UK Cloud Dough Recipe For Sensory Play

Looking for a fun sensory play alternative to our traditional homemade play dough recipe? This handmade cloud dough recipe is great for sensory play activities with babies, toddlers, and even school-aged children. Additionally, this UK cloud dough recipe uses simple ingredients that you’ll probably already have in your cupboards, so let’s get making!

Is cloud dough safe for babies?

Many parents want to create fun sensory play setups for their children, and, along with homemade play dough and other sensory ideas, parents find themselves wanting to create a fun sensory experience using cloud dough. However, a question that’s often asked by these parents is: is cloud dough safe for babies?

Well, the answer to that question depends on how you make it. This UK cloud dough recipe is taste-safe for babies, meaning that if your little one does decide to explore the homemade cloud dough with their mouth, there are no nasty chemicals to worry about. 

Homemade cloud dough can be adapted as your child grows up to include more colours, smells, and textures. We’re sharing two homemade cloud dough recipes today, so keep reading to find out how to ensure that you create cloud dough safe for babies.

What are the benefits of cloud dough for babies and toddlers? 

There are really so many benefits for babies and toddlers that accompany playing with homemade cloud dough. Here are just a few reasons why you should let your babies, toddlers, and school-aged children make and play with our UK cloud dough recipe.

• Playing with cloud dough encourages imaginative play. 
• Helps children to develop and nurture their creativity. 
• Benefits younger children’s gross and fine motor skills.
• Teaches children cause and effect.
• Encourages children to discuss their play and ideas, thus improving communication and language skills.

How To Make Cloud Dough

Our UK cloud dough recipe is a no-cook recipe, which means it’s a quick and easy homemade cloud dough that can be ready in minutes. For basic cloud dough, all you need is plain flour and oil. 

Baby Safe (Edible)

Still wondering “is cloud dough safe for babies?” Well, let me put your mind at ease, here’s how to make edible homemade cloud dough. 

You simply need to mix together 4 parts of flour with one cup of oil.

To make homemade cloud dough that is baby safe, I use all purpose (plain flour) and vegetable oil, but any cooking oil will work.

Then, to finish off the UK cloud dough recipe, simply mix the ingredients together until they’re combined and can be squished into shapes – achieving the desired texture. The texture of homemade cloud dough is like magic sand; it will squish together when squeezed and crumble when rubbed together. 

How to make your cloud dough more interesting:

To make your homemade cloud dough more interesting you can add a variety of additional ingredients that provide various sensory experiences. 

For example, to jazz up this basic UK cloud dough recipe, try using baby oil instead of vegetable oil for a nice, relaxing aroma. For a sensory play experience that really gets your child’s senses working, try mixing in a few drops of food flavouring, such as mint or orange flavouring. 

Add some colour to your homemade cloud dough by grating chalk or mixing in a few drops of food colouring. 

Cloud Dough Play Ideas

There are hundreds of ways to use this UK cloud dough recipe! Children of all ages enjoy a good bit of sensory play, so feel free to add additional resources to your homemade cloud dough base as your children age. Here are a few ideas for you and your children to get you started with your new homemade cloud dough. 

• Use homemade cloud dough to explore various shapes with the use of cookie cutters.
• Create winter-themed sensory boxes for playtime in January.
• Roleplay with your homemade cloud dough by creating a cake or ice cream shop. 
• Explore mark making by using this UK cloud dough recipe in a big sensory tub and adding various toys, including animals and vehicles.

Looking for more items to add to your homemade cloud dough sensory play set-up? Here are a few recommendations to inspire you!

Where To Store Cloud Dough

To keep your homemade cloud dough soft and pliable, store it in an air-tight container. In an air-tight container, your cloud dough will last for a week, before it starts to dry up.

If you do notice that it becomes less pliable, try adding another drop or two of oil. 

If you have used food grade oil to create this UK cloud dough recipe, it’s best to store the cloud dough in the fridge when it is not in use.

Other post you may like:

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Conclusion

Our UK cloud dough recipe is a great addition to your sensory play routines and is quick and easy to make. Because of its no-cook recipe, children can even help to prepare the mixture, developing hand-eye coordination skills by learning to measure, pour, and mix the ingredients together.

Have you made our homemade cloud dough recipe? If so I would absolutely love for you to share your thoughts and playtime ideas in the comments! Alternatively, if you would like to, you can send me pictures of your setups and children enjoying this recipe on Instagram and Twitter.