Easy Sand Slime Recipe for Kids (Stretchy, Moldable Sensory Play)

April 14, 2026

The first handful is always a surprise.

It looks like ordinary sand until little hands begin stretching it apart. Suddenly, it bends, pulls, and molds in ways sand never could. Kids can't resist squeezing it, shaping it, and stretching it just one more time to see what it will do next.

That's what makes this sand slime recipe so much fun. It combines the familiar feel of sand with the stretchy texture of slime to create a sensory experience that's completely different from either one on its own. It's the kind of activity that keeps kids happily exploring long after the slime is made.

In this post, I'll show you exactly how to make sand slime, along with a few simple tips for creating the perfect soft, stretchy texture every time.


Child stretching homemade sand slime with a soft, moldable texture during sensory play


If your family loves stretchy, squishy sensory play, be sure to explore our Slime Recipes for Kids collection for even more creative slime ideas.

Looking for even more homemade sensory materials? Visit our Play Recipes for Kids collection where you'll find hundreds of simple recipes to squish, scoop, pour, stretch, fizz, paint, and create together.


Ingredients for Sand Slime

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy slime at home:

  • 8 oz school glue
  • 4–8 oz liquid starch
  • 4 oz play sand


How to Make Sand Slime

Step 1: Mix Sand + Glue
Combine the sand and glue in a bowl or bucket and stir.

Close-up of a child mixing sand into white glue in a bowl to make stretchy sand slime on a white background

Step 2: Add Liquid Starch
Slowly add liquid starch, mixing as you go until the mixture begins to thicken.



Step 3: Knead the Slime
Once the slime starts pulling away from the bowl, knead it with your hands until smooth, stretchy, and fully combined.


Child stretching sand slime outdoors over a bucket, showing long stretchy texture for sensory play
Collage of child making and playing with sand slime outdoors, including stretching slime and mixing it in a bucket for sensory play

Troubleshooting

  • Too sticky? Add a little more liquid starch and knead
  • Too rubbery? Add a small amount of glue and knead
My kids LOVED this slime activity!  

Tips for the Best Sand Slime

  • Have water nearby for easy cleanup
  • This is perfect for outdoor play
  • Store slime in an airtight container
  • Make eye-spy slime to enforce letter recognition
  • Reuse for multiple sessions of sensory play activities

This simple sand slime is soft, stretchy, and moldable, making it a fun sensory activity kids will want to play with again and again!

Collage pin showing how to make sand slime with ingredients, stretching slime texture, and child mixing slime in a bucket for fun sensory play
Growing a Jeweled Rose

Growing A Jeweled Rose

Growing a Jeweled Rose is a site packed with fun and educational activities for kids. Read more about us or catch up with our favorite posts.

More About the Author

Crystal Underwood is the writer and creator of Growing A Jeweled Rose. She has worked extensively with children and strongly believes in the importance of play at the core of early learning. She is passionate about the early years and believes that childhood should be a truly magical time in life. For all the best kids activities connect with Growing a Jeweled Rose below!


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