Activity/Coloring Pages

Sensory Crafts for Kids

Build Shapes and Characters With Homemade Sensory Dough

Elise Apffel, DISNEY FAMILY CONTRIBUTOR

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Strengthen fine motor skills and encourage creativity in play with this easy-to-make homemade sensory dough recipe. We spy a Hidden Mickey! Plus, you can store the sensory dough in your fridge in an air-tight container for up to a week. Keep reading to learn how to make your own.

 

Food coloring can stain some wood and clothing. Be sure to play while wearing aprons, and on a covered surface. Adult supervision highly recommended. All stovetop cooking should be done by an adult.

Strengthen fine motor skills and encourage creativity in play with this easy-to-make homemade sensory dough recipe. We spy a Hidden Mickey! Plus, you can store sensory dough in your fridge in an air-tight container for up to a week. Keep reading to learn how to make your own.

What You’ll Need

  • 1 cup flour per color or batch, plus a little extra for kneading

  • 1 cup water per color

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil per color

  • Food coloring

  • 1 teaspoon salt for taste (optional)

  • Extracts for taste (optional)

How To Make It

  1. Prepare each color of sensory dough separately.

disneyfamily_sensory-dough_featured_elis

What You’ll Need

  • 1 cup flour per color or batch, plus a little extra for kneading

  • 1 cup water per color

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil per color

  • Food coloring

  • 1 teaspoon salt for taste (optional)

  • Extracts for taste (optional)

disneyfamily_sensory-dough_step-1_elise-

How To Make It

  1. Prepare each color of sensory dough separately.

  2. Begin by adding water and oil to a small pot. 

  3. If you are adding salt, combine the salt and flour in a small bowl.

  4. Once the water and oil mixture has boiled, remove it from the heat and add 3-5 drops of food coloring and ½ teaspoon of extract. Stir well.

  5. Slowly add in the flour mixture, adding a little bit of flour at a time.

disneyfamily_sensory-dough_step-7_elise-

Dump, Cool, and Knead

  1. Dump the mixture out into a bowl and let it cool for about 5-10 minutes.

  2. Knead the dough for 5 minutes. You’ll need to add at least ¼ cup more flour as you knead.

  3. You can continue to sprinkle on more flour if the dough is still sticking to your hands.