Taste safe moon sand recipe {with natural colors}

We are in the stage where we love sensory play activities. Anything that my kids can play with using their hands (and get messy) is a favorite activity around here.  Since I have small kids I try to make these activities taste safe since no matter how much I watch them one of them will always try to taste whatever we’re playing with.

I recently shared our Non-toxic Bath Crayons and Natural Play Dough Recipe that has been a huge hit in my home. Today I want to share with you another favorite and very affordable activity: moon sand.

Moon sand is basically “sand” that is a little sticky so it’s easy to make shapes with it.  I usually make the moon sand and put it in a huge bin with toys. We like to use scoopers, tiny animal figures and cups or you can give your kiddo a few kitchen utensils and they will stay busy with the moon sand.

I recommend that you play with this in your backyard, but if you’re like me and live in an apartment without a yard then make sure you let them play with this on a floor that easy to clean (no carpet) since they might drop some of on the floor.  If you only have carpeted floors you can always vacuum it but sweeping is just easier.

We use natural food dyes for this recipe since I don’t want my kids eating artificial dyes. However, the colors on the natural dyes are more like pastel colors.  If you’re looking to make moon sand with really bright colors I’d advice you use regular food dyes.

This recipe is taste safe but it is not meant to be eaten as a snack.

Ingredients:

You will need 1 cup of oil per 8 cups of flour.

• 2 cups of organic flour (I usually buy the Whole Foods brand but you can use regular floor)
• 1/4 cup of oil (you can use any oil you have at home)
• India Tree Natural Decorating Colors (use this one or this one for brighter colors but keep in mind this is an artificial food dye)
• For the green moon sand: 1/4 cup of matcha powder (this is optional; you can use food dyes too)

Additional supplies:

• Bowls to make each color
• Big plastic bin (this is a lot cheaper at here)
• Kitchen utensils
• Tiny animal toys
• Scoopers
• Fine motor tool set

Directions:

Grab a bowl for each color you plan to make. We usually make 4 at once.

Add flour to each bowl and then add the oil.

Mix it very well using a fork.
Then add the natural food colors and mix it with a fork. I usually add about 1/4 of the india tree bottle, which is about one squirt but you can add more.
If you’re using matcha powder add to one of the bowls and mix.

Mix it with a fork until all flour has been dyed. You can always more coloring if you want it to have a darker tone.

Once it’s all mix add it all to the large plastic bin. I like to make rows of each color. Although this doesn’t last long since the kids mix it all up.

Let your kids play with it and have fun!