BENEFITS OF USING KINETIC SAND IN THERAPY

• Have you ever heard of Kinetic Sand?

It’s super cool but extremely difficult to describe. Kinetic Sand is a sand-like substance that is easily moldable, yet also free flowing. It hardens when squeezed, yet “melts” when released. It has the properties of wet sand, yet is not wet. It sticks to itself, yet is not sticky. It is soft, yet not fluffy. 

I can be used to help children further their developmental skills. Kinetic Sand is an ideal therapeutic material due to its versatility and its ability to offer a wide variety of benefits to the kids (and adults) who engage with it!

Here are 8 benefits of using Kinetic Sand in therapy:

1. Fine Motor Development

• Squeeze it, squish it
• Smash it with a potato smasher to strengthen hands. 
• Poke it or pinch it to further develop those index finger skills. 
• Roll it into balls or flatten it with a rolling pin to develop bilateral skills. 
• Scoop it or cut it to practice grasping and using tools such as spoons, ice cream scoopers, and knives. 
• Press cookie cutters down into flattened sand or pack it into little cups and flip them over to build sand castles and further develop those small muscles in the fingers and hands. 

The fine motor benefits are seemingly endless!

2. Sensory Processing

• Kinetic Sand is the perfect sensory material for kids who either crave or are sensitive to tactile input. 
• Kids who want to touch everything and are constantly seeking tactile input will gladly touch, squeeze, and play with Kinetic Sand…it might seem like they won’t be able to get enough of it! 
• Because Kinetic Sand can be squeezed it provides deep pressure, which is a form of tactile input that is calming and organizing to the body. 
• This is especially helpful for those who are sensory seekers!

On the other hand, kids who are sensitive to or avoidant of “messy play” experiences (or who are hesitant to try out new things in general) will likely be open to engaging with Kinetic Sand due to its soft, non-sticky texture You really have to feel 

• Perfect for kids with tactile defensiveness. Even if the child is not open to touching the Kinetic Sand right away, they can easily engage with it by using a tool such as a spoon in order to avoid touching it but still get used to engaging with it.