Sensory Activities & Recipes for Kids

*Stickers
*Bubbles
*Arts and crafts/recipes and more
http://familyfun.go.com/
* A great Kool-Aid playdough recipe http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~abarth1/recipes/koolaidplaydough.htm*For more fun play recipes and arts and crafts go to - http://www.kidskrate.com/
*Create a picture vocabulary book with magazines or flashcards using a mini-photo album Arts & Crafts Busy Book : 365 Activities (Paperback) by Trish Kuffner
*Art easel - Portable
*Use shaving cream for kids who do not put everything in their mouths or play with pudding on a tray
*Magnetic tray - place some sand and metal items (large screws, magnets etc.) in a deep tray and cover the top of the tray with a piece of plexi glass (from a hardware store). Duct tape the plexi glass securely to the tray. Use a large fridge magnet to move the objects around in the sand
*Finger paints -A smock may be necessary
*Puzzles
*Markers/construction paper/glitter
*Washable paints

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makeplaydough.com/

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shoppingcartcoverstore.com/

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Free Kids Crafts at Crafty Kids Weekly

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Rainy Day Recipes for Older Kids

Silly Putty
1 Cup Liquid Starch
1 Cup White Glue
Mix starch and glue in bowl or storage bag. 
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OOBLICK
1 part water
1 part corn starch

Mix water and corn starch together, and stir

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GAK
1 Cup Warm Water
1 Cup White Glue
Food Coloring
1 Cup Warm Water with 1 Table Borax dissolved into it

Mix together 1 cup water and glue.  Add food coloring.  Pour in the water and Borax mixture.  The reaction will happen immediately.  Stir, lift out gak and drain excess water from bowl.  Work gak with hands until smooth.

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SAND DOUGH
4 Cups Sand
3 Cups Flour
¼ Cup Corn Syrup
¼ Cup Oil
1 Cup Water

In bowl, mix together sand and flour.  Add corn syrup, oil and water.  If needed, add more water fro desired texture.

CORNMEAL DOUGH
1 ½ Cups Flour
1 ½ Cups Cornmeal
1 Cup Salt
1 Cup Water

Mix all ingredients together in bowl.  If mixture seems dry, add very small amounts of water until smooth dough is formed.

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COLORED RICE
1 Cup Rice
Water Color
Storage Bags

Pour 1 cup rice into bags.  Add a squirt of water color.  Seal bag and shake, squeezing the rice with your hands.  Lay rice out to dry.

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ICE POPSICLE PAINTING
Water
Dry Tempera Paint
Little Cups (Dixie cups) or Ice Cube Tray
Popsicle sticks

Mix water and enough Tempera Paint to get desired color.  Pour mixture into cups or cube tray.  Put plastic wrap on top of cups or cube trays, then poke Popsicle stick through wrap.  Freeze.
When frozen, they can be used to paint on paper. 
Alternate recipe:  Put dry tempera paint into shakers and shake on paper then rub with ice cube.

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PEANUT BUTTER DOUGH
1 Cup Oatmeal
1 Cup Non-Fat Powdered Milk
½ Cup Honey
1 Cup Peanut Butter

Put oatmeal and powdered milk in a large bowl and mix.  Add honey and peanut butter to the dry ingredients and mix.  Mix the dough until it forms one large ball.  Store in air-tight container and refrigerate.

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CLOUD DOUGH
1 Cup Water
Food Coloring
6 Cups Flour
1 Cup Oil

Pour water in small bowl and add food coloring.  Pour flour and oil in a large bowl.  Slowly add the water to the flour/oil mixture, stir as you pour.  Continue mixing until you get soft dough.   Add more flour or water if necessary.  Store in air-tight container and refrigerate.

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OATMEAL DOUGH
1 Cup Flour
2 Cups Oatmeal
1 Cup Water

Put Flour and oatmeal into a bowl.  Gradually add water.  Add more flour if sticky.

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NO COOK PLAYDOUGH
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Salt

Mix all ingredients and knead.

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MAGIC TOUGH BAGS
5 Tble Cornstarch
½ Cup Water
½ Cup Oil
Food Coloring
Plastic Storage Bags

Combine cornstarch, water and food coloring in bag. Add Oil.   Seal bag and tape closed for extra safety.  Lay flat and enjoy.  To make it last, lay flat on surface and over with contact paper.

RAINBOW IN A BAG
1/3 Cup Sugar
4 Cups Cold Water
1 Cup Cornstarch

Mix all ingredients and heat until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly.  Cool.  Divide mixture equally into three containers and add food coloring.  One color per container.  Add three heaping tablespoons full of each color to a Ziploc bag.  Seal the bag and tape it closed.  Have the children knead their bag to mix the colors.

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KOOL-AID PLAYDOUGH
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
3 Tbls. corn oil
1 Tbls. alum
1 3/4 cup boiling water
1 package Unsweetened Kool-Aid   

Mix the dry ingredients. Bring the water and oil to a boil (Adult implements this step). Add to the dry ingredients.   Mix, then knead as you would bread. Store in an airtight container.

Note- This smells so good but DO NOT let the children Eat it!        

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MAGIC COAL GARDENS
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup bluing (found in the laundry section)
1/4 cup non-iodized salt
1 Tbls. ammonia 

Mix all the ingredients together.
Place several chunks of coal or charcoal close together in a throw away pie tin. Pour the solution over the coal.
Drip food coloring onto the coal. Try to use several colors, but keep the colors separate. Leave one area without food coloring as white will grow there. Set in a safe place. Do not Touch! This will stop the growth.
After two days, pour a solution of 2 Tbls. water and 2 Tbls. ammonia around the edge of the coal.
It's magic! 

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COOKED PLAYDOUGH
1 cup flour
2 tsp. oil
1/2 cup salt
Food coloring
1 cup water
2 tsp. cream of tartar

Pour all ingredients into a saucepan; stir over low heat until mixture thickens. When playdough pulls away from the sides of the pan and can be kneaded, its done. Keep in an air tight container.

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PUFF PAINT    
½ Cup Flour
½ Cup Salt
½ Cup Water
Food Coloring
Plastic squeeze bottles

Mix flour, salt and water in a bowl.  Add food coloring to get desired color.  Pour into squeeze bottles.   Best to use heavy paper or cardboard.  Mixture will harden puffy.

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CINNAMON CLAY
1 ½ Cup Cinnamon
1 Cup Applesauce
1/3 Cup White Glue

Mix cinnamon, applesauce and glue together in bowl.  Knead the mixture until it turns to firm clay.  Let it sit for 30 minutes.  Best at room temperature.  If it gets sticky dust with cinnamon.

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DRYER LINT CLAY
1 Cup Lint from the Dryer
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Flour
2 Drops Wintergreen Mint Flavoring (Any flavor will work)

Place the lint in a saucepan and cover it with the water, when saturated add flour and stir until smooth. Add the drops of flavoring.  While cooking stir constantly until peaks form and it hold together.  Let cool.  Shape and if you want to paint.  Allow to dry for 3-5 days.

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SALT AND FLOUR FINGER PAINT
2 Cups Flour
2 Teas Salt
3 Cups Cold Water
2 Cups Hot Water

Mix salt and flour in a saucepan. Pour in cold water gradually and beat with a whisk or egg beater until smooth. Add the hot water and boil the mixture until it becomes glossy. Beat until smooth. Mix in food coloring.