Cornstarch sensory play is one of my favorite play bases. Grab a box of cornstarch and make these sensory recipe ideas for a week/month/season of fun!
Oobleck | Cornstarch Sensory Play
Oobleck, this science experiments is one of the most famous recipes to use with cornstarch. All you need is 2 parts cornstarch with one part water to create this neutonian fluid. It’s solid when you grab it and liquid when you let it go.
Variation
- Add Cocoa powder to create an edible mud
- Add Orange food coloring and create this melted pumpkin activity
- Keep it simple, add green color and some real apples, and celebrate apple week with the original oobleck recipe!
Chalk Paint
Creating chalk designs using a water bottle or a paintbrush is a great spring activity! The best part is that because chalk is based on cornstarch, it is edible, safe, and washed off easily with a hose.
You need only equal parts cornstarch and water. To create different colors, add 8-10 drops of food coloring.
Tips
Leftover paint? You can save it for later. Keep it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to play again, add some water and shake, and it should be good to go!
Edible-Safe Paint using Cornstarch
My favorite edible paint is milk-based, but if your baby is not yet ready to play with something that contains milk, here is a super easy and fun recipe using cornstarch, water, and food coloring.
Clay Recipe
Making your clay is so much fun! We did it for Christmas to make our own ornaments, and it was such a fun experience. The clay molds like playdough, but it hardens when it dries. Make a circle and place your baby’s handprint, and you will get a keepsake you want to save forever!
Watercolor Paint
Watercolor is a great fine motor and science activity.
Mixing colors with paint is a great learning opportunity and allows your child to get creative and express what they cannot express with words.
You will need vinegar, food coloring, and cornstarch for this recipe.
Playdough
This two-ingredient playdough, also called cloud dough, uses cornstarch, water, and food coloring. It doesn’t contain any preservatives, so it won’t store well for use later, but if you are looking for something easy and fast, this is a great option!
SUPER IMPORTANT TIP: Place the cornstarch on the bowl first and then slowly add the hair conditioner for a perfect blend and consistency
Homemade Snow
Some people do not live in a climate where it snows, so the best thing is to make fake snow using 2 ingredients you probably already have at home.
This recipe is messy, so definitely prepare yourself ahead of time and have fun (without the cold weather!).
Conclusion
As you can see, using this one ingredient can create tons of fun sensory recipes! Now, the question is, which one will you choose first?