Over the last year, I have really found that doing mindfulness activities and meditation for myself have really helped me stay calm and at peace, even during difficult times. Taking deep breaths before walking into work, or yoga with the family have really been positive habits I have added to my life.

I feel like there’s no time like the present to further involve my children in activities that can help them thrive in our world.  There are many children out there with anxiety and many have great difficulty with self-regulation. I think it is so important to give my children the tools they need to manage their emotions. Since my son is still really crazy in love with space, I decided that making homemade moon sand was the perfect activity to teach my little one all about mindfulness.

MINDFULNESS TOGETHER

Making things together has always been an activity that my son and I enjoy so much. The laughter and giggles can be heard throughout the house. At first, I was going to prepare the homemade moon sand before giving it to my son, but then I quickly realized that part of what I was trying to do was teach him to slow down and enjoy simple things. I wanted him to be relaxed and calm and learn how to stay in that positive place. Why not make the homemade moon sand together, and give us another opportunity for a pleasurable memory we will both treasure? What better way to be mindful, than with this?

It is still a difficult concept to understand, but I was so grateful for this experience and truly value these lessons that I can pass on to my little one.  We both got something out of this activity…two in one! This homemade moon sand is so great!

Materials for Homemade Moon Sand

• 1 cup baby oil
• 8 cups flour
• Dough attachment on mixer
• Large bowl for mixing
• Large tub for playing
• Gallon ziplock bag for storing

Homemade Moon Sand Directions

This homemade moon sand couldn’t be easier to make. Please be reminded that this activity is definitely a messy one, so if you don’t enjoy the clean up, this might be best made outside.

• Using the dough attachment of your mixer, mix the baby oil and flour. Mix well and ensure that all lumps of oil are properly combined. 
• Pour the mixture into the large tub and begin this fun and peaceful experience with homemade moon sand.

TIME TO PLAY

At first, I told my son that we were heading to space to enjoy a day on the moon. My son absolutely loves space, so I decided to use it as a great way to reel him in to this very special lesson. I love using imaginative play to set the stage for any activity! 

I let him explore and do what he wanted.  He took a few minutes to just touch it.  His face was priceless.  He seemed shocked that It was so soft that he even left his hands in the tub and sat quietly for a few minutes.

 

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

My son was finding peace and calm even without me having to guide him! I don’t know about others who practice breathing techniques, but I find that taking the time for several deep breaths can really help me find calm. I decided to show him some deep breathing exercises as we traced the sand with our fingers.

Even though we love yoga, I still wanted to begin slowly with our mindfulness theme. We started by drawing mountains up and down in the moon sand, taking a deep breath as we went up the mountain (inhale), pausing at the top to sightsee (holding our breath for a count 3), and releasing as we went down (exhale).

There are so many fun breathing techniques to try with your little. We also drew the sun in our homemade moon sand and took our breaths as we drew the rays. Once we practiced these for a little, I decided to just let him continue playing and discovering. All on his own, he was taking deep breaths as he allowed the sand to run through his fingers. He would take a deep breath in and grab some sand and let it go as he exhaled.  

EXTENSION

This turned out to be a great mindfulness activity, and it also be used to develop those motor skills. All you need to do is add some measuring cups, bowls, and spoons, and they will be filling the sand and pouring it for a long time. Try this with cookie cutters too. The options for this homemade moon sand are endless!

Take a deep breath and enjoy! 

Joanna is a full-time teacher and part-time mompreneur with a personalized and custom gift shop. She has a passion for writing and loves creating wonderful memories for her 3 beautiful children. As a huge fan of Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus, Joanna lives by her biggest lesson: “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!” You can find her on Facebook.