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How to make instant snow with Insta Snow powder and water. Includes ideas for playing with the fake snow and tips for containing the mess.
Updated December 2023
My family lives in Maine, where the winters are long and snow is pretty abundant. We sometimes bring real snow in to paint with or use in sensory play.
But I was still curious to try Instant powder so I ordered a small container.
I wasn’t sure how long this would hold my kids’ attention, but this material was new and exciting. Not only is the process and science of this fake snow fun, but they truly enjoyed playing with it on trays for a LONG time.
So what’s not to love?
As a disclaimer up front, I wouldn’t consider this a super eco friendly material. (It’s similar to the polymer in disposable diapers.) As such, be sure to stay with your kids and make sure your child is not inclined to eat it!
Then there’s the mess factor, which my teammate, Anna, thankfully had me prepared for. (Have your vacuum on hand!)
Use a tray to help contain the instant snow and ask kids to remain at the sensory bin or tray until completely finished with their play.
When the kids were finished playing completely, we brushed them off and vacuumed the table, chairs & floor. (My husband advised not to let this go down the drain!)
Despite all that, the process (grow snow in seconds!) and texture is very fun for kids and I think we’ll likely try this again.
How to Make Instant Snow
MATERIALS
- Instant snow powder
- Pitcher for water
- Big bowl for mixing snow
- Large plastic tray
- Toy animals (we used our arctic creatures)
Time needed: 10 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix Instant Snow
Follow the instructions from the container to create your instant snow. Ours were very simple and involved scooping the powder and then pouring in a ratio of water.
- Grow your snow!
Then comes the fun part! Almost instantly the snow begins to grow quite quickly. Fluff it with your hand or a spoon a few times, then pour out onto a tray for the kids.
- Touch it (but don’t taste it!)
At this point, my kids went into a snow zone.
They touched it, pushed it, fluffed it, piled it into little snow mountains. It has an interesting texture that they found fascinating. - Add small toys
After a period of time interacting with just the material, the kids were ready to add in our arctic creatures. They set up small world trays and were pretty mesmerized for a LONG time.
This to me, is obviously what makes the mess worth it. And honestly, after our initial panic that this stuff might go all over our house in 2 seconds flat, it turned out, it’s not so bad with the parameters mentioned above.
People Also Ask
- Is Insta Snow safe? This product is nontoxic but should not be ingested!
- What ingredient is in Insta Snow? According to Steve Spangler Science (the makers of Insta Snow):
“Insta-Snow is a synthetic polymer with super, water-absorbing properties. It’s the only faux snow on the market today that erupts when water is added. Similar superabsorbent polymers have been used in the past to absorb moisture in disposable baby diapers… without the incredible expanding property!“
- Is it environmentally friendly? I consulted the scientists in my family on this one. Although non-toxic this product is a polymer that is similar to what’s used in diapers and I would presume, not biodegradable.
- How long does instant snow last for? After a day or so, it noticeably evaporates and begins to shrink. According to the website, you can rehydrate the snow at the point by adding a little water, then fluff it.
More Winter Activities for Kids
- 30 Days of Winter Activities for Kids (with Printable List!)
- How to Make Swedish Snowball Lanterns
- How to Make Stacked Ice Sculptures for an Easy Winter Art Project
- 12 Winter Sensory Activities and Creative Play Ideas for Kids
- A Winter Scavenger Hunt for Kids with Colored Ice Sculptures
- 13 Winter Crafts for Kids with Fun Seasonal Ideas
Want even more creative ideas?
Check out our Winter Fun Creativity pack!
Cozy up with some of our favorite wintertime activities for creative kids! This pack has 40 pages of winter-themed art activities that will keep your kids busy even on the snowiest day!
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