In response to COVID-19, countries implemented various forms of 'lockdowns' and social distancing measures. Global restrictions on close social interaction negatively impacted children by reducing their outdoor play activities. As parents adjusted to changes such as working from home (WFH) or other remote work, children were forced to stay indoors for their recreation needs. Changes in their day-to-day routines resembled similar adjustments that other children worldwide experienced.
Playtime during a pandemic is tricky, especially for kids. The internet has made it easier for kids and parents to discover more engaging ways to pass the time at home safely. A 2020 survey conducted by Statista revealed that since staying at home more because of the coronavirus pandemic, adults from the US, the UK, and Germany did more activities such as cooking and watching TV and online video streaming.
You may be staying indoors as much as possible to avoid contracting the virus, especially if you have little ones in your household who are too young to be vaccinated or are susceptible to infection. But, there are still plenty of creative ways to entertain yourself while you're trapped in the house! Playing with traditional board games, which have guaranteed fun across generations, is one way to pass the time; but they may be more appropriate for older participants. Other creative ways to have fun at home with younger children include indoor ball pits or splashing around in an inflatable pool in the backyard–which you can do most of the year if you’re in sunny California. Or, if you want to opt for a simple solution like we did, you could try Kinetic Sand!
What is Kinetic Sand?
Kinetic Sand is relatively a new material that is useful in the visual activities of preschool children. It is a patented non-toxic moldable and squeezable sand made of 98% sand and 2% magic. The composition of the sand material includes a silicone filler which allows the sand to hold its shape. Kinetic Sand is revolutionary in that it can be molded and reformed into any shape!
Kinetic Sand is like wet beach sand, without all the hassle of wet beach sand. It is dry without being dusty and is softer and more moldable. You can shape the sand with your hands just like wet beach sand, but Kinetic Sand leaves your hands clean and dry since it won’t stick to your hands. The Kinetic Sand moves through your fingers like liquid, and it can be mesmerizing to watch it slowly separate as it falls away from your hands. The faster you squeeze, the more Kinetic Sand flows through your fingers! There are countless ways to build and shape things with Kinetic Sand.
What is the difference between Kinetic Sand and regular sand?
Kinetic Sand is very different from regular sand. When you get Kinetic Sand wet, it turns solid and retains its shape. Regular sand dries and will never get hard again. Kinetic Sand is also softer than regular sand, and you can mold it and get it to stick together. With Kinetic Sand, you'll never want to play with regular sand again!
Kinetic Sand is a unique type of sand that moves as you touch it. Its texture is very smooth, and, unlike most other types of sand, it does not leave a residue on your hands. You can mold it into whatever shape you want. Just make sure it's dry before you leave it to settle. Kinetic Sand is beach sand coated with the stuff often found in Silly Putty: poly(dimethylsiloxane). Don’t worry, though, because the support page for Spin Master Ltd., the children’s entertainment company that owns Kinetic Sand, shows that the company performs “toxicological risk assessments at third-party laboratories to verify that ingredients in the product are safe for children.” Therefore, chemicals deemed unsafe for children or labeled as allergens will not be present in Kinetic Sand.
What is the difference between Kinetic Sand and Play-Doh?
Play-Doh is a fun and popular toy among young children. Play-Doh is a unique material that can be used for educational purposes as well as arts and craft projects. Offered in different colors, children can mix the dough to create amazing things. It's essential to make sure it stays moist or sealed in an airtight container when not in use because it will dry up and get too hard to work with.
Play-Doh is non-toxic and mostly made of water, salt, and flour. On the other hand, Kinetic Sand is made of water, colorant, and a stretchy compound. The consistency of the products is also different. While Play-Doh is a clay-like compound that easily dries up and hardens, Kinetic Sand stays soft and moldable even when left out in the open. Play-Doh is generally cheaper but messier and harder to clean up than Kinetic Sand.
Why Choose Kinetic Sand?
The short version: it's fun learning, especially for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
Kinetic Sand Writing
Kinetic Sand is excellent for improving the literacy skills of children. It's an ideal medium for practicing handwriting skills and spelling. Children can easily write letters or words through the sand using their fingers. If they’re ready to practice holding writing utensils, they can write with a pencil, the back of a pen or a thin marker, a chopstick, or, for smaller hands, a cotton swab. They’ll have fun squishing and reshaping it to a new blank slate each time they’re ready to write another letter. These activities are fun, but the real bonus is that they help children develop fine motor skills and enhance mental health.
Kinetic Sand Construction Sensory Bin Activity
If you have kids like me who love to explore their world by touching slime or water (or anything, really), then you might want to try a sensory bin–a shoebox or a larger plastic storage container with different materials for children can explore with their senses. I used a large storage bin for the sensory bin I made, and if you place it on a table, (voila!) you’ll have your own do-it-yourself (DIY) sensory table.
Kids who love trucks and digging through sand will want to check out this Kinetic Sand activity. The exercise uses the Kinetic Sand to mimic an active construction site that needs to be cleared out to flatten the ground, and construction can begin. Your job is to use your trucks and excavators (or other props) to grab all of the leftover bits and pieces of unneeded material out of the sand. You don’t need specific toys to do this. In fact, you can use your imagination and everyday items around the house like snack-size Ziploc bags and ¼ cup canning jars as "dump trucks" and "excavators"! But if you already have these tough Tonka trucks, they’re the perfect size for a DIY sensory bin. Playing with both Kinetic Sand with Tonka trucks was a hit with my toddler because it combines two things my toddler loves: construction trucks and sensory toys.
Kinetic Sand Archaeology Sensory Bin
My preschooler is quite imaginative. We like to hide small things in the Kinetic Sand, like Hot Wheels cars, tiny toy cups and spoons, and even small rocks or pebbles. Then, we pretend to be archaeologists by using utensils as our digging tools and paintbrushes to sweep away “dirt” to reveal the hidden artifacts. It’s easy to have a big adventure with tiny toys and a sensory bin!
Molding and Stamping Letters and Shapes with Kinetic Sand
Children love to play with sand, and this Kinetic Sand letter mold activity is a fun way to reinforce letter recognition with little ones. Gently fill each mold or cookie-cutter alphabet stamp with a small amount of Kinetic Sand, then place them in a plastic tray. Be sure that each mold or stamp has its own corner space, so the letters don't touch each other. Or, you could keep it simple with freehand by molding letters and shapes manually.
If you have an old wooden puzzle or toy blocks lying around, you might consider giving them a new life! You can repurpose the pieces into sand stamps. Make designs in the Kinetic Sand, or simply have fun playing with your Kinetic Sand squishing pattern stamps.
Imaginative, Creative, Engaging Play
Kinetic Sand is a fascinating substance. It feels and looks like regular sand, but it's as soft as a pillow! It comes in a wide variety of colors and can be molded, squeezed, and sculpted into any shape you want. Kids love Kinetic Sand because they get to play with it like regular sand, they can build things with it, and it's easier to mold into shapes. There are a lot of ways you can play with Kinetic Sand! For example, you can make castles, cakes, igloos, fruits, scoops of ice cream, and anything your imagination can create. You can also use other things to play with the Kinetic Sand, like plastic knives or wedges, cookie-cutter shapes, a melon scooper, or mini wooden baseball bats. If you aren't very creative or simply want to learn how to play with Kinetic Sand, check out the tutorials on the Kinetic Sand YouTube channel!
It's fun to play with, but it's also a great way to educate young kids about art, self-expression, and other creative ways to have fun. Educational value aside, Kinetic Sand comes in various colors, so if you're looking for a particular color to match a specific occasion–such as pink shimmer sand for a princess-themed playdate or party–it’s available!
Play therapy
Sensory play is one of the best tools for parents looking to help their kids learn about the world around them and is an effective educational tool for helping your children discover new things and grow. While there's no governing body to tell us exactly what "sensory play" means, it's generally understood that physical resources (like sand, water, or blocks) are frequently involved in sensory play since they can be easily moved around and used in various situations while being a relevant part of most kids' development once they're old enough. It should also go without saying that engaging all five senses at once during sensory play can be incredibly therapeutic!
Kinetic Sand is fun to play with on its own, but it's even more exciting when combined with sensory play. The moldable substance gets a lot of use in preschool and daycare classrooms, as it's excellent for developing fine motor skills, language development, and creative thinking in children. Kinetic Sand is also a fun activity on rainy days because it only takes a few minutes to set up the small volcano (or whatever structure you've made at the time) and can be played with repeatedly by remaking its new form or structure.
Helpful tips when playing with Kinetic Sand
It's soft and squeezable, but it never gets stuck in your hands! Its all-natural ingredients create a truly magical experience for kids three and up. The signature Kinetic Sand toy is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and does not contain wheat or gluten.
How do you clean up Kinetic Sand?
Kinetic Sand is easy to clean up because it sticks to itself. Form a ball of sand and dab the remaining sand with the ball to pick it all up! Kinetic Sand is practically mess-free if you’re playing with it in a container or flat surface. No matter how much you play with it, there's no chance of it sticking or staining the floor like other sand toys. It would still look perfect even if it ended up being untouched for a few weeks or even a month! In my experience, however, it’s not a good idea to play with it directly on the carpet–you’d need to vacuum it up if this happens. And it’s harder to remove from some fabrics like suede leather–in this case, you could just pagpag it off (the Tagalog word that describes shaking or dusting it off), but you might notice some sticking to it.
What happens if Kinetic Sand gets wet?
Don't worry if the Kinetic Sand gets wet. Spread it out on a flat surface to dry, and it will return to its original state.
I think my Kinetic Sand is drying out. What should I do?
Kinetic Sand is different from regular Play-Doh. It doesn't dry out. If you notice it is drying you, you can put a few drops of water onto your Kinetic Sand, and it'll go back to its original texture again!
Conclusion
Children will fully immerse themselves in play when their imagination is limitless. As they explore their environment during playtime, the development of their motor skills is accelerated. Kinetic Sand is a great toy that can be beneficial for many ages. However, this toy is advertised for children aged three and rightly so as they may benefit most from the sensory experiences that Kinetic Sand provides. Kinetic Sand can support the development of fine motor skills, social skills, and physical and emotional development. Kinetic Sand is an excellent toy for kids to stimulate their creativity and development, and for us, it was the best toy we bought during the pandemic!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens if my child eats kinetic sand?
Kinetic sand is made of tiny particles of sand that are bonded together with a water-based polymer. When the child eats kinetic sand, the tiny particles will pass through the digestive system and be eliminated in the stool. There is no risk of toxicity associated with eating kinetic sand; however, it could pose a choking hazard.
Is Kinetic Sand popular?
Yes, Kinetic Sand is popular. In fact, it's so popular that it's often used in therapy for children with special needs. The sand has a calming effect and can help some kids focus and stay on task. It's also just really fun to play with!
What age is Kinetic Sand good for?
Kinetic sand is good for all ages! It's a great activity for kids and adults alike. It's a great way to relax and de-stress, and it's also a fun way to kill some time. So whatever your age, kinetic sand is the perfect toy for you! It is recommended for children aged 3 years old and up.
Is kinetic sand better than Play-Doh?
There's no doubt that kinetic sand is a hot commodity these days. But is it really better than good ol' play dough? Let's take a closer look at the two substances to see which one comes out on top.
When it comes to texture, kinetic sand has the advantage. It maintains its soft and smooth texture regardless of how you store it, making it arguably more pleasant to touch than play dough–which gets dry and crusty if you don’t store it in its airtight container. And because kinetic sand is made with fine-grained sand, it has a satisfying weight to it that play dough just can't match.
In terms of moldability, play dough wins hands down. It's much easier to shape and sculpt than kinetic sand. All in all, it comes down to your–or your child’s–preference. My kids love Play-Doh at times, but usually, the fun is short-lived when it starts sticking to their fingers (sometimes, messy play gets to be too much for them!). This isn’t a problem with Kinetic Sand, which they can play with for much longer.
Can you separate kinetic sand colors?
Kinetic sand is a type of play sand that's made with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) coating. This coating is what makes the sand move and stick together when you use it. Kinetic Sand is packaged separately by color, and once you mix them together it's not possible to separate them. You’ll get what looks like a mix of whatever colors you mix and if you keep mixing all colors together, you’ll likely end up with a poo-poo brown color.
Can you vacuum up kinetic sand?
Kinetic sand is a type of sand that can be vacuumed up without any problems. It's made from a special material that sticks to itself, so it doesn't form clumps or leave residue behind. The great thing about kinetic sand is that it never dries out, so you can keep playing with it for as long as you want!
Does Kinetic Sand make your floor slippery?
If you're looking for a way to make your floor more slippery, then Kinetic Sand can do the job, but it is probably not the best option. In other words, it can make hard floors slippery if you have enough laying around all over your floors, but since it is not loose like normal, dry beach sand, it shouldn’t be spread out all over your floors to cause any problems. Plus, it would be easy to pick up all the clumps with another clump of Kinetic Sand since it sticks to itself. So, if you're looking for a fun and unique way to play with sand, then Kinetic Sand is definitely worth checking out!
Does Kinetic Sand stain clothes?
I’ve never experienced any transfer of color on carpets, towels, or floors when playing with Kinetic Sand. I also have never noticed any stain on my kids’ hands or clothes. It sticks to itself and doesn’t stick long enough to other surfaces to cause staining.