Cloud Playdough Recipe Using Cornstarch and Shaving Cream
Playdough is a timeless sensory activity for kids, and this cloud playdough recipe offers a fun, unique twist. Learn how to make playdough with a soft, fluffy texture that’s perfect for classrooms or home.
Unlike traditional playdough, cloud playdough offers a different sensory experience with its cloud-like consistency that will surprise preschoolers every time.
Playdough has always been a favorite activity for kids, but not all playdough is created equal! This cloud playdough recipe takes the sensory fun to a whole new level with its soft, fluffy texture that feels as light as a cloud in your hands.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make playdough more fun and interesting, or something that’s just a little bit different, this recipe is a perfect place to start.
Cloud playdough offers a truly unique texture that cannot be duplicated in traditional cooked playdough recipes or even microwave playdough recipes. It’s texture makes it a versatile option for a variety of preschool themes like weather, seasons, or outer space. Let me show you how we used it in our preschool classroom.
What is Cloud Playdough?
Cloud playdough stands out because of its incredibly light, fluffy, and almost pillowy texture that feels soft and smooth in your hands. Unlike traditional playdough, which can be dense and stretchy, cloud playdough has a velvety feel, almost like touching a cloud – hence the name – or whipped frosting.
It’s easy to squish, mold, and shape but has a more delicate consistency that kids find fascinating. Add this to your sense of touch activities!
The secret lies in its unique ingredients—typically a combination of cornstarch and shaving cream. The cornstarch gives the dough its silky and soft feel (like in our silky soft playdough recipe without cream of tartar), while the shaving cream adds just the right amount of moisture combined with airy foam, creating a perfectly moldable yet fluffy dough.
This recipe’s texture is ideal for sensory play, as it’s soothing to the touch and offers a new and exciting experience compared to traditional playdough. Plus, the subtle scent from the shaving cream adds an extra sensory layer to the fun!
Cloud Playdough VS Cloud Dough
You’ve heard of both, but are they the same? Nope! Here are the differences.
Cloud Playdough:
- Soft, pliable, and easily moldable, making it perfect for shaping and creating.
- Typically made with a combination of cornstarch and shaving cream, resulting in a smooth and fluffy texture.
- Ideal for activities that require precision, such as rolling, sculpting, or cutting with tools.
Cloud Dough:
- Dry, crumbly, and has a texture that resembles kinetic sand, offering a completely different sensory experience.
- Often made with simple ingredients like flour and oil, which create a looser, grittier consistency.
- Best suited for a sensory table base or filler because it’s better for scooping, pouring, and exploring tactile textures.
Both are fantastic tools for sensory play but cater to different types of activities and learning objectives!
Recipe for Cloud Playdough
Ready to make a playdough that has a light, fluffy, and almost pillowy texture that also feels soft and smooth in your hands?
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Materials
- Cornstarch
- Shaving cream
- Food coloring, glitter, essential oils for fragrance (All of these are optional).
Kitchen Supplies
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How to Make Cloud Playdough
This might be the easiest playdough recipe ever, given it only requires the two ingredients and absolutely no cooking!
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Supplies
Make sure you have all your supplies ready before you begin. Both ingredients can be easily found at your local grocery store or pharmacy. For this recipe, foam shaving cream works best—not gel. You can even grab it from a dollar store!
Step 2: Mix Together the Shaving Cream and Cornstarch
Start by adding cornstarch into your mixing bowl. Slowly spray a generous amount of shaving cream into the bowl, right on top of the cornstarch. Begin mixing the two ingredients together using your spoon or spatula. The texture will be crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it starts to come together.
Step 3: Knead the Mixture
Once the mixture begins to combine, use your hands to knead it. Kneading helps the shaving cream fully incorporate into the cornstarch, giving the playdough its signature fluffy, soft texture.
If the mixture feels too dry, add a small amount of shaving cream. If it feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little more cornstarch. Continue kneading until you have a smooth and pliable dough.
Step 4: Add Color or Glitter (Optional)
If you want to make your cloud playdough colorful, divide it into smaller portions and add a few drops of food coloring to each. Knead the food coloring into the dough until the color is evenly distributed. You can also add glitter for a sparkly effect or essential oils for a calming or seasonal scent.
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Your cloud playdough recipe is now ready for play! It’s malleable, soft, and perfect for sensory play. Kids can mold it, squish it, and create all sorts of shapes and figures.
Preschool Theme Ideas for Using Cloud Playdough
- Weather Theme:
- Use white or blue cloud playdough to create fluffy “clouds” and tie it into learning about the weather.
- Try it with our weather preschool lesson plans.
- Outer Space Theme:
- Add glitter or sparkles to represent stars and create celestial shapes.
- Get our free space lesson plans.
- Spring Theme:
- Incorporate flowers, bugs, or bird-shaped cutters for seasonal play.
- We have lots of lesson plans for spring. Try some of the following:
- Animal Habitats:
- Use the playdough to create nests, caves, or burrows for toy animals.
- Try it with this animal sort and rescue playdough activity.
- Also try our slime avalanche animal rescue activity, too!
- Winter Theme:
- Create snow-themed sensory bins using white cloud playdough.
- This recipe is an easy way to make white playdough.
FAQs About Making Cloud Playdough
Cloud playdough is like fluffy playdough – it has a lighter, fluffier texture, while traditional playdough is denser and firmer.
Yes, as long as the ingredients are non-toxic and the child is supervised to prevent ingestion.
It can last 1-2 weeks if stored in an airtight container, but its texture may change over time.
Yes, you can experiment with other binding agents like lotion or conditioner, but the texture may differ.
Use a few drops of kid-safe essential oils (e.g., lavender or citrus) or use scented conditioner for a fun sensory experience.
Sweep or wipe any crumbs with a damp cloth, as it’s softer and less crumbly than traditional playdough.
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45 Playdough Recipes$10.00
Cloud Playdough Recipe
Playdough is a timeless sensory activity for kids, and this cloud playdough recipe offers a fun, unique twist. Learn how to make playdough with a soft, fluffy texture that’s perfect for classrooms or home.
Materials
- Cornstarch
- Shaving cream
- Food coloring, glitter, essential oils for fragrance (All of these are optional).
Tools
- large mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- rubber spatula
Instructions
1: Gather Your Ingredients and Supplies
2: Mix Together the Shaving Cream and Cornstarch
3: Knead the Mixture
4: Add Color or Glitter (Optional)
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I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
