Foam Dough (Shaving Cream and Cornstarch)

Combining air and water filled shaving cream with corn starch provided a rich sensory experience for all ages, which energized us after a big Thanksgiving lunch. A big "Thank You" to one of our creative and adventurous family members who set this activity up for the kids on Thanksgiving Day:)

We went outside for this activity.

You will need:
a large bin to spread your dough in
smaller bins to mix food dye and glitter into shaving cream
glitter
food dye
spoons
shaving cream
cornstarch

Ready to go!

Add shaving cream to your smaller bin. Add glitter and make a beautiful glitter dusted cloud.

Next add the food coloring. We used several drops to make a pastel end product. You can also add the food coloring first or add them both at the same time. All 3 ways work. 

Mix your food dye and glitter into the shaving cream. This step, in and of itself, was a visual feast for the eyes and nose since we used menthol shaving cream.

Next add your cream mixture to a tray covered in cornstarch and mix with your hands.

The texture is really fluffy when you are mixing the cream and corn starch together.
Once the air in the shaving cream is released from all of the mixing you are left with dough the texture of Moon Sand, resembling smooth wet sand and great for making impressions and castles.

One of our explorers wanted to see what would happen if she added food coloring to the mixture at this point.

The blue food coloring stubbornly stayed separate from the mixture.
Satisfied with the results she extended play by creating a volcano chain by adding more glitter and food dye.

All in all a great activity with long lasting and open ended possibilities for play and exploration.

We even made some oobleck with the cornstarch and food dye we had on hand.

Get out and play together. Your children value your presence more than presents. Make memories that will last a lifetime.