Fun & Sensory Recipes

Pretzel Animals (Also try letters and numbers!)

1 package yeast
4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Mix together yeast, water, sugar, and salt. Stir in flour. Knead on table until dough is smooth. Shape dough into animal shapes. Make sure they are not too thick. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes or until brown.

Finger Paints!

1/2 cup of flour
2 cups of water
food coloring

Mix the flour with a little water, stirring out the lumps. When smooth, slowly stir in the rest of the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture gets thick and shiny. Pour some of the mixture into small containers (yogurt or baby food work well). Stir in the drops of food coloring until the paint is bright and the color you want. Let cool.
Salt can be sprinkled into the wet paint to create a sparkling effect when dry. Use this technique on dark-colored paper for snow scenes or eerie ghosts.

Creative Clay!

1 cup of cornstarch
1 cup of baking soda
1-1/4 cups of cold water

Mix ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir, about 5 minutes until it’s very thick — like mashed potatoes. Cool on a plate until you can work with it with your hands. Roll, cut, or shape as you wish. Let dry for about 2 days. Paint with acrylics, tempura, watercolors, or markers.
If you are making ornaments, press a paper clip into the soft clay for a hanger, or punch holes with a nail before the clay dries.

Slime

3/4 cup warm water
1 cup white glue (Elmers)
food coloring
4 t borax
1 1/3 cups warm water

Mix together 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup glue and several drops of food coloring in the first bowl. In the second bowl, mix together 4 teaspoons borax and 1 1/3 cups warm water. Pour the contents of the first bowl into the second, but don’t stir. Let it sit for 1 minute, then lift the now-congealed slime out of the bowl. Divide slime so that each child has a piece to play with. The glue in slime can make it stick to certain fabrics. To minimize accidents, give each child a zip-top bag to store it in.

SAFETY NOTE: Since borax is toxic in large doses, be sure to keep the slime away from kids younger than age three.

Bubble Brew!
1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent
2 cups of warm water (not too hot!)
3-4 tablespoons of GLYERINE (you can find this at drugstores)
1 teaspooon sugar
food coloring (you choose your favorite color!)
a bottle for storage

Mix together gently all the ingredients in a big container.
Use a container with a tight fitting lid or cap for storage.
Note: You can use almost anything to blow bubbles: pipe cleaners shaped into a circle at one end, plastic six-pack beverage holders, paper cups, plastic coat hangers, straws, and funnels.

Paper Mache

* 1 part flour
* 2 parts water
* 2-3 tbs salt

Mix the flour with the water in a saucepan. Mix well to remove lumps. Cook the mixture over low heat until you get a creamy consistency of thin paste. Add more water or flour as needed. Add a few tbs of salt to help prevent mold. Let cool before using.

Clean Mud

* 3 rolls toilet tissue
* 1 bar Ivory soap, grated
* 3/4 cup borax
* water

Children can help unroll tissue. Put in a large container or sensory table. Saturate with water. Add Ivory soap and Borax. Mix well.

Gunk, Gak or Flubber

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup white glue
* 2 tbs liquid tempera paint or 7-10 drops food coloring
* 1 1/3 cups warm water
* 4 tsp borax

Mix water, glue and paint in a medium bowl. In a second bowl, mix the warm water and borax together until borax is completely dissolved. Slowly pour the water, glue and paint mixture into the water borax mixture (do not mix). Roll or swish water, glue and paint around in the water and borax mixture 4-5 times. Lift the water, glue and paint solution out and knead . Store in airtight container or plastic zip bag.

Silly Putty

* 1 tbs liquid starch
* 2-3 drops food coloring
* 2 tbs white glue
* zip bag

Mix white glue and food coloring together in a small bowl. Pour liquid starch into a second small bowl. Pour the glue mixture on top of the liquid starch. Allow to stand for 5 minutes until glue absorbs the liquid starch. Remove from bowl and knead. The more you knead the better consistency the putty will be. Store in plastic bag.

Oblick or Muck

* 1 1/2 C. Corn Starch
* 1 C. Water
* Food Color (optional)

Mix the ingredients and allow children to play with the mixture. When”pushed” together, the mixture will appear dry and solid; as children let go of the mixture, it flows like a smooth liquid.

Snot

* 1/8 cup borax
* 1/2 liter warm water
* 3 tsp white glue
* green food coloring
* zip bag

Place 1/8 cup of borax laundry booster into a 1/2 liter of warm water. Shake until most of the borax dissolves. Let cool.
MAKING THE SNOT
Place 2 spoonfuls of Elmer’s glue into a cup.
Add 3 spoonfuls of water. Stir.
Add 2 drops of green food coloring. Stir.
Pour into a baggie.
Measure 1 spoonful of borax solution.
Dump into baggie.
Squish the baggie to mix.
Remove your snot.

Clay

* 1 part Salt
* 2 parts Flour
* 1 part Water
* Glitter & Paint (optional)

Mix up the ingredients until they are the consistency of a bread or pizza dough. If it feels too dry, add a little bit of water. Or, if it seems too sticky, add a little more flour and salt. Leave out to dry or bake at 250 degrees.

Clay 2

* 1 cup cornstarch
* 1 1/4 cup cold water
* 2 cups baking soda

Combine cornstarch and baking soda in a small saucepan. Add water and stir until the mixture is smooth. Heat mixture for 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir until it begins to thicken and turns to dough. Remove from saucepan and allow to cool. Knead 2-3 minutes. Sculptures can air dry.