Easy Peasy Cloud Dough Recipe

Sensory activities are great for any kid, truly, and this Easy Cloud Dough Recipe makes a great addition to a sensory diet.

And if you happen to have a “sensory kid” like I do, this is an easy peasy recipe for FUN!

If you’ve never had your hands in a bin of cloud dough, you’re in for a sensory treat. This stuff feels amazing, and I’m generally a sensory avoider, so that’s saying something.

Add in a drop or two or three of your favorite essential oils, and it will smell amazing too.

Cloud dough has the most interesting texture. Sensory seekers will dive right in and love it. And it’s so incredibly soft and smooth and inviting that even my sensory avoiders are fascinated and can’t seem to stop squeezing handfuls of cloud dough into various shapes.

It clumps together, and then collapses with a slight touch, much like perfect-for-sandcastle-building damp sand. Plastic or silicone molds and various-sized scoops are great accessories for Cloud Dough, though plain ol’ fingers are all that is needed to enjoy this sensory treat!

Ok, let’s get right to the recipe. It’s so easy, really!

Cloud Dough Recipe

8 parts flour
1 part oil

Mix, mix, mix!

You can use pretty much any oil that suits your fancy. Some of the recipes that I’ve seen call for using baby oil because some people seem to like the way it smells. Baby oil isn’t something I want my little people licking off their fingers, so I knew I wanted to use an edible and healthy oil in our Cloud Dough recipe. I use olive oil, because I always have it on hand, but a less expensive canola oil or vegetable oil would save pennies and still be safe for toddler consumption.

Toss the ingredients in a nice big bowl and mix until the oil is well-incorporated. A whisk or pastry blender work wonderfully for this step.

You may be tempted to toss in some food coloring. Don’t do it. Oil and water do not play well together. You could toss in some powdered tempera paint, if that’s something you keep on hand, but remember that would put a damper on the safe-for-toddler-consumption part of the basic Cloud Dough recipe. If your kiddo is a bit older and you’re confident that he or she is not going to attempt to lick his or her doughy fingers clean, go for it. 😀

One word of warning – Cloud Dough can make a bit of a mess. And by a bit, I mean an epic or colossal, slightly oily, dusty mess. But the fun is worth it! We play with ours outside, on the driveway or sidewalk, on top of a spread out sturdy plastic or vinyl tablecloth*. The tablecloth makes clean-up a breeze, and you can easily dump most of the spillage back into the bin.

The next time your little ones are getting squirrely and you’re looking for something hands-on, whip up a batch up Cloud Dough and let them dig in and squish and squeeze up some fun!

Go ahead, be the Fun Mom! Your kids will thank you!