Making and Playing with Cloud Dough

Toddlers and young children naturally have a desire to explore the world around them. For many young children, tactile stimulation is uniquely pleasing and being able to do things with their hands can make them happy. While there are many crafts to do with younger kids, activities that allow you to do something with the object you make are of great interest. Below you will find information on cloud dough and how it can be used to bring a smile to your child’s face.

What is Cloud Dough?

For those who are unfamiliar, cloud dough is a sensory substance that can be easily made with a few common household ingredients. One of the reasons kids love it is because of the fact that it can have the powdery texture of flour or corn starch but can also be molded like damp sand. It is also completely safe, even for toddlers who like to put everything in their mouthes. All of these characteristics make it ideal for craft time with the little ones.

How Do You Make It?

The recipe for cloud dough consists of two main components, flour, and oil. While many recipes call for the use of baby oil, we have found several other successful recipes that use edible oils such as vegetable oil or canola oil. We prefer the edible variants as they make the dough safer for kids to put into their mouth. The key aspect to making the dough is maintaining the eight to one flour to oil ratio. For additional tactile stimulation, the ingredients can be mixed by hand to form the dough. It is also possible to add scent to the mixture according to this post by PBS. A color is another thing that can be added if desired. Instructions for adding color to the dough can be found here.

What Can You Do With It?

Much like real dough, cloud dough can be used in a variety of ways to stimulate your child’s senses and imagination. You can utilize it as the base for a sensory bin, especially for toddlers and non-school age children. You can also form it into fun or unusual shapes using molds. Cookie cutters are another great option for making various shapes or practicing baking techniques. In some cases, just the pure joy of squishing it between your fingers is enough to inspire imaginative ways to use the dough.