DIY Kinetic Baha Play Sand
Looking for outside-the-sandbox fun? We’ve got your DIY fix!
With just a few household ingredients (we found ours at Walmart), you can make moldable and stretchy kinetic sand using Calcean’s Baha Play Sand. Not only is it a fun sensory craft to make, but also, it’s made with renewable, sustainable play sand as the main ingredient!
First, allow us to tell you a little bit about our sand and how it’s special and different from other play sands. Then we’ll get right to the recipe and some step-by-step photos of the process.
BAHA PLAY SAND – it’s OOLITIC ARAGONITE!
Baha Play Sand isn’t like other play sands. Our sand is called oolitic aragonite. It is a biogenic, renewable and sustainable calcium carbonate sand – it’s continually made in the ocean in The Bahamas!
Let’s break it down:
BIOGENIC means our aragonite sand is made by a biological process. In our case, our sand naturally renews in the ocean through a process calling ‘whitings.’ When oolitic aragonite is formed, it helps our environment by removing thousands of tons of carbon dioxide from the air, helping to reduce the negative impact of climate change! (Learn more HERE.)
RENEWABLE means our aragonite sand is continuously being made naturally in the ocean. Many play sands come from crushed rock, and that rock is blasted or mined out of the ground. When it’s gone, it’s gone and the mining leaves permanent scars on the Earth. However, our sand keeps renewing in the waters of The Bahamas.
SUSTAINABLE means our aragonite sand is generated at a vastly greater rate than it is consumed/harvested. We harvest oolitic aragonite in a way that preserves the natural formation environment and is guided by environmental firms.
Different Colors Available!
- Natural - Sunset Red - Orange Sherbet - Sunny Yellow - Palm Green - Aqua Blue - Flamingo Pink - Onyx Black -
In addition to being biogenic, renewable, and sustainable, there are many other benefits to Baha Play Sand over standard play sands. Here are just a few:
- Its particles are smooth and round, making it a soft sand that won’t hard-pack
- It is naturally cooler than standard play sands (the rounded particles allow air to pass through), so it won’t get too hot for outdoor playtime
- It can be easily handled wet or dry, indoors or outdoors
- It’s silica-free and quartz-free (many play sands contain silica, and if inhaled, can cause a respiratory illness called silicosis)
- It’s dried and screened to be dust-free
- It’s offered in these bright colors, which are food-safe and nontoxic to humans, plants or animals: Sunset Red, Orange Sherbet, Sunny Yellow, Palm Green, Aqua Blue, Flamingo Pink, and Onyx Black (and also uncolored Natural Sand)
Ready to play with this good sand in a new and fun way? Let’s go!
The Recipe
Here’s our recipe for fun:
You’ll need just five ingredients*, plus Baha Play Sand:
- 1 TBSP water
- 1/2 tsp dish soap
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 2 tsp white school glue
- 1/2 tsp liquid starch
- 1 cup Baha Play Sand
You’ll also need:
- Medium-sized bowl
- Measuring spoons for liquid ingredients
- Measuring cup for sand (we used a liquid measuring cup we had in our lab)
*Optional ingredient: Your choice of hand lotion to add moisture or scent to the sand if you like.
Our Ingredients
Feel free to substitute with any equivalent products.
Step 1
Mix all liquid ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. (If you add the liquid starch last, that’s the “magic ingredient” that turns your liquids into slime! This slime forms the basis for our moldable sand.)
Step 2
Add the Baha Play Sand to the slime mixture. We started with about 1/2 cup and added more as needed, until you get the texture that feels right to you. The moldable sand should have a good stretch, and it will feel like dough. If you want more of a slimey sand, add less sand. If you want a stretchy sand, add more sand.
Step 3
Add more or less sand to get the consistency you like!
Step 4 (Optional)
Add lotion for scent or to re-hydrate your sand after storing.
Storage
Store in an airtight container for more fun later! If your sand gets too dry, add a small amount of water or lotion to the sand. If your sand gets too wet or slimey, add more Baha Play Sand.
More Ideas for Fun…
- Dig in with your favorite sand toys
- Use plastic cutlery or cookie cutters to cut out different shapes
- Roll the sand around to make your own shapes and sizes
- Squeeze the sand through your fingers
- Use more than one color of Baha Play Sand to expand your possibilities
- Try mixing colors to make swirls and patterns
- Use your imagination!
Available at Home Depot and Amazon!
A FEW NOTES…
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after playing with the stretchable sand.
By itself, Baha Play Sand is a silica-free, allergen-free, highly pure oolitic aragonite sand that won’t cause harm to children or animals. However, supervision is recommended to make sure your kiddos don’t eat the moldable sand mixture or put sandy fingers in their mouths, as the rest of the ingredients are not edible and should not be consumed.