Kinetic sand - what is it?

The range of products for children's creativity is constantly updated. One of the most popular new products that appeared on our market in 2014 is kinetic sand. Its mobility and plasticity have already been appreciated by many mothers and toddlers, taking advantage of such interesting material in their games and developmental activities.

The sand, which is called kinetic, was developed in Sweden for classes with children. It can be used to:

1. Learning - teach kids letters, abacus, shapes, colors, numbers and much more.
2. Entertainment - to invent different games with sand.
3. Treatment - soothe the child with hyperactivity, as well as develop fine motor skills to stimulate speech development.

• With this sand you can have fun playing at home at any time of the year and in any weather.
• The material is clean and safe, which cannot always be said about the sand in the yard sandbox.
• Games with kinetics perfectly develop fine motor skills.
• Classes with such sand soothe the child and learn to concentrate.
• Playing with kinetic sand, the child relaxes, relieves stress, expresses himself and rests emotionally.
• Thanks to the lessons with this material, tactile sensitivity and imagination develop in babies.

The process of playing with kinetic sand is presented in the following video.

• It does not dry out, so it feels like wet sand on the shore of a reservoir. It is not necessary to wet it for modeling, and if left unpacked, it will not dry.
• It does not develop pathogenic bacteria.
• Does not stick to the hands of the child (if they are not wet), as well as to glass, plastic and metal.
• Its plasticity is much higher than that of simple sand, so it is very easy to sculpt from kinetics. This material is both dense, porous and fluid. If you press on the figure of the kinetic sand, it will not crumble, but crawl away.
• When kinetic sand is poured, its grains of sand move more slowly due to the formation of polymer bonds between them.
• From it is easy to form any shape. When compressed, its volume is greatly reduced, and the resulting form is not destroyed for a long time.
• It does not crumble to form separate grains of sand, but remains in the form of a single mass. It is easy to assemble it with your hands and at the same time it will not leave any marks on the surface.
• It does not deteriorate due to the influence of water, therefore, if it is polluted, it can be washed without danger. If it is wetted and then dried, the kinetic sand will not lose its properties.

• Immediately after opening the package, there is a not too pleasant smell (vinegar or glue like smell), but over time it disappears.
• Since it is not loose, it will not be possible to play the mill and other games with it that sift the sand.
• If you make a large figure out of kinetics, it will not keep its shape and will soon settle and spread.
• It sticks to silicone molds, therefore it is not recommended to sculpt with their help from this material.
• If you step on it, it will firmly stick to the shoes.
• Due to the rather high density in the kilogram package of this material, the mixture is not very much.

The kinetic type of sand is a harmless and safe material. It is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Even if the baby accidentally swallows it a little, it will not be a danger to its health. The sand will not dissolve in the child's digestive system, but will be removed from it naturally.

Most of the volume of kinetics is represented by ordinary sand (quartz), and only 2% of the composition is a safe synthetic additive based on silicone. It was she who causes all the properties of this material and distinguishes it from simple sand and analogs.

According to the manufacturer's recommendation, it should be played with this material from the age of 3. Such restrictions are due to the fact that children younger than this age often taste it. However, with the usual sand kids get acquainted, as soon as they start walking. At the same time, there is rarely anyone who does not try bulk material from the sandbox.

Brand colorless Swedish kinetic sand from the company Waba Fun sold in packs of 1 and 5 kg (they contain two packages of 2.5 kg, which in many stores are sold separately without breaking the original packaging). Not so long ago, the company began to produce colored sand, so you can buy packages of 2.5 kg of blue, green, purple, red, yellow or pink sand.

In the premium sets from Waba Fun you will also see molds, presses and an inflatable sandbox.

For those interested in unusual-colored sand, the Waba Fun Kinetic Sand brand offers kinetics of emerald, amethyst, gold, onyx, silver, ruby ​​and sapphire. It is presented in packs of 454 g and is distinguished by the addition of flickering particles. Also, this brand offers packs of 680 g of blue, pink, green, and purple sand, and its Build series includes sand in two different colors.

If you are interested in thematic sets, you will see the Kinetic Sand trademark sets Ice Cream Café, Sea Kingdom, Car Park, Construction and others. They also include special molds.

Look at the games with kinetic sand - it's really fun and exciting!

The required volume should be selected taking into account the age of the baby. The smaller the child, the shorter his games with such material will be, and the less volume he will have. For example, a child at the age of 1.5 years will be carried away by a kilogram package of kinetics for a long time, while a three-year-old needs more sand, so a minimum of 2.5 kg or a set of several colors is preferable.

With kinetic sand you can come up with a lot of interesting games:

• To form different figures with the help of various molds and handy objects.
• Using forms for cookies, play with the child in the pastry baker. Let the kid cut out of the "dough" or make a "cake" and cut it into portions
• Taking a toy dump truck for a game, play at the construction site.
• Hiding tiny toys in the sand and offering your child to look for them.
• Cut the figurines into molds for the sorter and name them as well as count and memorize them.
• Make large and small figures, and then compare their sizes.
• Learn to use the knife, cutting the "sausages".
• Acute stick to draw numbers or letters, as well as sculpt them from kinetics.
• Leave stamps with different objects.
• Choose buttons from the sand or small balls.

Of particular interest are games with sets of colored kinetic sand, but it should be noted that sand of different colors is mixed without the possibility of its subsequent separation. If you mix a lot of shades, you will end up with a dark mass.

Although, as we have already noted, the kinetic variant is harmless and non-toxic, one should not allow him to get into the child’s mouth and eyes, as well as into the ears or nose.

• For storage, you can use a sandbox or plastic container to prevent dust and other contaminants from entering the material.
• Keep it advised at room temperature in conditions of low humidity (40-60%).
• If it accidentally gets wet, for its drying does not require special heating. If the humidity in the room is high, it may become sticky and more fluid. This is corrected by drying with a thin layer.
• When stored in a room with low humidity, the kinetics will lose a little elasticity. To return it, the material should be sprinkled with water and briefly rub in hands.
• Remember that it easily absorbs odors, so before classes with this material it is desirable to wash your hands well.
• Play on a clean surface, and girls should have their hair tied up before classes.
• In addition, pick up such clothes to which the kinetics will not stick. A good option would be smooth tight sweatpants, jeans or leggings.
• Try to collect all the sand after classes, otherwise its volume will decrease greatly over time.

It is very simple to collect kinetic sand at the end of the game. It is easily assembled by hand, as well as a sandy lump. The grains of sand will stick to the main lump as easily as if to a magnet. If desired, you can also use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning.

If you are wondering what will happen to the kinetic sand, if you freeze it or bake it in the oven, see the next video.

Since kinetic sand appeared on our market not so long ago, it will not always be possible to get it in an ordinary children's store. In some cities they have not even heard of such material, therefore, for original and high-quality kinetics, you should contact online stores offering the Swedish product of Waba Fun and Delta Of Sweden.

Moms almost always speak positively of him. They note that children are occupied with games with this material for a long time, such sand does not stain hands and the surface, and is also very easy to clean.

However, there are children who are quickly tired of it, so parents advise buying a small package to start with or go to visit a child who already has a sandbox with kinetics.

Although they all belong to the types of sand, but between them there are quite a few differences. For example, cosmic sand has a higher density, so the figures from this material are more durable, and their contours are clearer. It costs a bit cheaper kinetics.

In contrast to the basic kinetic sand, which has a dark brown shade, the living sand is white. It is made not of quartz sand, but from a shell rock. If you put it in water, it will dissolve, and the kinetic will not change under the influence of water. In addition, it is produced in Asia and is more expensive.

Analog can try to create their own from:

• Well sifted pure quartz sand.
• Potato or corn starch.
• Water.
• Food coloring.

About, how to make kinetic sand at home, read another article and watch the video. Of course, it will differ from the purchased one not for the better, but children can play with it.