Sensory play

Squishy Snow Dough Winter Bin

Here's one to try together!

Mix two simple things into cool, packable pretend snow, then build snowmen and stomp animal tracks indoors!

30 min5 min prepAges 2 and upmedium mess

Reviewed by our team.

Safety first

Snow dough is not for eating: keep it out of mouths
Baking soda stings eyes: keep hands away from faces
Under 3s: pick up any small pieces yourself first. Anything that fits through a toilet paper tube is a choking size
Scented extracts can bother sensitive skin: leave them out if unsure

What you need

Grown-up prep: Measure out the baking soda and conditioner, cover the table with a towel, and set out a tray with cups, spoons and toy animals.

Pour the baking soda into the big bowl.
Add the conditioner on top of the baking soda.
Squish and knead with your hands until it packs like snow.
Ask: Squeeze a handful. Does it feel cold like real snow?
Add a few drops of minty or vanilla smell, if you like.
Dump all your snow into the tray.
Roll small snowballs and stack them into a snowman.
Stamp toy animals across the snow to make tracks.
Ask: Whose footprints are these? Can you guess which animal walked here?
Scoop and pour the snow with cups and spoons.
Hide the toy animals in the snow, then dig them out.
Wash your hands, then save your snow for later! What will you build next time?
Ask: What was your favorite thing to make in the snow, and what should we build next time?

Arctic rescue: bury toy animals deep in the snow and race to rescue them all with spoons.
Track detective: one person stamps a secret trail while the others guess which animal made it.
Snowman contest: see who can build the tallest snowman before it tips over.

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