This recipe for 2-Ingredient Snow Dough is straight out of my classroom plan book. A recipe I have used for years to bring natural fun sensory play and exploration to my students…and now I’m sharing it with you.

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Snow dough mixed in a bowl with a spatula.

Notice how I didn’t say “clean” in that description l. Because while the ingredients in this homemade snow dough are simple, clean and things you likely already have around your house……sensory play is far from a clean activity!

But childhood and learning can and should be messy…it’s half the fun.

I love homemade play dough for open-ended sensory play, but sometimes it is fun to mix it up with something a little different for the kiddos to explore and experience. That’s where 2-Ingredient Snow Dough comes in.

Its soft. Its malleable. Its all natural. ANNNNNDDDD its made with two simple ingredients I bet you already have in the house!

It’s the perfect thing to throw together in minutes on a rainy day when the kids are jonesing for a creative outlet….and Mom and Dad just need a break.

Or any day….it doesn’t have to be raining.

Not only is this Natural 2-Ingredient Snow Dough quick to throw together in a large bowl or reusable bin but it can set your child’s imagination totally on fire! It’s naturally gluten-free for children and/or families with high gluten sensitivity and you can add lovely aromas to it to make the snow dough have a calming or refocusing aromatherapy experience!

Ingredients for snow dough on a table before combining.

So what are the 2 ingredients?

Baking soda

hair conditioner

Such a strange combo, I know…but it makes such a wonderfully playful mixture!

Tips for making snow dough

If you are making this for a child with extreme gluten sensitivities, make sure that the conditioner you are using is also gluten free!

Gluten is often added to personal care products, and while it is not absorbed through the skin….it can enter the child’s system if they do not properly wash their hands after play and then eat or put hands in/near their mouth.

Mixed snow dough on a cookie try with cokie cutters and a hand showing a ball.

When making this for oral/young children

Also, since there is hair conditioner in this sensory activity, please be aware of the ingredients in conditioner if making this for a young and/or oral child. I also suggest being sure to sit with young children as they play, just to be sure they don’t sample it in hopes of an easy snack!

What kind of conditioner should I use?

Truthfully, any kind of conditioner you have on hand will work.

But I like to be mindful of the ingredients in our personal care products. so when I select a conditioner, I check the ingredients to make sure that the conditioner is free of:

  • artificial fragrance
  • SLS and/or sulfates
  • parabens
  • triclosan
  • polyethylene glycol
A child playing with snow dough on a cookie tray.
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5 from 1 vote

2-Ingredient Snow Dough

This recipe for 2-Ingredient Snow Dough is straight out of my classroom plan book. A recipe I have used for years to bring natural fun sensory play and exploration to my students…and now I'm sharing it with you.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Keyword: cloud dough, sensory play, snow dough
Servings: 1 batch
Calories:
Author: Taesha Butler

Ingredients

  • 5 cups Baking Soda I buy the big bags from Costco
  • 1 cup Conditioner (ensure it is gluten free for children with extreme gluten allergies)

Instructions

  • Combine in a large bowl.
  • Mix until dough has an even consistency and texture.
  • Play and have fun! Store in an airtight container between uses. If dough seems dry, mix in a tablespoon of water to help soften.