We Think Kinetic Sand is Amazing – AND Their Newest Collab is a Playtime Lifesaver
Are you hooked on Kinetic Sand yet? We’ve been fans for years! 😍
You’ve seen it on commercials and all over stores, but if you haven’t actually held an incredibly SAND-isfying lump of Kinetic Sand yet, then you’re missing out!
If you HAVE, then you’ll be excited to know that we’ve got a deal on the latest limited-edition Kinetic Sand product that makes this mesmerizing activity compound even better than before… bet you didn’t think that was possible, huh?
And so we’re all on the same page, let me start by saying that I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with Kinetic Sand x Rubbermaid, but I have been buying Kinetic Sand out of my own pocket for years! And it’s the ‘toy’ I keep coming back to for so many reasons! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Keep reading to find out why!
Hello, friends! Mom of three under 5 here. 🤪
As parents we all know, there are toys, and then there are TOYS🎉 – you know, the ones that don’t break, don’t require 10 million battery changes (and similarly don’t make creepy noises at night), are easy to clean-up, spark creativity, independently-led, and of course, the most important thing… FUN!!
But how about a toy that also supports physical development like fine motor skills, provides relaxing and calming sensory benefits, supports social development (when sharing with others), and also strengthens other basic learning skills such as color recognition, spatial planning/mapping, comparison, cause & effect, and so much more.
YEAH, Kinetic Sand does that! 🙌🏼
Feeling a little skeptical? As a previous special education teacher, I am so excited to be able to share with you the many ways each of these benefits can be accomplished with this magical stuff!
My kiddos and I were first introduced to Kinetic Sand in a preschool classroom approximately 2 years ago. You could tell each bag had been THOROUGHLY loved and played with, and yet the sand was just as malleable and fun to play with as if it were brand new.
At that point, I knew I had to have some at home!
There are tons of Kinetic Sand varieties on the shelves today, and besides the different tools and molds you may get in each, the sand is the same amazing quality every 👏🏼 single 👏🏼 time! So whether you choose to try out the latest Rubbermaid edition that’s making parent’s lives much easier, or a classic colorful favorite, I am confident you’ll be impressed!
First thing’s first, this stuff is MESS-FREE! (No like, SERIOUSLY!)
Parents, I’ve been there- I remember seeing the commercials foreeeeever ago thinking “There’s no way. That SAND has to make a mess somehow…” but oh how wrong I was!
Due to its unique formula with elements of silicone and oxygen, specifically silicone oil, the particles in Kinetic Sand are compelled to stick together—and more specifically, to each other, not to your hands. Any clumps that do stray from the pile can easily be picked up by simply blotting the larger chunk onto each tiny piece like a magical sand mop!
I’ve also found that unlike other compounds or slime (OH SLIME 😳) that can get smushed into couches permanently, Kinetic Sand blots right out of cushioned benches, chairs, clothes, etc. that my kids have gotten it on. Just don’t go squishing it into your favorite shag rug!
Now while it doesn’t make a mess itself, unless you purchase Kinetic Sand in a resealable bag, the previous question used to always be “how do I store it?”
Kinetic Sand x Rubbermaid’s new release is solving the only *tiny* problem it ever had!
For the first time ever, you can now score a whopping 3-pound tub of Kinetic Sand that already comes in a durable, resealable, non-toxic Rubbermaid container with a lid! So your Kinetic Sand is ever-fresh, ever-ready, and you don’t have to worry about making a separate purchase just to buy a container!
Kinetic Sand x Rubbermaid 3 lb. tub $24.99
This seems like an awesome deal as just a Rubbermaid container WITHOUT the Kinetic Sand is $8.25 on Amazon, which means you’re paying just $11.74 for 3 POUNDS of sand!
Note that shipping is free on orders of $50 or more, so stock up!
*Disclaimer: Although no one wants a pile of sand just laying around, keep in mind another amazing thing about Kinetic Sand is that it never dries out, with or without a container! I once made a ‘sandbox’ for my kiddos using this stuff and left it outside, never put a lid on it, and it NEVER. DRIED. OUT. It kept my kiddos entertained for months!
Want to take your Kinetic Sand to the next level?
Alrighty, friends, you’ve made it this far! 😆 Whether you’re building ice cream cones, sandcastles, or just making shapes, it’s amazing how many fun Kinetic Sand sets are available, but I’m here to share with you that even just a simple bag (or if you scooped up the new Rubbermaid tub) IS ENOUGH and can provide hours of endless play, which is why I can’t praise this stuff enough! 🙌🏼
These are some of my favorite ways to play with Kinetic Sand…
We scooped up a few bags of this Kinetic Sand-Beach Sand variety because I just thought it was so adorable that it looks like real sand! It also has a little thicker, coarser texture which gives my kiddos a different kind of sensory experience as well.
1.) Make a construction pit.
Because what goes better than tractors + sand?? I keep this little Kinetic Sand sensory bin readily available for my kiddos at all times and they are constantly going back to it, at least once a day for my 1.5-year-old!
Don’t have any tractors? This activity works with all kinds of cars, trucks, or whatever vehicles you have laying around (be sure to check between the couch cushions 😉). You can also pick up cheap cars at the Dollar Store.
What it does:
- Make bumps, ramps, hills, and more to drive over, crash into, and explore! Moving the little scoops on our tractors helps my kiddos with fine motor skills like pinching, while following a ‘road’ or lines in the sand is a helpful pre-handwriting skill!
- Sometimes I will prompt my kiddos like, “make a city” and it helps them get their gears turning. Once they do, building with Kinetic Sand supports spatial mapping/planning skills. Plus, playing with multiple kiddos encourages turn-taking and other social cues!
*Disclaimer: I am very comfortable and confident letting my 1.5-year-old play with Kinetic Sand because while I always have my eye on him, he has NEVER been the type to put things in his mouth, thanks to his older siblings who are always modeling. However, if you have a little one at home, please keep in mind that Kinetic Sand is non-toxic, but NOT safe to eat.
2.) Crack open some dino eggs!
This works with any little people, animals, action figures, army men, whatever you have laying around the house! Whether I premake the ‘eggs’ beforehand for my kiddos to dig out or we’re using molds to make eggs together, this activity never gets old!
Tip: Don’t have any sand molds? Use an old plastic storage container, baby bowl, kids’ cups (I often use old cups) to make these ‘eggs’!
What it does:
- Molding and shaping these eggs with their hands provides an amazing sensory experience! We love that this beach sand is a little gritty without the mess of regular ‘ol dirt!
- If you pack them enough, these eggs can be a little dense. Since the sand becomes more viscous as you apply pressure to it, little hands getting to ‘crack’ them open improves their physical development, specifically hand and finger strength.
3.) Inspire early learning with open-ended letter play.
Again, there is no rhyme or reason to the accessories I have. These letters are from an old toy we received almost 4 years ago, but whether it’s letters, numbers, shapes, or coin money, this type of play works for it all and the only thing you need to buy is one simple bag of Kinetic Sand!
I have also found that anytime I want my kiddos to practice a school-based concept or difficult skill, I can usually get them to participate much better when Kinetic Sand is involved. 😉
What it does:
- Adding in a sensory experience like ‘touch’ to letter and number recognition helps little minds remember them better! For younger kiddos, try stamping letters into the sand. For older kiddos (I do this for my 3 and 4-year-olds), have them write the letter in the sand with their finger, as this also works on fine motor skills!
- You can also hide the letters in the sand or play ‘Buried Treasure’ with coin money (this one’s a fave for my kiddos). Kinetic Sand lends itself to so many different ways to play!
4.) JUST PLAY!
Don’t have time for a pre-planned activity? Not a problem! Kinetic Sand by itself does so much. It’s the toy they never want to put down, literally… I mean, it’s SO silky and cool to the touch, I wouldn’t put it down either, but also because it is SO FUN!
Every time they pick up a batch of Kinetic Sand, this tactile play provides a unique sensory experience, unlike any other moldable substance out there! Build everything from busy cities to ancient volcanoes, add some letters for educational fun, and best of all, have a mess-free time doing so!
This stuff is so good, it’s gone global!
Consider exploring something new together by snagging one of these limited-edition sets! Or SAND-isfy your Christmas shopping list and save one for later!
I hope you enjoyed some of these fun activities! Let us know if you try them or what other fun sand games you play.
Making the most of last-minute summer memories? Try making ice cream at home!
Will it ruin carpet? Most of my home is carpeted, and I’m concerned that if it drops on any floor and gets stepped on, it will eventually make it’s way into my carpet…
This stuff is messy. Don’t play with it on carpet. While kids do love playing with it, keep in mind that this is a sponsored post a.k.a. advertisment.
To say this doesn’t make a mess is not a true statement. We’ve had several batches of this and it is messy. My youngest was in therapy and whenever your hands get sweaty or wet for any reason, it sticks to them. It will literally stick to anything wet. When you try to wash your hands…well forget it! Not to mention it also clogs your sink drains! This also gets in between the seams of hardwood floors and tables, which is a beast to get out and is often just given up on. So please don’t think this is completely mess free!
Thank you I’ve never tried this stuff before because intrinsically I wondered about the exact things you mentioned. I have one 3 boys all sensory seekers and got this for my 2 year old and will be sure it stays outside and we use hand wipes to clean it! Thanks!!
I’m a teacher who’s used it regularly for years. Both on tile and a rug. It will spill yes, but just like any sand it’s easy to use a vac or broom on. If you dust your hands with baby powder before using, it won’t stick to your hands at all, even little sweaty/wet/slobbery kindergarten hands.
I agree. This stuff makes a HUGE mess that is very difficult to clean. It may work if your kids are super careful and only drop a small amount here or there right under where they are playing but with most average kids this stuff will be all over your house and is super hard to clean up. Even more difficult than regular sand would be.
We love kinetic sand and my 6 year old grandchild has played with it on carpet and tile. Inevitably it will spill over onto the floor but we have had no issues vacuuming or sweeping it up. We keep ours in ziplock bags and it works well. But we’ve never had three pounds of one color!
Kinetic sand isn’t messy?!? It may stick to itself but that doesn’t mean it stays together in a single tidy lump. Little bits of sand somehow manage to get tracked all over the place, even when played with in a large container. We kept it in the garage, where it exasperated my typically easygoing husband. We were both glad to get rid of it. Now I have a Rubbermaid tub of various slime concoctions in my house, and I’m OK with that. My daughter makes it and plays with it only at the kitchen counter. Although it leaves residue on the counter that I have to wipe up, it doesn’t end up on the floor, where it would ultimately migrate throughout the house. Recently my daughter expressed interest in getting some Kinetic Sand as a mix-in for her slimes. Umm, that’s a hard no!
I love this stuff with my 16 grandkids! They always play in the kitchen and not on a carpeted floor. I have never had trouble sweeping it up or vacuuming it up. I get out our 1/4 size sheet cake baking pans for each child and that helps keep the sand mostly in the pan. Or on the table. I love the tip above for using baby powder will try that!. I highly recommend it! I love playing in it myself 🙂
That is a great tip Kristen! I get it for the kids and I use the cardboard box that they sit 6 packs of soda bottles in 4 to a box. It is pretty sturdy, a few inches deep and gives them lots of room to play in. I also never had a problem cleaning it up either. It has always vacuumed right up for me. They love it and will play for quite awhile with it.
I HATE this stuff! My child tossed a bunch on the carpeted floor when I was looking. It did NOT clean up easily… It’s not sand. I spent months trying to get every bit up. Everytime we sat on the floor we’d come up with little blue or purple pieces.
I let my son play with it on the floor on a tray… th sand that spilled over must have left a residue on the floor because it was very slippery