. My personal favorite her snail ( I even so shamefully screamed" kiddo you are so creative") All the creatures in this summer sensory activity. Hope you enjoyed the play idea. If you happen to make and play with the beach dough, come back and share your pictures and creations. Thanks for reading **More Summer Play Ideas** [](https://www.funlittles.com/ice-activities-summer-ice-jewelry/) [](https://www.funlittles.com/toddler-activities-summer-art-activity/) [](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-bubbles-recipes-and-play-ideas/) [](https://www.funlittles.com/art-activity-throw-ball-painting/) [](https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-art-studio-in-a-box/)