Sensory Play for Kids

How to Make Cloud Dough for Kids

Name: Cloud Dough
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 8 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup baby oil; oil based candy food coloring (optional)

May 24, 2023

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Learn how to make cloud dough with this 2 ingredient recipe. This is a sensory play material kids love!

Updated May 2023

Cloud dough is one of the most popular sensory play materials at my art classes. Kids seem to flock to it!

We’ve made versions for Halloween and Christmas along with colored cloud dough (my new favorite). When it’s lived its life, add some water and turn it into cement or mud for extended creative play!

This recipe is super easy to whip up with only two ingredients. See our easy cloud dough recipe and video to get started!

How to Make Cloud Dough

Time needed: 5 minutes

Measure ingredients
Scoop 8 cups of flour into a bowl. Then add 1 cup of baby oil (or vegetable oil).
Mix ingredients
Now mix and squeeze the ingredients together with your hands to incorporate the dough. Once it can be squeezed and hold some form, it’s ready.
Add coloring
If desired, add a few drops of oil based candy food coloring (see link above–no other kind will color your dough!)
Play!
Transfer cloud dough to a bin, then add molds, toys, scoops and other items for kids to enjoy.

Cloud Dough Recipe

Cloud Dough

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Author: Jean Van’t Hul
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8 cups 1x
Category: Sensory Experience

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Description

Try this simple cloud dough recipe with just two ingredients.Learn how to make cloud dough for sensory play.

Ingredients

Scale

8 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup baby oil

oil based candy food coloring (optional)

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Instructions

Measure 8 cups of flour into a large bowl and add 1 cup of baby oil.
Mix and squeeze the ingredients with your hands to incorporate until the dough holds together when squeezed.
If desired, mix oil based candy food coloring with the oil before mixing it into the flour.
Transfer cloud dough to a plastic bin and add toys, molds, scoops, etc.

cloud dough on tray — Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

Tips to contain the mess

This one is on the messier side but don’t let that deter you. This type of play is important for kids! And we have lots of ideas to contain the mess and encourage creative play for kids!

The easiest way to contain the mess is by moving the activity outside. If we’re at home, I have my kids take off their shirts or wear an art smock so everything brushes off easily.

Catalina of Redviolet Studio shares her two must-have items for messy sensory play:

plastic tablecloth
clear plastic bin

She recommends placing the bin on top of the tablecloth or dropcloth to contain any spills. Shake off the blanket at the end of the play session for easy cleanup.

How about you? What’s your kids favorite sensory play material?

More Sensory Play Ideas for Kids

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preschool classroom, preschoolers, toddlers

Rachel Withers

Rachel is the Editorial Manager at The Artful Parent. She is passionate about engaging with kids through art, whether at art groups or through teaching photography at a local elementary school. Rachel lives in Portland, Maine, and loves going on adventures with her family. As a mother of two young kids, she is excited to explore how nature, art, and play combine in a child’s learning and development. Creating art with her kids and hosting a toddler art group are current highlights.

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