Sugar Plum Sensory Dough

The Sugar Plum fairy is our favourite character from The Nutcracker story. Not only have we been reading all about her in the book but also listening to The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. So it seemed ideal to make some music inspired sensory dough to play with after we had read the story!

Sugar Plum Sensory Dough Recipe

Please note that this is NOT an edible dough so should NOT be used unsupervised or with children who like to taste/eat the dough!

Materials needed to make Sugar Plum Sensory Dough

• 2 Boxes of cornflour (cornstarch)
• Oat based moisturising body lotion (we use this as it is good for sensitive skin prone to eczema – you could use ordinary lotion)
• White and silver glitter
• Plum essence
• Purple paint

How to Make Sugar Plum Sensory Dough

1. First, add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Then, add the moisturising body lotion and 5ml to 10 ml of plum essence and mix together with a spoon.
3. Keep adding moisturising lotion to the mixture until it is the same texture as pastry crumble.
4. Next, divide the mixture into two and add a few drops of purple paint and silver glitter to one portion, knead it well until you have a glittery, purple dough.
5. Add silver and white glitter to the other portion to create a white glittery dough.

Ideas for playing with this sensory dough

We use a large silver tray and put both doughs onto it, but you can use a covered table or ordinary tray. We also provide a variety of tools such as spoons, forks and butter knives (not sharp knives) as well as some cupcake liners, sparkly jewels and ribbons. We also had some cookie cutters and chocolate moulds to hand as well.

This dough smells really nice and looks fabulous too.

It is ideal for creating imaginary cakes, sweets and other fancies. Although it is crumbly in texture it can be moulded into different shapes. Eventually, the white and purple dough becomes mixed into a lighter purple/lilac dough and can be kept for a day or two before it needs replacing.

To add to the experience why not play The Nutcracker Suite or just the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the background – and the ideal way to engage and delight the sense of sight, smell, touch and hearing too! Perfect for those frosty days in the lead up to Christmas!

Out Now! – Countdown to Christmas Ebook

When life gets hectic in the lead up to Christmas wouldn’t it be great to be able to spend a little time with the family creating gifts for others, food to enjoy together and traditions that make magical Christmas Memories?

But what actually happens is you spend hours searching through Pinterest looking for ideas and realise halfway through saying you are going to start that you have only 1 thing on the materials list!

I’ve been there!

So that is why we’ve put together our 24 favourite Christmas Activities, Crafts and Recipes with full materials lists and step-by-step instructions so that you have everything at your fingertips.

Produced as a PDF you can download, print and use these ideas throughout the festive season with your children and families.

Find out more as we share with your our Favourite Ways to Countdown to Christmas.

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Helen Newberry runs Witty Hoots and is a published author, art historian as well as a former primary school teacher.

Big Owl Little Owl has developed into a whole section of Witty Hoots which is dedicated to learning, playing and making for the younger members of the family.

You can follow Witty Hoots on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram

Find more festive ideas on Big Owl Little Owl with a lovely Christmas Tree Calendar, a great handheld LED candle holder and a lovely Pen Holder Gift for kids to make!

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